I work at EPCOR Water Services at the Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant in Edmonton, Alberta. I recently attended the Water Environment Federation’s Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC), hosted in New Orleans. It was an amazing experience, and I encourage young water professionals (YWPs) to take advantage of such opportunities when they present themselves.
Professional development is important, as it strengthens your skills, builds your confidence, and increases your competency. By challenging yourself professionally and seizing opportunities of interest, you become a better support and resource for your entire team. For the last 11 years, I’ve been fortunate enough to work for EPCOR, a company that supports me as I continue my professional journey through conferences and certifications.
Through EPCOR’s after-hours professional development program, I’ve completed several certifications that have enriched my knowledge of the wastewater treatment process and have helped me advance into my current role as Operations Training Coordinator at Gold Bar.
When looking for professional development opportunities, start with something you are interested in; it will make the experience much more enjoyable. I selected WEFTEC this year because I was listed as a co-author on a project presentation submission for my operational contributions. The project was researching inDENSE, a gravimetric sludge wasting technology that preferentially wastes lighter biomass and retains heavier biomass, allowing it to settle faster in the clarifier and ultimately increasing plant capacity. EPCOR’s Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant in Edmonton, AB, is the coldest location currently testing the inDENSE technology, so the data we gather here could prove to be very useful for other cold climate communities.
My favorite part of a conference is the technical sessions because they are interesting and potentially applicable to improving plant operation at Gold Bar. On the first day of WEFTEC, I attended an excellent microbiology workshop and got to bring a sludge sample all the way to New Orleans. This enabled me to look at Gold Bar’s biomass under the microscope, which I don’t normally do. The workshop turned out to be a great base for facilitating productive technical wastewater discussions. Attending their tradeshow was also impressive, where vendors had full-size pieces of equipment, interactive demonstrations, and lots more to offer. It was great to learn about some of the technologies that are being used in industry. The tradeshow allowed me to see and interact with technologies that could potentially come to Gold Bar in the future. Additionally, the conference gave me the opportunity to socialize and develop relationships with my EPCOR colleagues from across North America and brilliant industry peers. It was great getting to know everyone better and discussing the similarities and differences in our work.
I realize I am fortunate to have had many development opportunities, and I encourage other YWPs to explore the professional development programs offered by your employers. By attending conferences and completing certifications, you will learn more about the fields that you are interested in, open your eyes to new technologies, and build relationships with your colleagues and peers.
Written by: Dagny
Dagny has her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, an Agriculture minor (University of Alberta); a Certificate in Adult and Continuing Education (University of Victoria); Certificates in Visual Design and Infographic Design (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology); a Wastewater Treatment IV Certificate (Environment and Protected Areas); and a 4th Class Power Engineering Certificate (Alberta Boilers Safety Association).
After starting in the utilities as a summer student for the Town of Whitecourt, Dagny moved to EPCOR, where she has worked for 11 years. Currently, Dagny is the Operations Training Coordinator at Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant.
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