Longtime city employee helps ensure Simi's drinking water is safe

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers VITAL TASK—Laboratory supervisor Barbara Santos lifts a beaker of green water that indicates a lack of ammonia in the freshly filtered water from the Simi Valley Water Quality Control Plant during the semi-annual sampling day on Monday. Santos, a resident of Camarillo, was recently honored by the City Council for her 25 years of dedication to protecting the city's liquid assets. Kind, tough, generous, productive, energetic—these are the words used to describe laboratory supervisor Barbara Santos, who's worked at the Water Quality Control Plant in Simi Valley for 25 years.

Once in her office, it's easy to see how all these personality traits come together. From the piles of paper strewn across her desk to the too-many-to-count awards arranged on the walls, it's evident that Santos has had a successful career.

But a glowing candle, bouquets of flowers, framed family photos and small quilt tacked to the wall reveal a more personal side, proving Santos isn't just a science geek in a lab coat. Though she is that, too.

The 58-year-old Camarillo resident grew up in the Philippines, where she earned her bachelor's in medical technology from the University of Santo Tomas in 1970.

Eight years later, Santos moved to the United States, first living in Houston, Texas before coming to California.

Although she wanted to pursue a job in the medical technology field, she was unable to secure the internship she sought at UC Santa Barbara, and circumstances eventually led her a different direction: wastewater treatment.

Santos admitted she kind of fell into her current profession, but even though it was unplanned, she said, the med tech and wastewater fields actually have some commonalities.

"Some of the instruments you use in testing blood you use in testing water," she said.

After doing wastewater analysis for Aquatic Bioassay & Consulting Laboratories in Ventura for three years, Santos came to the city of Simi. She started in 1984 as an assistant water quality technician and a year later was promoted to lab supervisor.

In 1989, Santos added to her resume a master's in public administration from Cal State Northridge.

"It's a great career," she said. "It's very rewarding because you help protect the public health and the environment."

Located on 33 acres on the western end of Simi, the water quality control plant treats about 10 million gallons of wastewater a day, most of it coming from homes.

In order to make sure the water discharged from the plant meets federal and state standards, Santos spends her days testing and analyzing the treated wastewater and communicating with plant operations about any adjustments that need to be made.

"We're here to make sure we're in compliance. Our standards are stricter than drinking water," she said, noting that noncompliance can cost $3,000 a day in fines. "We are very conscious of what we discharge out into the arroyo, that we don't cause problems in the ecosystem."

Despite the important work the plant does for the city, Santos said, many residents are unaware of how wastewater goes "from the sewer to the table."

"They think when they flush the toilet, it disappears. They don't realize it comes here to be treated to be pristine again," she said. "That is the most gratifying part of my job, to see a good product out there."

The facility also tests the city's drinking water. Samples are collected off-site at locations throughout Simi and brought back to the lab for analysis.

The most stressful part of her job, Santos said, is recordkeeping and meeting deadlines. But even after 25 years, she still enjoys coming to work.

"I love my job here. That's why I stay for a long time," said Santos, who is also on the California Water Environment Association's Tri-Counties board.

Jim Langley, deputy director of the city's sanitation services division, described Santos as a true leader because she's able to get along with everyone and at the same time get people to do the work that needs to be done.

"She does a great job and the people in the plant love her," Langley said. "She's a catalyst. She's such a highenergy person, people get energized just working with her."

During last week's City Council meeting, Santos was honored for her years of service to the city, and Mayor Paul Miller presented her with a 25year service award and watch.

"When you listen to what she's accomplished and all that she's done, you understand why this city is in such great shape," Miller said at the meeting.

Santos said the city has changed over the years and that the plant has had to undergo many renovations and add new equipment to keep up with the population.

As the environmental industry continues to grow, she said, more people educated in the field are needed to fill gaps left by retirees.

When she does hang up her lab coat in about four years, Santos said, she hopes to open a bed and breakfast.

"I like doing stuff," said Santos, who finds time to chair the board of the FilipinoAmerican Association of Camarillo. "I can't just sit home and do nothing."

An avid baker, she used to have a catering company called Apples, Peaches and Cream Catering—and she still caters for friends if they ask.

"She's a great cook," Langley said. "She has so much energy. She will get up early and bake things for the entire plant. People can tell when Barbara wakes up early."