Keeping Clean Water Flowing
Sarah Burgess
Published to the Town of Hillsborough August 2024
HILLSBOROUGH — Malcolm Hester hears small differences in machine sounds at Hillsborough’s water treatment plant and can tell when one isn’t running properly.
During his 27 years on the job, the plant operator has become attuned to the equipment, developing this special hearing.
“Look and listen — that’s what I do,” Hester said as he paused by a lab countertop lined with small beakers of water samples to talk about his work.
The plant runs 24 hours every day to keep clean water flowing for residents. Staffing it with reliable operators like Hester is important, and having longtime operators with decades of experience in the plant is invaluable.
“Having Malcolm is like having a cheat sheet,” Water Treatment Plant Superintendent Nathan Cates said. “It’s helpful having someone who’s been here long enough that they can look back and remember how something was dealt with in the past.”
The Water Treatment Plant pulls raw water from the Eno River and treats it to a high standard for residents. The plant’s staff ensures the treatment is of the highest quality by making certain chemical adjustments to the raw water, which is tested every two hours — more often than the state mandates.
Operators like Hester are highly certified and work 12-hour shifts around the clock. Hester enjoys the consistency of his schedule so he can easily plan time to see his loved ones outside of work.
The plant operator’s shift starts by running pH and chlorine tests, measuring the amount of acidity, alkalinity and chlorine in the water being treated. These are completed every two hours, while other tests such as for iron, magnesium, alkaline and coliform bacteria are performed once a shift. Both the raw water coming into the plant and the treated water are tested. Hester and the other operators make adjustments based on the test results. It takes about six hours for water to complete the treatment process.
“We have to see what’s in the water first in order to see what we have to take out,” Hester said.
Between completing routine tests, Hester monitors the levels of five water tanks located around town by viewing data on large screens. Operators can clearly see if the level of a water tank suddenly drops, which could indicate an emergency such as a water line break. They must act quickly to adjust the levels of the other tanks to maintain water pressure while the break is repaired.
Emergencies often prompt phone calls from the public, which the plant employees answer, directing the public to other departments if needed and relaying important information about water or sewer emergencies to fellow utilities staff.
Even though routine testing is the same every shift, Hester notes that he’s never bored.
“Every day is different, but I enjoy the challenge,” Hester said. “You never know what you’re going to find in your sample or what could happen on the ground.”
Rainy days mean more work at the plant because the amount of muddy runoff water flowing from the river to the plant for treatment increases. It’s a balancing act to maintain the right amounts of treatment chemicals when extra silt flows into the plant.
“Most people don’t know exactly what we do here at the plant, but they know they don’t want to drink dirty water,” Hester said. “It’s satisfying to be able to turn muddy water into drinkable water. It makes me feel like I’ve really done something.”
Tour the Plant
The Water Treatment Plant regularly offers tours for the public to get a better look at the treatment process and to see operators like Hester in action. To sign up for the 1 p.m. Sept. 13 tour or to inquire about a private group tour, complete the Utilities Tour Request form.
More Information
For more information about the town’s drinking water and quality, see the Water Quality Report and the About Water page.