Get 2 Know your H2O with Cedar Valley Water Conservancy

When you turn on the faucet, you probably don’t think about the people behind it. You turn the handle, water comes out, and you move on with your day.

And really, that’s the goal.

But behind the scenes, there are people making sure that happens every day.

At Cedar Valley Water Conservancy, our water operators wear a lot of hats. In fact, asking, “What does a water operator do?” doesn’t have a very simple answer.

The better question might be: What don’t they do?

One morning might start with checking a well or looking at water levels. A few hours later, they could be repairing a leak, working on a pump, reading meters, collecting a water sample, operating heavy equipment, or helping with a construction project.

And just when they think they know what the rest of the day looks like, the phone rings.

There’s a leak.

A pump isn’t working correctly.

Something needs to be fixed.

Plans change, and they’re off to solve the next problem.

A Little Bit of Everything

Our operators aren’t just “water guys.”

They have to understand wells, pumps, motors, pipelines, valves, meters, storage tanks, electrical systems, controls and all the other pieces that work together to move water where it needs to go.

That means they also become pretty good mechanics, equipment operators, construction workers and troubleshooters along the way.

Sometimes the job involves sophisticated monitoring equipment.

Sometimes it involves a shovel.

And sometimes it involves standing in a hole trying to figure out why something that worked perfectly yesterday has suddenly decided not to cooperate.

That’s water operations.

The Work You Don’t Usually See

A lot of the most important work our operators do is actually the work nobody notices.

They inspect equipment, monitor wells, check meters and maintain the system so small problems can hopefully be caught before they become big ones.

They also collect water samples and help with the monitoring and testing required to keep our drinking water system operating properly.

When everything is working exactly the way it should, most people will never know that work happened.

And that’s a good thing.

Building While Maintaining

Our operators aren’t only taking care of today’s water system. They’re also helping build the one Cedar Valley will need tomorrow.

As Cedar Valley Water Conservancy works on new wells, pipelines, storage, recharge, reuse and other water projects, our operators are often right in the middle of it.

They help install infrastructure, operate equipment, work alongside contractors, maintain Conservancy property and eventually take care of many of these facilities once they’re built.

So while they’re keeping today’s system running, they’re also helping prepare for what’s next.

Water Doesn’t Keep Office Hours

Of course, pipes don’t wait until Monday morning to break.

Equipment doesn’t check the calendar before it decides to quit.

And emergencies don’t always happen between 8 and 5.

When something goes wrong, our operators respond. Sometimes that means changing the day’s plans. Sometimes it means an early morning, a late night or a weekend call.

Because at the end of the day, the job is pretty simple:

Keep the water flowing.

There are a lot of people, equipment and infrastructure behind something as simple as turning on your faucet.

Our water operators are some of those people.

So, if you happen to see them working on a well, digging up a line, checking equipment or driving from one project to another, give them a wave.

Now you know a little more about the people behind your H2O. 💧

Get to Know Your H2O
Conserve • Reuse • Recharge • Supply