As a co-op student in the engineering department of WCRSA, I have a variety of tasks each day. One major job is to verify sewer availability to a customer. Through phone calls, faxes, or in person, I verify whether or not it is possible for that particular piece of property to tie onto the sewer.

Another job that I perform as a co-op student is to document construction projects by taking digital pictures on a regular basis. Since the Greenville area is growing so rapidly, WCRSA must be continuously upgrading, expanding, and adding new treatment plants and sewer lines to accommodate the increasing demand. Projects such as the Mauldin Road waste water treatment plant (WWTP) upgrade, the Lower Reedy WWTP upgrade, and the Reedy River Trunk Line Project have been either completed or are nearing completion. Each of these projects is approximately $30 million. Projects such as the Gilder Creek WWTP expansion and the addition of a new treatment plant, the Georges Creek Regional WWTP, are currently underway. Taking pictures of these projects is one of my favorite tasks because it allows me to be in the field where I have learned a great deal about a project during the construction phase.

Another experience obtained by a co-op student with WCRSA is involvement in the engineering firm selection and construction services bidding processes. This is a wonderful experience because it exposes you to an important part of this line of work. Also, attending design meetings and monthly progress meetings with the engineers and project managers provides great experience as well. You learn about problems that can occur in the design and construction phases and how the engineers solve these problems.