Water Environment Association of Ontario

10/25/2025

Meet Carrie Scattergood, one of Ontario’s outstanding water operators!

Brief description of how you entered the profession:
"I started in Halton as a contract operator in 2003, about 10 years after completing college for environmental science. I never expected to work in wastewater, but I have never regretted taking the opportunity when it was offered."

Things you enjoy the most about being a Wastewater Treatment Operator:
"I like the variety of work we get to do, especially troubleshooting. I find it very satisfying to use my skills, knowledge, and experience to solve different problems. It’s like solving puzzles."

What is the biggest challenge operations face?
"One of the biggest challenges operations faces is a lack of understanding of what we do and sometimes what the plant needs. Often, decisions are made regarding changes or upgrades without a full understanding of the consequences to the process and operation + maintenance requirements."

We’re proud to celebrate Carrie as part of

10/24/2025

Our 2025 Intelligent Water Solutions Seminar is just one month away! Join us on Tuesday, November 25th at the Mississauga Grand Banquet Centre, from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.

Registration will close on November 18th at 4 pm. Register here: buff.ly/LRVXgqw

10/24/2025

Meet Jalene Hogan, one of Ontario’s outstanding water operators!

Brief description of how you entered the profession:
"In 2019, I graduated from the Environmental technician program at Niagara College. I was drawn to the idea of working in a field that directly protects the environment while continuously evolving and improving.

In 2023 I joined Halton Region as a summer student at the Mid Halton Wastewater Treatment Plant. That hands-on experience gave me a real appreciation for how much optimization, teamwork and critical thinking go into successfully operating a treatment facility. That experience led me to continue with the Region as a full time operator, and it confirmed that this is a career I want to keep growing in."

Things you enjoy the most about being a Wastewater Treatment Operator:
"What I like most about being an operator is the problem-solving aspect of the job. Everyday brings on new challenges, whether it’s troubleshooting a process issue, or finding new ways to optimize plant performance. I enjoy the mix of technical thinking and hands-on work, it keeps things interesting and rewarding."

What is the biggest challenge operations face?
"One of the biggest challenges in operations is handling constant change. Changes being process related, weather impacts, optimization targets or maintenance delays. It requires staying adaptable and communicating well as a team to keep everything running efficiently. I think this challenge is also what makes it rewarding; there's always something new to learn or to improve."

We’re proud to celebrate Jalene as part of

10/23/2025

Our 2025 Utility Management Seminar is about 1 month away! Join us on Thursday, November 20th in Mississauga for this informative session.

Registration will close on November 13th at 4 pm. Register here: buff.ly/0vcPOEG

10/23/2025

Today is !

WEAO President Carrie Brunet shares a heartfelt thank you to all the incredible water, wastewater, and stormwater operators across Ontario — for everything you do to keep our communities safe, healthy, and resilient.

Today and every day, we appreciate the vital work you do.

10/23/2025

Meet Nathaniel French, one of Ontario’s outstanding water operators!

Municipality: Peel Region
Facility: Inglewood Wastewater Treatment Facility, 33 Sewage Pumping Stations, 4 Storm Pumping Stations, 2 Landfill Pumping Stations, 1 Odour Control Facility and 1 Ground Water Treatment Plant
Certifications: Wastewater Treatment Level 3, Wastewater Collection Level 2
Number of years in the Industry: 15 years.

Brief description of how you entered the profession:
"I’ve always had a special appreciation for the environment. My father was a provincial officer with the Ministry of the Environment and he was the one that introduced me to the importance of protecting the environment. From a young age, I always enjoyed being outside, I grew up on Chippewas of the Thames First Nation and always knew I wanted to work protecting the environment. This love for the environment grew as I traveled the world playing international baseball and saw the importance of clean water management. For that reason, I decided to write my OITs and apply for a job in the wastewater industry. I got my start at the City of London working at one of their large treatment facilities Greenway WWTP. From there, I learned about the innerworkings of Wastewater Treatment and decided I never wanted to leave. After 5 years at London, I applied to work at the Region of Peel as I relocated to Mississauga. Since then, I have enjoyed working at the Communal Wastewater Treatment Facility in Inglewood and working across the various pumping stations in the Region of Peel."

Things you enjoy the most about being a Wastewater Treatment Operator:
"Two of the things I like most is protecting the environment and troubleshooting on a daily basis. Working at a Treatment Facility, you are always getting new challenges with different equipment breaking down or needing rehab, unforeseen incoming toxic loads or high I&I among countless other issues or scenarios. You are always asked to come up with creative ways to meet your objectives or targets on a daily basis and I really enjoy leading junior operators and coming up with solutions. Overcoming these daily challenges, gives me a sense of pride in my day to day job and knowing I am protecting the environment is even more important."

We’re proud to celebrate Nathaniel as part of

10/23/2025

Join us for the WEAO/OWWA Climate Change Seminar! It will take place on Thursday, November 13th, with our speakers discussing “Hidden Currents: Unseen Effects of Climate on the Water Cycle & our Infrastructure.”

