Episode Summary:
In this insightful episode of the Infrastructure Hot Seat podcast, Eric Dundee shares his journey in the civil infrastructure space, particularly focusing on water and sewer operations. Listeners are given an inside look at the challenges and triumphs of managing a vital component of public works.
As Eric and Chad Smeltzer discuss the intricacies of sewer district operations, they highlight the importance of effective municipal engineering in maintaining a sustainable environment. They explore topics ranging from workforce development to project management, and technological advancements that promise efficiency in public service delivery.
- Passion for Public Infrastructure: Eric's journey shows a shift from computer engineering to infrastructure, emphasizing the joy of creating public value.
- Reliability in Operations: Maintaining and advancing water treatment facilities to ensure public health speaks to the dedication required in this sector.
- Pollution Prevention: Discusses the complex challenge of managing various industrial wastes and the strategies employed by the MMSD to handle them.
- Workforce Development: Eric underlines the importance of investing in staff through training and succession planning, contributing to a strong and skilled workforce.
- Technological Evolution: The episode looks forward to more AI and technological tools aiding efficient infrastructure maintenance, a glimpse into the future of public works.
- "Your toilet is not a trash can." - A call to the public to avoid treating sanitation systems improperly.
- "We maintain a pretty consistent list of over 300 purchase orders." - Highlighting the complexity of managing a sewage district's operations.
- "What you put into it [APWA], you can get out of it." - Encouraging involvement in professional associations for career development.
- "For those who do a lot of procurement, you get your price, you get the order in, and then the lead time is how long it takes for the equipment to get there." - Explaining the procurement challenges faced by sewage districts.
