Lake Cowichan (2020 to present)

Made significant contributions and successfully completed various tasks to enhance the efficiency and operations of the newly constructed Lake Cowichan water treatment plant (WTP).

Assisted with the final commissioning of the WTP by working with the design engineering team on the final tests and completing the necessary documentation to receive the Permit to Operate from the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA).

Wrote a comprehensive and simplified process narrative that offered a holistic overview of the entire system, from the intake of water from the lake to its distribution in the town. This narrative served as a valuable resource for understanding the intricacies of the system and its processes.

Trained fellow staff members on plant procedures and operations to ensure that the team was well-equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to carry out their tasks effectively, ultimately improving the overall performance of the plant.

Developed a monthly report template, streamlining the reporting process and facilitating compliant reporting communication with VIHA. This template not only simplified the documentation process but also provided a structured format for sharing essential information among the team members.

Wrote standard operating procedures (SOPs) for maintaining, calibrating, and troubleshooting process equipment. These SOPs covered various critical aspects, including:

• Plant start-up
• Daily checks at the water treatment plant (WTP)
• Replacement of tubes on the A-100NV peristaltic chemical feed pump
• Evaluation of backwash water turbidity
• Calibration of online pH, chlorine, and turbidity meters
• TU5300 desiccant replacement and vial cleaning
• Laboratory jar testing
• Zeta Sizer operation
• Cleaning the Coagulant Day Tank,
• Removing airlock on coagulation feed pumps

By providing detailed guidelines for these processes, this ensured standardized practices and efficient equipment maintenance. Updated comprehensive emergency response plans (ERPs) that covered a wide range of scenarios, including:

• High turbidity at the source
• Broken water main
• Adverse water sample
• Booster station pump failure
• Extended power failure
• Inadequate chlorine residual
• Filtration failure
• UV or chlorination system failure
• SCADA/PLC failure
• Backflow, back siphonage, or cross-connection conditions
• Confirmed contamination at the source
• Confirmed contamination of the reservoir
• Building fire
• Watershed fire
• Flooding/mudslides
• Major earthquakes

These plans provided clear protocols and guidelines for the facility's response during unforeseen events, ensuring the safety and uninterrupted provision of clean water to the community.

Determined critical spares and consumables required for the facility. Analysis and planning helped in maintaining a sufficient inventory of essential items, minimizing downtime and maximizing operational efficiency.

Developed a comprehensive chemical testing regime using the on-site laboratory equipment and scheduled sampling for third-party lab. This regime established a systematic approach to monitor and analyze the quality of water throughout the treatment process, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and maintaining water safety.

Coordinated third-party contractors for annual fire extinguisher inspections, testing backflow preventors, inspecting online instrumentation, and calibrating bench laboratory testing equipment. Proactive approach ensured that these critical tasks were performed regularly, guaranteeing the facility's compliance with safety regulations and the accurate functioning of essential equipment.

Assisted with the EOCP classification of the facility based on criteria such as size and scale, intake infrastructure, and the technology employed in the treatment process. This classification determined the level of certification required by the operator responsible for the water treatment process and treated water quality.

Other duties included process checks and testing at the Town’s lagoon wastewater treatment facility, distribution checks for chlorine residual, and lift station inspections throughout the collection system.

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Mike Hewitt came to us (the Town of Lake Cowichan) at a critical juncture just as we were in the process of getting our new Water Treatment Plant commissioned for operations. He worked successfully with the design engineering team on the final testing and commissioning of the plant. He was well-qualified for undertaking the preparation and completion of all necessary documentation to ensure a structured formation for the operation of the Treatment Plant. His expertise and background in water treatment was very instrumental in getting us to where we currently are on the operations of this plant with Island Health.

Mike assisted with the EOCP classification of the facility based on criteria such as size and scale, intake infrastructure, and the technology employed in the treatment process. This classification determined the level of certification required by the operator responsible for the water treatment process and treated water quality.

Mike's dedication and expertise significantly improved the facility's operations and preparedness. His efforts ensured the provision of safe and clean water to the community while optimizing efficiency and complying with regulatory standards. We were indeed fortunate to have had Mike as a member of our team. His expertise and knowledge continue to be still relied on by the Town of Lake Cowichan on an ongoing basis.

Joseph A. Fernandez, Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Lake Cowichan

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