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Operator Profile – Gary Brooks By Steve Lane
With assistance
from: While he was growing up in Orono, Gary Brooks remembers how the river smelled so bad and how there were no fish in it. As a young boy he remembers cutting blocks of ice from the Penobscot in the winter in preparation for the coming summer. He grew up listening to his parents and grand parents speak of the Penobscot River and it’s rich history. He has always enjoyed fishing, canoeing and swimming on the West Branch of the Penobscot River. Gary became interested in wastewater treatment shortly out of high school. The opportunity to work in the field arose when he accepted a job in wastewater treatment for the city of Orono, Maine. Gary Brooks began his 21-year environmental career with the city of Orono in 1980 as the maintenance mechanic of its pollution control facility. He advanced himself to the position of Assistant Chief Operator / Lab Technician during his 8 year tenure there. He then left city for the Superintendents position in neighboring Veazie, Maine. Gary Brooks has been the operator at the 0.3 mgd secondary treatment facility for the Veazie Sewer District since its construction and start-up in 1989. Although the facility is a Grade 2 facility, he holds a Maine Grade 4 –Biological wastewater treatment certification. It soon became apparent that this lagoon wastewater treatment system was unable to meet discharge license conditions during certain times of the year due to the effects of partial nitrification and algae on the effluent. However, Gary took a very active approach to the problem by initiating an intensive study of the system. As a result of his work, Gary learned a great deal about lagoon systems and his knowledge and data has been very helpful to other lagoon operators, engineers and to the DEP. He became a member of the Lagoon Committee in 1993, and of the Lagoon Task Force that was formed by the DEP in 1995 to investigate lagoon design, operational and compliance issues in general. Gary has also been actively involved in forming an association of lagoon operators, which focuses specifically on lagoon operational and training issues. The Department of Environmental Protection recognized Gary Brooks for his exceptional efforts in resolving problems at the Veazie wastewater treatment system and for his contributions to lagoon system design, operation, and regulation in Maine. Also from the results of this extra work came the Maine Lagoon Task Force, Lagoon Operators Group, and the Annual “A Day at the Lagoon”. As time went on, Gary placed timers on the floating aerators in the lagoons. He then set the aerator system up for optimal performance. The plant has realized savings ever since and the timers paid for themselves during the first summer of operation. Modifications to the chlorine gas disinfection system to use liquid sodium hypochlorite. Not only did this rid the District of a high priority safety issue, it also saved fees the District was paying to the Penobscot County Hazmat Team.
Maine
Rural Water Association “Gary won our award a few years ago and was selected for his facility management and his willingness to assist other systems. When his system was not performing properly he simply rolled up his sleeves and went to work trying to correct the shortcomings. He performed a great deal of testing that was not required by his discharge license parameters. Several meetings were held with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and design engineers of the facility. Dissolved oxygen profiles, nutrient testing and dye testing were just some of tests performed to analyze possible short circuiting of the aerated lagoons. Finally, when performing some inhibited BOD’s, Gary found that his facility was operating in the nitrate phase of nitrification. This additional testing led to a greater understanding of his system and how it operated. It has also led to a system upgrade that should improve the quality of the facility operation.” (Gerry Kamke, Circuit Rider MRWA) Civil Engineering Services “Gary has been the point man in the development of the design and construction of the Veazie Sewer District’s plant upgrade. He is very conscientious and keeps the public informed with periodic newsletters. We have incorporated several of his ideas into the design of the plant upgrade, one being the radiant heating system for the headworks area instead of expensive explosion proof electric unit heaters which typically are used. Along with his regular duties Gary is also providing inspection services in a joint effort with CES for the plant upgrade. Gary has also managed numerous sewer system rehabilitation projects which have resulted in substantial extraneous flow reduction”. ( Bob Larson, Civil Engineering Services ) Maine Department of Environmental Protection “Gary Brooks is an excellent operator! He is one of those guys that is extremely conscientious and he never hesitates to go the extra mile. Gary is a good communicator and he does a great job keeping the Department informed on the progress of the ongoing upgrade currently going on at the treatment facility. Gary has gone through some disappointments with the Veazie treatment plant but he has always maintained a positive attitude. I enjoy working with Gary and I have a lot of respect for the work he does on behalf of the Veazie Sanitary District.” ( Clarissa Trasko, Environmental Specialist III, Maine Department of Environmental Protection ) Gary Brooks helped form the Maine Lagoon Operators Association, an informal group of operators establishing and organizing training for operators of Maine Lagoon systems. Gary was also instrumental in obtaining information for the designing of a website for Maine’s Lagoon Systems @ www.lagoonsonline.com. Gary is married to wife Cathy and has 3 children, Jessica age 11, Justin age 8, and Jamie age 4. Gary enjoys watching his children participate in after school activities such as field hockey and soccer. Being a volunteer coach in his community’s recreation department helps him do this. Gary enjoys working with the community’s younger children by voluntarily lending his coaching skills in the soccer, basketball, and baseball programs of which Gary’s 3 children are participants. Gary also enjoys reading a good book. He particularly enjoys reading to his 3 children and has read all 4 of Harry Potter’s books to them. Gary also enjoys the serenity of working in his backyard on family projects.
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