Q&A with Justine Roe and Jodi Wallin, St. Paul Regional Water Services

On Monday, Campers got to meet Justine Roe and Jodi Wallin of St. Paul Regional Water Services at two different places along the path of water they manage - from river to tap. First, they introduced campers to the intake structure along the river that pumps water from the river into pipes, then they gave a tour of the St. Paul Regional Water Services McCarron's Treatment Plant. I asked them both some questions to learn more about their work and interests.

Justine Roe, Water Quality Specialist:

Q: What do you do for your job? 

A: I work in the Water Quality Unit which is part of the Production Division.  I work in the lab doing a variety of tests on water, work with organizations that work to protect drinking water sources and the surrounding watersheds, talk with a lot of customers about questions or concerns they may have about their drinking water, and give tours of the water treatment plant.

Q: What do you like best about your job? 

A: I work with a lot of great people.

Q: What is your favorite thing about water? 

A: It comes in three forms! Liquid, solid and gas.  

Q: What is your favorite place on the Mississippi River? 
A: My favorite place changes.  Currently it is the view from the balcony in the Minnesota Boat Club on Raspberry Island in St. Paul.

Q: What do you think people should know about water or that might surprise them about water?  
A: That water is precious and belongs to all of us and it is up to all of us to respect and protect it. 

Then I asked Jodi Wallin, who works in Public Information some questions:

Q: What do you do for your job? 

A: I am a public information officer. I provide information about the water utility to the public, that is anyone can ask me about the water utility and I try to get them answers; the media, such as newspapers and TV stations; and researchers or other employees wanting to know more about the water utility.

Q: What do you like best about your job? 

A: I get to take a lot of pictures and get to meet quite a few people.

Q: What is your favorite thing about water? 

A: Fishing on it. I mostly fish on lakes.

Q: What is your favorite place on the Mississippi River? 
A: I don’t have one favorite place. The river as it comes through Saint Paul is very pretty and interesting with boats and people. I learned how to row on part of the river in Minneapolis. And I grew up near the river in Brainerd, Minnesota.

Q: What do you think people should know about water or that might surprise them about water?  
A: How much work it takes to make it clean enough to drink and then get it to your house. There are lots of people who think that you can just drink it straight from the Mississippi River without cleaning it but that would likely make people sick.  It takes a lot of people working around the clock to make sure your water is clean enough to drink and that it is there every time you turn on your faucet. Many countries don’t have water that is clean or that they can easily get to without walking for miles.

Thanks Justine and Jodi for your time, and wonderful tours today!