Meet Alex Bermudez, Wastewater Collections Worker
Alex Bermudez has a connection to Roseville Utilities that involves more than just being the place where he works every day. He is not only a wastewater maintenance worker, he is also a grandson of a retired Roseville Electric Utility worker. Bermudez says that like his stint serving his country in the Navy for four years, serving the City of Roseville like his Grandpa has proud moments, too.
The teamwork, competitiveness and camaraderie he enjoyed in the service — and the discipline — prepared him well for his new job in wastewater and transitioning from the service he says was easy. On the job, Bermudez says the culture is like the military in the sense that as a unit, everybody knows everything is important, so, everyone learns and does everything so as to not miss a beat. Now that’s teamwork.
Each day Bermudez arrives at work, gets his assignment for the day, and goes out into the field with his crew to serve where needed. They will go manhole to manhole, clean the lines, and complete routine maintenance, all tasks to prevent emergencies, but they still can happen. If there is a plug in the main causing a sewer spill, Bermudez explains, that can lead to an environmental health issue.
Construction is most often the culprit for accidents, so Bermudez and his crew members are on call 24/7 just in case. Their equipment, particularly the vactor truck with its water tank and giant vacuum hose, is big and imposing, and gets the job done. Bermudez says the kids love it when they get to see the truck, especially at Big Trucks Summer, a special annual event at the Roseville Utility Exploration Center, when lots of City trucks are on display, and the kids get to pretend they are responders.
Bermudez is now engaged to be married and turning toward the future. He says the City has mechanisms for advancement and helps create opportunities for employees to get there. He is determined to take advantage of the chance to acquire certificates and follow his strategy for moving up the ladder: keep your head down, be the best, prove yourself and be ready to work.