At Fairborn (Ohio) Utilities, the leadership team is focused on upgrades and plant efficiencies. Take a tour with Superintendent Karen Hawkins as she explains what the facility has done to eliminate vulnerabilities and provide needed redundancies. You'll get a tour of a new Kohler generator system, which allows the plant to run three days without refueling. And, you'll get a glimpse into the planning process as Hawkins and her team decide how to prepare for the city's future growth. For her leadership qualities and exception work, Hawkins won the 2014 Operator Meritorious Award from the Ohio Section of AWWA.

In this video of the October TPO featured wastewater operator, you'll also get an extended look into the challenges of biosolids management.

When the Athens (Alabama) Wastewater Treatment Plant came online in 2009, the staff faced a few training and startup challenges. Listen in as Virgil White, the plant's superintendent, explains how the staff maintains the new facility and learn what the city is doing to improve wastewater services.