As National Laboratory Professionals Week wraps up, a spotlight has been cast on the dedicated individuals working at the Pima County Wastewater’s Compliance and Regulatory Affairs Office (CRAO) Laboratory. These workers, who spend their days analyzing wastewater samples, are essential to ensuring the health of the public and the environment. The lab, as described in a recent Pima County news release, is commendably spacious and designed to minimize the possibility of contamination, according to Laboratory Manager Jenelle Chraft.
With state certification under its belt, the lab resides on the Water Campus of Pima County's Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department. It operates near the cutting-edge Agua Nueva Water Reclamation Facility. This well-oiled laboratory machine works ceaselessly, processing samples not only from the County's wastewater treatment plants but also from entities like universities and hospitals. Jack Van Riper, a lab veteran of 17 years, conveys his enthusiasm for the job, telling Pima County newsroom, "I come to have fun for eight hours a day."
The laboratory is divided into four specialized units - Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC), Organic, Inorganic, and Microbiology. They each claim a unique space within the lab, allowing for focused testing on everything from cyanide to mercury levels in wastewater. Decoration in the lab isn't overlooked. Chemistry instruments are accented with stickers of DuckTales characters, as Chraft humorously pointed out, "Lab work can be repetitive, so you have to make your own fun."
Despite the seriousness of their day-to-day tasks, lab chemist Derek Whorton acknowledges the lighter side of working with wastewater – the "spicy on the nose" samples. Yet the lab's role extends far beyond just handling unpleasant smells. As Chraft explained, one of their key measurements is oxygen demand, a vital parameter for ensuring that treated wastewater can support aquatic life when released into natural water bodies. "That’s how we can be assured that when the water goes out into the river, the fish are going to survive," Chraft told Pima County's newsroom.
The dedication of the staff is clear. Ava Hopkinson, a laboratory chemist with the QA/QC Unit, appreciates the supportive work environment and the lab's pivotal role in environmental protection. "It’s very welcoming here," Hopkinson said in her interview with the Pima County newsroom.
