This Operations Team Takes Care of its Plant - Even if That Means Living There in an Emergency

The Fair Oaks Ranch treatment team has earned recognition for exceptional dedication and a record of excellence in effluent quality

May 15, 2023 | by Jim Force |

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This Operations Team Takes Care of its Plant - Even if That Means Living There in an Emergency — The team at the Fair Oaks Ranch Wastewater Treatment Plant includes, from left, Roland Rios, utility operator; Brandon Garrettson, plant supervisor; and Bill Champion and Juan Ramirez, utility operators.

This Operations Team Takes Care of its Plant - Even if That Means Living There in an Emergency

This Operations Team Takes Care of its Plant - Even if That Means Living There in an Emergency — Installation of an Amcon dewatering press using volute technology from PWTech is underway. The cake it produces will emit no odors and reduce hauling costs.

This Operations Team Takes Care of its Plant - Even if That Means Living There in an Emergency — Installation of an Amcon dewatering press using volute technology from PWTech is underway. The cake it produces will emit no odors and reduce hauling costs.

This Operations Team Takes Care of its Plant - Even if That Means Living There in an Emergency — Bill Champion, nearly 50-year industry veteran, fell in love with the profession and the challenges of working with wastewater.

This Operations Team Takes Care of its Plant - Even if That Means Living There in an Emergency — The Fair Oaks Ranch plant’s record of excellence stems from process improvements and a dedicated staff (secondary clarifier from Envirodyne).

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When a wastewater treatment staff literally lives at the plant for five straight days during an ice storm, you’d expect them to win an award. That’s exactly what happened at the Fair Oaks Ranch Wastewater Treatment Plant, a few miles west of San Antonio. The 0.5 mgd (design) operation won the 2022 Water Environment Association of Texas Small Plant of the Year award, for operator dedication but also for a superior record in water quality and safety.“We’ve had no compliance issues for the past two years,” reports Brandon Garrettson, plant supervisor. And he has nothing but praise for the staff: “During

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