Ryan Rodriguez, Field Technician III, Leucadia Wastewater District
“We do it all here.”
That’s how Ryan Rodriguez describes his responsibilities and those of his colleagues at the Leucadia Wastewater District in Carlsbad.
Rodriguez is a Field Technician III, responsible not only for maintaining the District’s sewer lines but also helping to operate the 1 mgd Gaffney Water Reclamation Plant, where treated wastewater is further polished and disinfected before it’s pumped to the golf course at the nearby Omni La Costa Resort.
Rodriguez says he’s learned a lot since coming to Leucadia six years ago from a previous job operating construction equipment. “I was looking for a stable, solid career that I could grow into,” he remembers. “I’m hungry for learning. A co-worker tipped me off about the world of water, and I took classes in distribution and treatment at Palomar Community College. I got my certification, started applying for jobs, and Leucadia took me in. I was lucky.”
He’s part of a team that maintains over 200 miles of sewer lines, 5,000 manholes and 10 pump stations.
“On any given day,” Rodriguez says, “I’ll be in the field operating the sewer equipment, running our CCTV unit, servicing pump stations, or dealing with customer concerns. Other days, I’ll be in the recycling plant.”
He says he’s proud of how far he’s come in the last six years, and of receiving Emerging Leader recognition.
Looking ahead, Rodriguez hopes to continue his education and achieve a bachelor’s degree at Cal State San Marcos. He also wants to “stay open to the whole industry. There are so many things to learn—much more than you realize,” he says. That, plus rising to a supervisory position and being among the best in the operations field are his long-term goals.
Clean water is important to him.
“I’m a surfer,” he explains. “I have been since I was a teenager. I know how critical clean, safe water is to me and my family, and to the whole community.”
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