Genesee News

Over the next few weeks, we will be introducing some of the people who work to bring us safe drinking water. 

Meet Greg Braidwood, a Skilled Operator for the City of Owosso Department of Public Works. Greg is part of the water distribution team that makes sure the water keeps flowing through more than 108 miles of water mains to and from our homes and businesses.

“To me, it's kind of like a puzzle. You have got to figure out what's down there. What's wrong? How do you fix it? Every scenario is different. 

Right now, we are busy with the lead service line investigations. We will use the vac truck and we will hydro vac down to identify what material the lines are coming off of the water main to the service stop and then from the service stop into the house. 

The vac truck is used for hydro excavation. So basically we just get a big squirt gun that we can spray dirt out and suck it up with the truck. It is very dirty. Normally we're covered from head to toe in mud and water but it's a lot more precise than using the backhoe or an excavator and is a lot more delicate on the infrastructure. 

We're also working on trying to get some stuff cleaned up and prepped for the winter. During the wintertime, especially when it's snowing badly, it's all hands on deck and you jump in a truck and you plow all day.

When we are plowing, if a water main break happens, the water department is pulled off of any duties that they're currently on and we go straight to the water. 

The city doesn't sleep. It's true people sleep but the city doesn't. So we've got to keep the city alive. We've got to keep the water flowing. We've got to keep the streets clear. We don't rest until the work is done.”

Original source can be found here.