Inside Water Quality
Meeting strict water quality regulations is a full-time job for dozens of Cal Water employees. One of those employees is Sophie James, Cal Water's Manager of Laboratory Services.
"I didn't set out to work in water quality," says Sophie. "It just happened. I graduated from college with a Bachelor of Science Degree in chemistry and was hired by an agency that placed temporary employees in scientific positions. My first assignment was with an environmental laboratory that conducted drinking water and wastewater testing for a local municipality. There I began my career in water quality. I've worked at Cal Water for almost four years."
Fourteen years of laboratory experience, undergraduate and graduate degrees in chemistry, and management experience have helped prepare Sophie for this demanding position.
Of course, Sophie doesn't manage water quality on her own. "Our water quality team is made up of 25 employees. This includes our laboratory group, which is, among other things, responsible for providing analytical services to all of our water systems; our project management team, which handles the regulatory aspects of water quality; and our administrative and management teams."
The effort required to meet water quality standards is determined by the water source. Some water sources require less treatment and testing, and some require more. We dedicate whatever resources are necessary to ensure that our customers receive good, clean water. As Sophie says, "We mean it when we say that protecting customer health and safety is our highest priority!"
When she isn't at work focusing on water quality, Sophie most enjoys spending time with her family. She is a mother of two boys and a baby girl.