Water Wisdoms | November 2021 Newsletter
Don't Let a Clogged Drain Ruin Your Holiday Cheer
Pouring fats, oils, and grease down the sink can be a real pain in the drain! These items stick to the insides of wastewater pipes, causing clogs, which can lead to costly repairs and wastewater overflowing into neighborhood parks, yards, and streets. When cooking this holiday season, pour grease into metal cans and it let it harden before disposing of it in your trash can. This will prevent an expensive plumbing bill, plus protect our community's health and environment as well as our shared wastewater pipes and pumps. For more tips to keep your wastewater flowing, visit our Pollution Prevention webpage.
Did You Know?
Did you know that the MWMC offers fats, oils, and grease disposal kits to community members for FREE? This kit makes canning your grease and disposing of it properly easier than ever. If you'd like your very own fats, oils, and grease disposal kit in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, click here to enter your information and we'll mail one to you.
Meet the Team: Joshua Tergesen, Wastewater Operator
Our team is hard at work cleaning your water and recycling byproducts of the wastewater treatment process in a sustainable manner each and every day. We're excited for you to get to know the faces, names, and responsibilities of those who make it all happen here at the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission.

This month, meet Joshua Tergesen, Wastewater Operator!

How long have you worked for the City of Eugene/MWMC?
I first started as an intern the summer of 2018. After that I returned as a temp employee July of 2020. I applied and got a full-time position that November. I am coming up on one year this month.

What got you interested in wastewater?
I first got interested in wastewater in my Environmental Science class in high school. My teacher took us on tours of the wastewater and drinking water plants. I thought that this could be a good career for me so I enrolled in Linn-Benton Community College’s water treatment program.

What does a day on the job look like for you?
My job consists of operating and maintaining the wastewater plant. Some days I am in the console room watching the DCS (distributed control system) and handling calls. Other days I am out in the plant checking equipment, taking samples, doing labs, and making changes to the plant process.

What’s your favorite thing about your role? 
My favorite part is not only providing a good service, but also how varied it is day-to-day. Every day is different and brings new challenges.

To learn more about the MWMC and our team's work, visit our website, mwmcpartners.org.
UPDATE: Renewable Natural Gas Project Progresses
The MWMC continues to make progress on our Renewable Natural Gas project, with the majority of construction now complete and equipment being tested. Through this project, the MWMC will turn biogas, a byproduct of the wastewater treatment process, into renewable natural gas, which will be injected into NW Natural's pipeline system as a sustainable resource.

The City of Springfield's Executive Team (pictured in the right photo above) toured our new biogas purification facilities right before Halloween to learn more about the project and its environmental benefits to the community. To learn more, visit our Renewable Natural Gas project webpage. More updates to come as the project moves closer to completion.
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