by Ventura Water
Throughout our series highlighting the people and processes that make up Ventura Water, the importance of excellence in the workplace has been an underlying theme. This month, focusing on the Laboratory Team, the necessity for consistently high quality of work is as clear as clean water. By collecting and analyzing our water not only does the Lab Team ensure the water we drink meets or exceeds water quality standards, but they also make sure the water we discharge back to Earth’s water cycle is safe. Water quality standards are developed and enforced by the State Water Resources Control Board. Simply put, the work the Lab Team does substantiates how well the water and wastewater systems are running. They’re also an integral part in the daily operations of Ventura Water’s facilities, running tests that give plant operators information they need to keep systems running efficiently.
Among the Lab Team’s eight members are many science degrees, certifications, areas of expertise, and decades of experience, which completes a robust team. Six lab analysts handle liquid and solid samples, following various testing methods and procedures and using sophisticated equipment to compile results for reporting. The Laboratory Supervisor oversees lab operations, planning for future water quality standards, and opportunities to improve efficiency. Accuracy and accountability are paramount to the Lab Team’s work.
Wes Corney holds a degree in microbiology and has been on the Lab Team for three years. He’s a local, having grown up in Ventura, and says the opportunity to serve his community is what he appreciates most about his job. As Ventura Water’s only Laboratory Assistant, he is always on the move. Each week Wes collects samples from over forty sampling points across the city. Some are taken at treatment facilities, others from wells or tanks, and some directly from local water bodies.
The rigorous work our Lab Team performs keeps Ventura Water in compliance with State and Federal water quality standards, and because of the vital role they play in public health and environmental protection, excellence must be their standard. Next month we’ll focus in on Ventura Water’s Environmental Compliance Team, who monitors water coming into the wastewater plant, protecting it and the environment from harmful pollutants.
