David embraces being a nerdy water engineer. In fact, he gets great satisfaction from solving all sorts of drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater problems because he knows his efforts will not only benefit each immediate community, but also improve the environment and provide a better quality of life for generations. He finds it gratifying to take the seed of an idea through detailed design, construction, and operation.
For the past 30 years David’s been passionate about making clean water out of dirty water. His most recent project with Tennessee American Water’s historic water treatment plan in Chattanooga has given him a lot to be proud of. It was no easy task to design for the replacement of two sedimentation basins (more than a century old) on a tight site and keep the whole system open and functional. The new structure is super-efficient—it both fits within the footprint of just one of the old basins and increases water treatment capacity. As a bonus, the design’s improved performance and equipment will allow space for better maneuverability around the plant and future expansion.
When not engaging his brain in nerdy watery thoughts, David is a leader in his church, and he and his wife are adjusting to being empty nesters. They’re using a lot of their newfound time either golfing or hiking amid the ridges and valleys of East Tennessee.