Elisia Wiley

My time spent at the Water Resource Recovery Facility (previously Wastewater Treatment Plant) has given me a fresh perspective into the world of water. I have learned so much while working here and studying for my Wastewater Operators Licenses; and I have gained a new appreciation for water as a resource and wastewater treatment as fundamental necessity for civilization. The environment is a strong focus in this work sector and further supports my desire to study Environmental Sustainability.

Learning the history of wastewater taught me that treatment has decreased the number of waterborne diseases significantly. Currently, we have been facing a pandemic with COVID and all of its variants. During the time since the COVID outbreak began, studies have been ongoing. Locally, my treatment plant has been working with a professor at Murray State University taking samples for studies on COVID in our wastewater in relation to our community. Diseases can be detected in wastewater several days before the onset of symptoms in the affected individuals in the community. I am interested in learning how to test for various diseases so that we can be proactive instead of reactive to outbreaks. Additionally, I would like to see how effective our treatment process is in removing or inactivating these diseases through disinfection, or if other methods need to be implemented.

In the long term, I would love to be able to continue working in the water sector to help improve treatment operations and implement new technologies to support environmental sustainability. I read new information about recycling wastewater into clean drinking water, new technologies for treatment processes that are greener, information on PFAS, and news about what is happening today in the water sector in WEF SmartBriefs. My goal is to continue learning about better ways to protect the environment through new technologies and green processes so that I can implement them into existing and new systems. I want to be on the front lines of discovery and leading the way while being able to make and positive impact on our environment and communities.