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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (June 25, 2020)
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL | JUNE 25, 2020 | 3A Cottage Grove Water Treatment Plant Superintendent retiring after 30 years of service D uring the past 20 years, Cottage Grove has had one of — if not the best — Water Treatment Plant Superin- tendents in Oregon, Ray Pardee. On May 26, 2000, Pardee accepted the Superintendent position, replacing retiring Super- intendent Brian Ducker. Pardee has lead Cottage Grove’s Water Treatment Plant through many changes in the past two decades. He oversaw the replacement of the former Layng Creek Treatment plant — which had operated well past its life expectancy — with new, cutting edge state-of-the-art equip- ment and technology which produces extreme- COURTESY PHOTO ly clean drinking water. Pardee and the new Ray Pardee, Cottage Grove’s Water Treatment Plant Superintendent for the plant have received nu- past 20 years, is retiring later this month. Pardee was featured in Treatment merous awards and rec- Plant Operator (TPO) Magazine in 2017. ognition from state and Pardee is a leader in scores meeting all the state and assembled one national water treatment of the best teams of water safety criteria. In fact, the water treatment. He has associations. served on several Water treatment plant operators most recent inspection In October 2017, the was a perfect 100 percent Treatment Plant Associa- in Oregon. Row River Water Treat- compliance score and this tions and State taskforces Anyone involved with, ment Plant received an representing small water while the plant is under or who has taken a tour “Outstanding Perfor- treatment plant facilities construction expanding of the Row River Water mance Award” from the throughout Oregon. One Oregon Health Authority, Treatment Plant, City Res- the treatment capacity of his most recent task- Drinking Water Program. ervoirs and the two pump from 4 MGD (million force involvements was Pardee’s love for his job, stations can attest to how gallons per minute) to 6 regarding blue-green MGD. well these facilities are strong work ethic, atten- algae and harmful cyano- Pardee is retiring June maintained and operated. tion to detail and com- toxins. 30, after his 30 years of Everything is immac- mitment to providing safe He made certian Cot- service to the city in the drinking water to Cottage ulately cared for with Water Treatment Division. tage Grove was aware of Grove’s water users is the nothing out of place. He has seen and directed new regulations and re- Many people have com- reason Cottage Grove quired testing by the EPA many changes from op- has an outstanding Water mented after touring the erating the former Layng and OHA for treatment treatment plant that it is Treatment Plant. plants with known algae He worked for and had so clean one could eat off Creek Water Treatment blooms in their water- Plant 22 miles east of Cot- the floor of the plant. the support of three Pub- shed. Every three months, the tage Grove, to building lic Works Directors over and operating the current Pardee has also been a City Safety Committee his tenure as superinten- 4 MGD Pall Membrane leader in educating Cot- dent with the city. Pardee performs safety inspec- tage Grove’s water users tions of all the city’s facil- water treatment system directed the construc- and youth about protect- ities. The treatment plant at the Row River Water tion of one of the finest ing our water source and has received near-perfect Treatment Plant. treatment plants in the conservation of water. He produces an annual Drinking Water Quality Report, is a partner with the Coast Fork Willa- mette Watershed Council, gives educational tours of the treatment plant to local South Lane School District youth, and works with local partners such as the United States Forest Service, Cottage Grove Ranger District and the United States Army CORP of Engineers. Pardee is passionate about protecting and conserving our local water source. Lastly, Pardee is leaving the Row River Water Treatment Plant in excellent hands. He has mentored three very competent, certified Water Treatment Plant Operators with years of experience. He hired and trained each of them instilling the importance of the their responsibilities to the city’s water user by providing them with safe drinking water, to pay attention to details, and take pride in what they do making sure every job done as close to perfec- tion as possible. Whether it is mow- ing grass, maintaining equipment, or taking water samples, always do your best, was Pardee’s direction. Pardee has created a legacy of excellence that will address the ev- er-changing regulations and environmental im- pacts on Cottage Grove’s water system. Milestones: • July 24, 1990, Pard- ee was hired by Cottage Grove in the Water Treat- ment Production Division • 1992, Cottage Grove built a 2 MGD Sand Filtration Plant at the Row River Treatment Plant • 1992, expanded the 1 million gallon reservoir on Knox Hill to 2 Mil- lion Gallon and added a concrete roof covering the reservoir. • 2004, Installed new roof on the 2.3 million gallon 1954 reservoir. • 2006, Built the new Holly Water Pumpstation. • 2008, Commissioned the new 4 MGD Pall Membrane Filtration Plant at the Row River Water Treatment Plant. • 2009, Highlighted in the Water & Wastes Digest Plant Profile of the month for May. • 2010, Completed tech- nical assistance to the new Row River Water Valley District. • 2012, OHA awarded “Outstanding Plant Per- formance”. • 2016 Awarded the “Outstanding Membrane Plant Award” from the Northwest Membrane Operators Association (NWMOA). • 2017 Highlighted in the TPO (Treatment Plant Operator) June Publica- tion as Top Performer for Wa-ter Plants. A nation- al publication that has 68,317 monthly subscrib- ers. • 2017, Completed the construction of a new Taylor Avenue Pump Station replacing the old Taylor Pump Station and Cottage Heights Pump Station. • 2017, OHA awarded “Outstanding Plant Per- formance.” is the permanent, clog-free gutter solution!* We Have News For You We have the news you want in print and online anytime, plus a whole lot more… Subscribe Now to Save up to 20% Off the Newsstand Price! Call or sign up online with code JUNE20 for limited-time special off ers for new and returning subscribers.* $ INSTALLATION 99 -- S entinel C ottage G rove Your local news delivered your way. In print. Online. On the go! 116 N. 6th Street • PO BOX 35 • Cottage Grove, OR www.cgsentinel.com 541-942-3325 *Offer good through 6.26.20. Mention this ad. This offer is not transferable and the offer is available those who have not subscribed in the last 31 days. 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