Working Together To Protect Public Health

Ventura Water Reclamation Facility (VWRF) Maintenance section is comprised of Utility Mechanics, Electricians, and a Welder, totaling 8 staff members. Maintenance staff members are active participants of the California Water Environment Association (CWEA). Maintenance staff is responsible for the maintenance and repair of all equipment at the (VWRF), as well as the 11 wastewater lift stations and 5 storm water lift stations located throughout the City.

Ventura Water Reclamation Facility (VWRF) employs 7 utility collection system operators. All collection system operators are certified through the California Water Environment Association (CWEA) in Collection System Maintenance. The Collections Crew is responsible for maintaining 305 miles of sewer pipeline throughout the City. They are also tasked with assessing the integrity of the sewer lines and manholes. Collection operations staff is available around the clock 365 days a year.

City of San Buenaventura Laboratory is located at the Ventura Water Reclamation Facility (VWRF) Laboratory and employs 7 full time staff members. The laboratory is accredited through the California Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP), and is certified in 9 different fields of testing (FOT) covering drinking water, wastewater, hazardous waste, and recreational water. Laboratory staff members are certified through the California Water Environment Association (CWEA) Laboratory Analyst program.

To ensure that the citizens of Ventura have access to safe drinking water, the laboratory is responsible for collecting and analyzing water in the distribution system to ensure that the City’s drinking water supply meets and exceeds all State regulatory requirements. To protect the health of local ecosystems, the laboratory also collects and analyzes water samples from the wastewater treatment process to ensure that the City meet’s all discharge requirements as required by its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the State of California. In addition, the laboratory analyzes water from industrial dischargers within the City aiding the Environmental Compliance Division to ensure industries are complying with the City’s sewer ordinance.