NPS photo. Chris Blevins, Water Treatment Plant OperatorWhiskeytown National Recreation Area staff serve dozens of functions across the park. In this employee spotlight, meet Chris Blevins, one of Whiskeytown’s three water treatment plant operators. Without these three jobs that are required by law to test water systems everyday, you would not be able to get drinking water out of a water fountain or faucet in the park! Learn more about Chris and his work in his responses to the questions below....Where were you born and raised? "I was born and raised right here in Redding, California." What brought you onto the pathway of Water Treatment Plant Operator and when did you begin working at Whiskeytown? "With the 2008 economy taking a nose-dive, it left the auto technician career that I had been in for 21 years slowing down considerably. I had always thought that water treatment and wastewater treatments were very interesting. So, while working as an auto technician and raising my son, I started night classes to prepare for getting certifications in water, wastewater treatments, and distribution. Two years later I was working for a city water treatment and distribution system. I started working for Whiskeytown as a utility systems operator in April of 2017." As a Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator, what do you do and why do you do it? "On a daily basis, with the help of my co-worker, I monitor, inspect and make any necessary adjustments and repairs on 13 systems throughout the park. We do this to keep clean, safe, and pleasing water continuously flowing to the tap. I love the challenges of keeping the systems running smoothly and silently in the background, with no interruptions to the best of our ability. What kind of challenges have you faced in keeping the systems running? "Oh boy, what a question. There are challenges throughout the year: keeping chlorine feed pumps working properly; keeping chlorine dosages stable in the hot summer months; repairs from bears, freezing temperatures, and old equipment; and just maintaining or replacing anything in the distribution or water systems." How exactly do the systems work - and how many are water, how many waste-water? "Currently we have two surface water treatment plants that treat the water from the lake. These treatment plants utilize sand filters, chlorine, and polymers to treat the water and send it to a large storage tank where it is gravity fed from there throughout the distribution system to the facilities." "We also have seven wells, and currently have five in operation. These wells serve smaller water systems and generate very clean water from the source. We treat these systems with minimal chlorine to sustain the safety for the potable water throughout those distribution systems." "The water operators here at Whiskeytown are dual certified to also treat and maintain two wastewater treatment plants. They serve the Oak Bottom and Brandy Creek areas. Other systems throughout the park are on septic tank systems that we also maintain through scheduled times of the year." What is your favorite part about working at Whiskeytown? "Being able to work in an environment of the great outdoors. Seeing the wildlife and people enjoying the outdoors and beauty of this park throughout the day." When you are not at work, what are you doing? "It seems like home projects never end. But when I'm not doing that, I have lots of hobbies. I like to get on my bicycle and ride. I enjoy detailing my cars and doing modifications. My wife Rosanne and I like to spend time with the 9 grandchildren. "What do you drive? Can we have your car 😊? "Which one? I drive - or I should say "we", because my wife will read this - a 2021 Audi S6, a 2018 Audi A4, a 2016 Jeep Wrangler, and a 2000 Dodge Ram. And at work I drive a 2017 Chevy Colorado." * Learn more about park management at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. ** This employee interview originally appeared in the 2022 edition of the Whiskeytown Nugget park newspaper. |
Last updated: October 30, 2024