Jane works as a Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator (TPO) for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC). She has been with MWRDGC since 2007. She is currently located at the Hanover Park Wastewater Reclamation Plant (WRP) in Hanover Park, Illinois. She has also worked as a TPO at James C. Kirie WRP in Des Plaines, IL. Before her time as an operator, she was in the laboratory for about eight years at the Stickney WRP in Cicero, IL. Her laboratory experience has included working in the Analytical Lab, Microbiology Lab, Fisheries & Benthic Lab, and Industrial Waste Lab.

For the next couple of months (October-November), Jane will be participating in a job exchange program with a Danish utility, Aarhus Vand in Aarhus, Denmark. The purpose of the program is to exchange knowledge and experiences between the two organizations in the wastewater field. Both organizations are making large strides towards the introduction of a greener more energy efficient process for treating wastewater. In fact, both organizations were recently recognized as “Utility of the Future Today” at WEFTEC 2016-the Water Environment Federation’s (WEF’s) 89th annual technical exhibition and conference-in New Orleans, LA.

This blog will focus on her time with Aarhus Vand. Specifically, on what she learns and experiences while training at Aarhus Vand, as well as how it may be applied to the treatment process back in Chicago.