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Celebrate Drinking Water Week May 7-13!
You turn on the tap, and the water’s there. Easy, right? Water providers across the region, including our Lake Oswego Public Works Department, maintain infrastructure, and work 24 hours a day, every day of the year to make sure your water is always there when you need it.
May 7 – 13 is Drinking Water Week, a celebration recognizing the vital role water plays in everyday life for both water professionals and the communities they serve. It is an opportunity to highlight the quality of our water, the infrastructure needed to deliver water from the source to your home or business, and the people who make it happen.
Here in Lake Oswego, we are fortunate to have one of the highest-quality water sources in the state: The Clackamas River.
Behind-the-Scenes with Your Water Superheroes!
No matter the weather or the emergency, there are hardworking water professionals braving the elements to maintain all the infrastructure needed to ensure high-quality drinking water is there when you need it! Meet some of our dedicated water professionals, who work behind-the-scenes around the clock, to ensure the Lake Oswego community enjoys nature's most precious resource.
Austin Martinez – Water Utility Worker
What is your favorite or least favorite part of your job?
My favorite thing about the job is being able to work with such a great crew, and being able to work outside and cover different duties each day bringing a nice variety to the workload.
Why are you passionate about working in the water industry?
I’ve always been interested in environmental science and mechanical work and we get to see both sides of those duties. I grew up around water and have a few family members who also work in the industry.
What does H20/drinking water mean to you?
It’s an essential and vital source. We can live without electricity/phones/wifi/vehicles etc. but without water there wouldn’t be life.
What is one thing you would like more customers know about their drinking water?
Lake Oswego’s water comes from one of the cleanest sources of water, the Clackamas River which is constantly supplied from melting snow and glacial pack that provides nice, clear, and safe to consume water.
Roxanne Edgar– Operator at the Water Treatment Plant
What is your favorite or least favorite part of your job?
The early mornings – being awake for beautiful sunrises.
Why are you passionate about working in the water industry?
Clean water is a foundation of our civilization, and I love being part of the team that brings it to customers.
What does H20/drinking water mean to you?
Water is a precious resource.
What is one thing you would like more customers know about their drinking water?
We go to a lot of effort to make sure your water is clean and drinkable, there’s no need to buy bottled water.
Usman Ahmad – Accounting Specialist in Utility Billing
What is your favorite or least favorite part of your job?
My favorite part about my job is that it never gets boring. There are always new things to learn and new challenges that come up. I also love working with my colleagues.
Why are you passionate about working in the water/utility billing industry?
I like working in the utilities industry because the work is interesting and challenging. I enjoy working with people to solve problems and I can use my skills and knowledge to help people in their everyday lives.
What does H20/drinking water mean to you?
I believe drinking water more often is one of the easier changes to make when developing healthier habits. It doesn’t require you to go out of your way to access water and being able to benefit from it.
What is one thing you would like more customers know about their drinking water?
The City does an exceptional job to provide clean and safe drinking water to its residents. There are a lot of people working very hard to ensure that our water meets the highest standards.
Kyle Frias – Water Utility Worker
What is your favorite or least favorite part of your job?
A favorite for myself is the many different dynamics from our day to day duties. One day we might be installing a new fire hydrant or water service, the next day or night we could be repairing a water main or plowing snow off roads.
Why are you passionate about working in the water industry?
Responsibility to keep and maintain clean drinking water to the city and surrounding water districts. To work and strive for each job or task to be done correct and safe with a great water team.
What does H20/drinking water mean to you?
Drinking water to me is a very important key to maintaining daily life. A vital resource that shouldn’t go unappreciated.
What is one thing you would like more customers know about their drinking water?
Appreciation for the ease of flushing a toilet or turning a faucet on.
