Thanksgiving is such a wonderful time of year. It affords us an opportunity to reflect upon and show gratitude for the blessings in our lives. As we take time to acknowledge those dearest to us, we believe it’s also a perfect opportunity to recognize and thank the thousands of men and women who work tirelessly to ensure we have clean, safe water and wastewater.
Water’s journey to our taps and from our toilets is a long and arduous one. With drinking water, it begins of course with the stewardship of our source water and groundwater resources, progresses to the intake and treatment process, and then flows out through an intricate distribution network to our homes, schools, community centers, and businesses.
Wastewater is equally complicated as gray and black water from homes and industries is ushered through the collection system to a treatment facility where it undergoes primary, secondary, tertiary — and sometimes even quaternary (yes, that’s a word!) treatment — to remove contaminants and make it safe for discharge or reuse. At every step, dedicated water and wastewater professionals are there to safeguard, troubleshoot and improve the complex operation of our water and wastewater systems while complying with strict federal and state safety guidelines.
Weekends and holidays are mere suggestions to these devoted individuals who must respond to emergencies whenever the need arises. As any water worker will attest, duty inevitably calls at the most inopportune times: a pipe burst in the middle of the night, a backflow event during a flood, a power outage during a blizzard, a plant alarm during a holiday dinner. Whatever is thrown their way, water warriors never hesitate to jump into action.
Part chemist, part mathematician (and part MacGyver), water and wastewater professionals don’t seek glory or fame, they just get ‘er done — sometimes with very few resources at their disposal.
To water professionals everywhere, we’re grateful for you and all you do. It’s because of your hard work and dedication that we have safe, reliable access to our most precious resource.
Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!
