Today is National Wastewater Professionals Appreciation Day. Governor Stein made the proclamation this month, stating, “water is the most valuable and vital natural resource, and the state of North Carolina is committed to guaranteeing access to clean water across the state and ensuring the health and safety of all those living in and visiting North Carolina.”
That is exactly what we do here! Did you know that there are three city owned and operated wastewater plants serving approximately 650,000 folks? That’s more than half a million people flushing toilets, taking showers, and washing their hands. All that water flows back to the plants, where it’s cleaned and sent back to your homes.
While Raleigh Water is always here to protect and provide water, we know it is easy to forget what happens behind the scenes and how hard our crews work to maintain this excellence. Today, we not only want to thank our wastewater staff but also ask them one question: What’s something you wish people knew about working in the wastewater industry?
"Wastewater doesn’t take holidays, and neither do the system operators who manage it. There is always someone overseeing the system, either at one of our wastewater treatment plants or as part of a call crew responding to emergencies. Raleigh Water may have holidays off, but that doesn’t mean system operators stop working." – Michael Carpenter
"We are people too. We understand the impact when something isn’t working the way it should. When there’s an issue, we don’t ignore it. We work diligently to fix it, no matter the weather or time of day.
This job isn’t just 'gross.' It’s skilled, demanding, and critical work. There’s a tremendous amount of effort involved in keeping the collection system functioning properly and preventing environmental damage. When systems fail, we feel that responsibility deeply. This field fosters a strong sense of teamwork and accountability. We rely on each other. We take pride in what we do. And we know that our work protects public health and the environment every single day." – Matthew Patton
"Working in the wastewater industry is a fulfilling career, knowing that the work you do protects the environment, sustains our vital utility systems for health and quality of life, and improves infrastructure for future growth. As technology advances, it provides lifelong career opportunities for the next generation." – Stephen Calverley
"Becoming a public server is a privilege and working for wastewater has its challenges. We become the 'Invisible' Heroes as our work takes place behind the scenes compared to others, we take pride in making modern, civilized life possible.
We protect the environment by cleaning water and returning it to nature, preserving ecosystems for future generations.
We protect Public Health by helping prevent the spread of diseases and ensure safe, clean communities.
Overall, while the work can be physically demanding 365 days (24 hours a day) and sometimes unpleasant, we take pride on knowing we have the ability to make a change daily." – Manuel Lopez
"I wish people understood the impact of not having skilled professionals in this industry and the amount of time devoted to keep everything running smoothly." – Bryan Chavis
"Working in this industry gives staff a great sense of purpose and satisfaction, knowing they provide essential services to customers while protecting the environment. This work is often unseen; customers typically don’t think about the sewer system or the vital role it plays in their lives until an issue arises. Our staff enjoy the opportunity to make people's lives better on a daily basis. It should also be noted that our staff sacrifice a lot to provide these services. They work very long hours, in difficult and often dirty conditions. They often have to sacrifice time off on weekends and holidays, sometimes working around the clock, to ensure the system continues to function. This significant sacrifice is often unnoticed by the public and frequently taken for granted by both internal and external stakeholders." – Christopher Worthy
A big thank you to these hardworking individuals who help keep our community functioning… and flushing! No matter the weather, holiday, or circumstance, our teams are out working hard to uphold the Raleigh Water promise. Today, we pause to show our appreciation and support for all our wastewater workers!
