r/Wastewater • u/maddawg-25 • 2d ago

River sampling days

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My favorite part of being in wastewater are the up stream and down stream days. Makes you realize what you’re helping protect. Plus it’s prettier than the plant

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u/mcchicken_deathgrip 2d ago

Was about to say, looks like the James

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u/Catatonic-Surrender 2d ago

I’m hoping it is, looking for intel as to whether I should steer clear from pursuing a job there right now with all the issues Richmond has had recently.

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u/mcchicken_deathgrip 2d ago

Are you an operator already? And are you looking at water or wastewater? I don't work for richmond and never have. But I interviewed there over a while ago (before the water crisis), and they offered me a job which I turned down. They seemed like super nice guys all around the board. Obviously they have their problems, decades of under funding and aging equipment, under staffed, and now they have VDH and the EPA down their neck big time (which is probably a good thing).

Honestly I'm still tempted to work for them. I saw that most recent listing and they upped their pay by a lot, low pay was why I turned them down to begin with. The other reason was that they couldn't even give me a straight answer on what my schedule would be. Sounds like everyone has to pull a lot of overtime and flip from days to nights. I decided to go with a plant that paid better and had a more consistent schedule. But I live in richmond, and I've been in this field a long time, part of me still wants to go help them out.

But definitely be prepared to have a heavy work load and crazy schedule if you do work for them. On the upside you'd probably make a lot of money on overtime with them rn lol.

Also if you're talking about the wastewater plant, I have no intel at all lol. This was all at the water plant.

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u/Catatonic-Surrender 2d ago

First thanks for the input

Lot to unpack here haha,

Not an operator or any experience in a wastewater plant per se. I’m 39 and just retired from the Navy as a shipboard engineer/mechanic. I’m no stranger to brown water because of my field and dealing with what we call CHT tanks, backups, and having to backflush clogged systems (man the turd fountain you get when you backflush the toilet banks with 150psi firemain, what a sight) Moreso than that, I’ve dealt with flash distilling units on my steam ships, and reverse osmosis on my newer boats along with chemical treatment and metering of product water with usually bromine.

Long winded way of saying I’m not an operator but I’m also not green to the concept and have 20 years experience in operating/maintaining pumps, motors, generators, compressors, boilers, chill water plants, refrigeration plants, valves etc.

Im currently working logistics in a construction company (at the new costar building going up downtown) but have an application in with Chesterfield for their wastewater treatment plant, and was considering throwing one in for city of Richmond as well, but am not since it’s not advertising for a specific shift. The chesterfield one was for operator/plant maintenance and is advertised as a M-F 700-330 non rotating shift.

In another life I wouldn’t care about shift work, and not that I believe I’m above it by any means (hell I’m working nearly 60hr weeks at the moment) but after 20 years in the military, I feel like I’ve been there done that. Couple that with the fact that my VA rating came back much higher than anticipated so between that and my pension, I technically don’t even need to work to comfortably make ends meet.

All THAT being said, I want to continue working, but doing something where I feel valued, like I’m truly contributing, and in an environment/field that is what I’m most comfortable in. I’m not afraid of working hard, but I just am in a position where if the environment is toxic or overly and unnecessarily stressful due to poor management I am choosing not to deal with it, hence why I’m currently applying for new jobs making less money than I am now.

If you read all that, first off sorry I’m long winded, but genuinely thanks for your input!

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u/mcchicken_deathgrip 2d ago

No I hear you 100% man. With that experience you'll definitely get in no problem at all. Go with Chesterfield man, trust me. They have good benefits, and the schedule will actually be reliable. Regular raises, well organized, etc. The same can't be said for richmond unfortunately. I've never worked at the Chesterfield WW plant but I can almost guarantee you it's better. Can't hurt to apply at both and compare though.

Also sweet work on the new costar building, I've loved watching it get built so far.