Jennifer Baca and Chris Lopez love a challenge, and it has taken them far. From temporary laborer, to senior operator in charge of laboratory operations, Baca has excelled at every turn. Lopez, also a senior operator, began in collections, then moved to wastewater operations.While Baca’s challenges have included learning about wastewater laboratory operation and compliance testing and reporting, Lopez had to learn to operate a trickling filter and an activated sludge plant. Both are also helping start up a composting operation.They work for the Los Alamos County (N.M.) Department of Public Utilities, which operates a trickling filter treatment plant (built in
