We know when you turn on your tap, you expect safe, reliable water to flow. While our Engineering and Operations Department works tirelessly 24/7, 365 days a year to keep the water moving through the pipes, there's another crucial part of the equation: Making sure your water is the best possible quality and that it’s available now and for future generations.
Meet our dedicated Water Resources Division. This specialized team within our Engineering and Operations Department focuses on protecting the quantity and quality of water delivered to your home or business. From daily testing to long-term planning, their work touches nearly every drop that comes through your tap.
What Does the Water Resources Division Do?
Today's water quality and water supply management requirements are more demanding than ever. They involve chemistry and biology, public health awareness, customer education, and an understanding of water policy and law. Think of them as the guardians of our water supplies, from the source to your tap. Their responsibilities are wide-ranging and essential:
- Water Supply Management: Make sure we have reliable, long-term access to current and future water supplies by following state and federal water law requirements.
- Testing and Compliance: They collect and analyze hundreds of samples each month from across our system, review data, and make sure your water meets or is better than strict safety standards set by the Oregon Health Authority and the Environmental Protection Agency.
- Backflow Prevention: Our vital backflow prevention program protects your water system from potential contamination by educating customers and ensuring compliance of thousands of backflow prevention devices throughout TVWD. This includes managing our popular Gold Plan Testing Program for residential backflow assemblies.
- Customer Service and Education: Responsible for fielding in-depth questions and providing resources related to water quality, water supply, and backflow prevention.
- Intra-Department Coordination: Sampling results help maintain consistent operations or flag anything unusual happening in the system, helping Operations and Maintenance crews respond effectively. Partnering with other departments also creates a foundation for using innovative tools to monitor and manage water quality across the entire system.
- Reporting: Compiling the data and information for our annual Water Quality Report, making sure you have transparent access to water quality information. They also report in-depth water usage information to state regulators.
- Looking Ahead: The team actively reviews new and proposed regulations and policies to understand how they might affect your water system and future water supplies, ensuring we continue delivering high-quality water efficiently for generations to come.
Our Commitment to You
From water supply management, rigorous water quality testing and system protection, to customer education and innovative analysis, TVWD’s Water Resources Division is dedicated to providing customers the best water and service possible. We appreciate the trust you place in us every time you turn on the tap.
Joel is the Water Resources Division Manager, responsible for the oversight of the Department. Joel has over 25 years of experience in the water industry. He has served on state appointed advisory committees and various industry work groups in support of policy making and industry guidance.
“I’m proud to be part of such a vital division at TVWD,” says Joel. “Water supply management, water quality monitoring, and cross connection control all work together to protect the community water supply and public health—and to preserve our customers’ trust in TVWD.”
Bill is a Senior Water Quality Specialist who has worked in the department for over 20 years. He has experience managing smaller water districts and has served on several water-related committees, providing leadership and education within the industry.
“I’m really proud to be part of this amazing team,” says Bill. “We all take so much pride in our roles. And it’s not just our group; we work closely with other departments reviewing water quality results and data and how they relate to day-to-day operations. Customers should feel confident their water is safe, and that is our number one priority.”
Tara is a Senior Water Quality Specialist who has been with TVWD since 2017. She holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Science and Management and is passionate about applying science to protect and improve drinking water quality.
“I love the challenge of turning complex data into practical solutions,” says Tara. “This work matters because it helps our community trust what’s coming out of their tap.”
Kahlil (Kal) is a Senior Water Quality Inspector who joined TVWD’s Water Resources Division in 2020. He brings a decade of experience as a backflow tester and regional educator, providing training for cross connection control and other essential components of water system operations.
“Working in water quality is about trust,” says Kal. “The community relies on us to keep their water safe, and we take that trust very seriously.”
Dave, a Water Quality Inspector with the Water Resources Division since 2016, brings a versatile skill set to the team. He has 16 years of utility background experience at Hawaiian Electric Co. and a degree from the University of Hawaii.
“I’m proud to be part of a team that puts the community first,” says Dave. “Our job means being there—even when no one sees it—to make sure every drop of water meets the highest standards.”
Joining TVWD in 2024, Water Resources’ newest member Zoe is a Water Quality Specialist. With a degree in Hydrology from Boise State University and a background in Hydraulic research, she is enthusiastic about using science to better her community.
“Every sample tells a story. I like knowing that the work I do helps protect public health and keeps our communities safe,” says Zoe. “Most people don’t think twice about their tap water. And that’s a good thing—it means we’re doing our job right.”