Register here by November 6th at 4 pm: buff.ly/WzuVC8t

10/22/2025

There’s just 3 weeks left until our Stormwater Seminar! Join us on Wednesday, November 12th from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at the Mississauga Convention Centre.

Register here by November 5th: https://buff.ly/UDXVErL

10/22/2025

Meet Kevin Round, one of Ontario’s outstanding water operators!

Municipality: The Regional Municipality of Durham
Facility: Corbett Creek WPCP
Certifications: Class IV Wastewater Treatment, Water Quality Technician Diploma, Chemical Laboratory Technician Diploma
Number of years in the Industry: Nine

Brief description of how you entered the profession:
"I was enrolled at Durham College in the third year of the Biotechnology Advanced program but hadn’t found a direction in the industry I was confidently engaged in. Through some networking and peers, I discovered the Water Quality Program and within it a career in Operations at Water and Wastewater facilities; the rest was history. I transitioned my entire education to better compliment this new direction and began absorbing as much as I could on the industry. The learning became second nature with the heightened interest in the subject. I utilized a Durham College led meet and greet with future employers to make connections and obtained summer employment with The Region of Durham in Wastewater. Upon graduation I was hired in a Pharmaceutical Manufacturer as an Equipment Sanitation Technician which was excellent exposure to working competently within GMP, GLP, ISO and other industrial standards and expectations. It wasn’t long before my skillset and experience helped me successfully obtain my first permanent employment as a wastewater operator with the City of Toronto at Ashbridges Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant. I wouldn’t change a thing as it’s been the most rewarding career in an excellent industry."

Things you enjoy the most about being a Wastewater Treatment Operator:
"Being a Wastewater Treatment Operator is an easy to enjoy experience. The job regularly blends working with heavy equipment and scientific theory creating a workplace where your morning may be spent analyzing trends, running laboratory tests and measuring contents of samples while your afternoon could have you in rubber boots, a face shield and a harness at the bottom of an aeration basin to change diffuser heads. It immediately captured my interest because of the hands-on requirements and the satisfaction you get from heavy work but also with a large element of textbook application."

Read more about Kevin's experience in our attached images! We’re proud to celebrate Kevin as part of

10/21/2025

Registration closes tomorrow at 4 pm for our 2025 Wastewater Treatment & Technology Seminar!

Join us next Wednesday, October 29th for this informative session! Register now: https://buff.ly/75NccbF

10/21/2025

Meet Calvin Thomas, one of Ontario’s outstanding water operators!

Municipality: Niagara Region
Facility: Niagara Falls Wastewater Treatment Plant
Certifications: Class IV Wastewater Treatment, Class IV Wastewater Collections
Number of years in the Industry: Four

Brief description of how you entered the profession:
"I studied environmental sciences, which gave me a great foundation in the field. After that, I spent about seven years working in water quality labs and honestly thought that’s where I’d spend my whole career. While I was on a temporary contract at the Niagara Region environmental lab and waiting for something permanent, I took on a wastewater operator job at the Niagara Falls plant. At first, I figured it would just be an interesting new experience before heading back to lab work, but I ended up loving it. The daily challenges and the fact that I can directly see the impact on the environment really hooked me, and that’s when I knew I wanted to stick with it and build my career as an operator."

Things you enjoy the most about being a Wastewater Treatment Operator:
"What I enjoy most about being a wastewater treatment operator is that every day is different. You never really know what you’re walking into, and I like that challenge. I enjoy giving tours and showing people the work we do, and I also get a lot out of training new employees, sharing what I know but also learning from their fresh perspectives. It’s rewarding to know the job directly supports public health and safety, which is the whole reason I got into the environmental field in the first place. I also like that there’s room to grow, whether it’s levelling up certifications or developing different skills like process control, troubleshooting, or data interpretation. On top of that, I’ve got a strong team around me, and there’s always more to learn, which keeps me invested. And honestly, I get a kick out of telling people I work with p**p. The reactions are priceless, especially when I tell them I love what I do. I’m a bit of a wastewater nerd and I’m proud of it."

We’re proud to celebrate Calvin as part of

10/21/2025

Do you know a grade 12 student attending a post-secondary educational institution in Fall 2025? If they are interested in pursuing an education related to water quality, encourage them to apply for the 2025 Kelman Scholarship!

The Kelman Scholarship has been established to support an Ontario secondary school student who is interested in the protection of the water environment, and plans to attend a post-secondary institution in a related field of study.

Entry requirement: Applicants must prepare a 500-word essay outlining their interest in issues related to water environment protection, and how they would pursue an educational and career opportunity in this field. Essay must accompany a completed application form and teacher reference form.

Award: $1000 is graciously provided by Kelman and Associates Ltd., the publisher of our INFLUENTS magazine. The selected students will receive $500 each.

For further details, please visit: https://buff.ly/p107MhW

The deadline to apply is Friday, October 31st.

The WEAO Scholarship Program recognizes outstanding students pursuing education or careers in the water quality field in Ontario.