The Augusta Chronicle, Ga., Grime Pays Column

By Rainier Ehrhardt, The Augusta Chronicle, Ga.

Jan. 14–Ever wonder what happens to the water that goes down the toilet or kitchen sink drain?

Leonadre Turner knows.

The 26-year-old operator at Augusta’s wastewater-treatment plant gets to see it in all its putrid glory, and he wishes other people could, too.

“I was one of those people who didn’t care where it went, as long as it got out and didn’t get back in,” he said. “Now I realize you can’t just flush anything, because we pay for it later.” The water-treatment plant, operated under contract for the city by Operations Management International, uses a complex series of screens to remove heavy materials and grit. What’s left is biologically scrubbed using natural bacteria and protozoans before it is sanitized with chlorine and released into Phinizy Swamp.

“We take disgusting water and clean it up to swimming-water quality,” said Mark Andrews, the project manager for the plant on Doug Barnard Parkway near Augusta Regional Airport.

Mr. Turner started in the wastewater-treatment field when his father, who was a mechanic at a treatment plant in Key West, Fla., suggested he help out for the summer.

He recommends that people avoid dumping cooking grease down the drain because it clogs pipes the same way it does arteries. He also said motor oil, transmission fluid and antifreeze can tax the system, as do solids such as condoms and tampons.

“I’ve seen needles and bags of drugs come through,” Mr. Turner said.

His daily routine includes running several tests, such as checking oxygen and sediment levels in the water. During his six years in the business, he’s had his fair share of incidents.

“I’ve had raw sewage splash down on me,” he said. “Everybody here has had times where they had it all over.” For the most part, he’s become used to the odor.

“Your body gets used to it,” he said. “But there are times I go, ‘Oh, this stinks.’” As for the future, Mr. Turner said he has no intention of leaving the wastewater-treatment field.

“I would like to move up and maybe become a project manager or something with the business side of things,” he said.

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