When theres a plumbing problem in Savoonga, Scott Kingeekuks phone begins to ring.
Born and raised in Savoonga, Kingeekuk, 33, remembers when the village still used honey buckets. He was a teenager when the wastewater plant opened, ushering in a new era of indoor plumbing and sanitation.
Scott Kingeekuk repairs main pumps of a facility.
Today Kingeekuk is the lead water plant operator for the St. Lawrence Island community -- and the guy the neighbors call when theres a problem with their pipes.
Now they cant live without it, he said. As soon as a toilets down, Ill get a call. They want their toilets working again.
Clean water, better health
Before home water and wastewater service arrived in Savoonga, running water was previously only available at the community washeteria. The water plant was life-changing, Kingeekuk said.
Definitely made it a lot easier for people to stay clean, do their laundry, he said. Hygiene went up. I can tell kids have less cavities, theyre brushing their teeth more, washing up more.
The honey buckets were themselves an issue, he said. Some people werent throwing them away and theyd deposit them outside their homes. The dump site was pretty close to town, so the smell was kind of bad. I remember during the summers we had a blackfly infestation.
Elders in particular had a hard time if they didnt have anyone at home who could help them properly dispose of their waste, he added. The improvement to quality of life was significant for every person in the village.
Having clean, safe water -- potable water -- and having a sewer system is really important for the community, Kingeekuk said.
Kingeekuks workday starts at the water plant, but it takes him all over town.
I come to the water plant, make sure everythings running correctly, operating like it should, said Kingeekuk. I gather readings from all the pumps and components of the system, make sure theres enough chlorine for the incoming raw water. Kingeekuk and his staff also check the sewage lagoon twice daily, a round trip of about a mile each time.
Thats only part of what his team does, however. There are about 150 houses in Savoonga, and on any given day, Kingeekuk or a member of his crew -- he supervises a backup operator and two on-call staff -- is likely to be called to at least one or two of them. Kingeekuk said the plant generally takes a couple of service calls every day, frequently plugged toilets or leaky bathroom fixtures.
We have a pretty intricate sewer system, Kingeekuk said. Its a vacuum sewer system. When one toilet goes, it affects the whole system.
The toughest part of the job, he added, can be communicating with the public about system repairs, issues, and -- unfortunately -- shutoffs due to non-payment. Facebook is a handy tool to broadcast whats going on with the sanitation system, and billing is handled through the Alaska Rural Utility Collaborative, but it falls to Kingeekuk to manually terminate service. It can be uncomfortable to tell a neighbor that he has to come over and shut off their water until they get caught up on payments.
It really does get awkward, but its got to be done, Kingeekuk said. Im at the point where they know Im just doing my job, so that kind of made it easier.
In communities with water service, filling jobs like Kingeekuks -- and keeping them filled -- can be challenging. Some communities arent able to offer competitive wages. Training and certifications are required. Some systems are starting to show their age and can be tricky to maintain, as Savoongas was when Kingeekuk started working there as a relief operator in 2011. Kingeekuk said he was worried at first that he wasnt qualified to do the job.
I went in blind, he said. I didnt know anything about water and sewer.
His first year, he was immersed in hands-on training. Kingeekuk was already mechanically minded, having grown up helping his uncles with machine repair and attending motorcycle mechanic school in Arizona. He soon found he had an aptitude for working with the wastewater system.
Taking apart pumps and troubleshooting pumps or panels kind of came naturally because I had that mechanical background, he said. And as the years went on, he got more formal training in addition to his on-the-job learning; he now has five technical certificates and is a Level II wastewater operator. This year he was named Alaska Rural Water Associations Wastewater Operator of the Year.
But theres more to his position than knowing how to flush a line or fix a leak.
Its a pretty demanding job, Kingeekuk said. It can get really stressful. I myself say its not for everybody.
He recalled attending a water plant operators retreat at which a lot of operators talked about burnout that tends to hit after about five years on the job.
Its kind of an underappreciated job for sure, he said. They dont even think about you until their toilet clogs up or their shower quits working or something.
Kingeekuk said he has felt that same burnout, wondering at one point if he should leave his job. But he sticks with it -- partly because of Savoongas limited employment options, but largely because he recognizes the important role he plays in the village.
I came this far, he said. Why quit now? People need me.
And, he added, its satisfying to know that what he does really matters to his friends, family and neighbors.
The most rewarding thing is, Id say, helping people, he said. Just being able to serve the community in a way nobody else can.
This story was sponsored by Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, a statewide nonprofit Tribal health organization designed to meet the unique health needs of more than 175,000 Alaska Native and American Indian people living in Alaska.
This story was produced by the creative services department of the Anchorage Daily News in collaboration with Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. The ADN newsroom was not involved in its production.
Read the original:
Pipes, plumbing, and public relations: The life of an Alaska water plant operator - Anchorage Daily News
- Melbourne-Based Zebra Plumbing Is the Go-To Plumber for ... - Benzinga - May 7th, 2023 [May 7th, 2023]
- Sen. Kane: The plumber's perspective on Pennsylvania's budget - Broad + Liberty - May 7th, 2023 [May 7th, 2023]
- Don't Wait for a 'Plumber' to Fix the Financial System - RealMoney - May 7th, 2023 [May 7th, 2023]
- 'White House Plumbers' puts a laugh-out-loud spin on the Watergate ... - NPR - May 7th, 2023 [May 7th, 2023]
- Mario: Is Our Favorite Italian Plumber the Next Big Time Movie ... - MovieWeb - May 7th, 2023 [May 7th, 2023]
- From Plumbers to Electricians, the U.S. is Gasping for Skilled Workers - Atalayar - May 7th, 2023 [May 7th, 2023]
- Veep and White House Plumbers Showrunner David Mandel Fears the WGA Strike Will Be Long and Bloody - Yahoo Entertainment - May 7th, 2023 [May 7th, 2023]
- 'White House Plumbers,' 'Silo' Debut: What's Premiering This Week ... - Next TV - May 7th, 2023 [May 7th, 2023]
- Southampton man launches 200k claim against NHS for loss of sex life - Southern Daily Echo - May 7th, 2023 [May 7th, 2023]
- Emmy Experts Typing: Will any late release break through in the chaotic limited categories? - Gold Derby - May 7th, 2023 [May 7th, 2023]
- The 10 Best Plumbers Near Me | Free Plumbing Reviews Near Me | Angi - April 13th, 2023 [April 13th, 2023]
- This is it: Dads brush with death during Geelong Ring Road disaster - Geelong Advertiser - April 13th, 2023 [April 13th, 2023]
- Its Almost Like an Illusion- Mario Creator Shigeru Miyamoto Reveals the Ideology That Keeps Nintendos Legendary Plumber Welcoming to All Generations -... - April 13th, 2023 [April 13th, 2023]
- Its the Dynamic of This Guy- The Super Mario Bros. Movie Star Seth Rogen Reasons on the Choice of Donkey Kongs Voice - EssentiallySports - April 13th, 2023 [April 13th, 2023]
- How to Hire a Plumber: Qualifications and Costs Forbes Home - March 24th, 2023 [March 24th, 2023]
- What does a plumber do? - CareerExplorer - March 24th, 2023 [March 24th, 2023]
- Plumber Near Me: A Guide to Hiring a Plumber for Your Home - Bob Vila - March 24th, 2023 [March 24th, 2023]
- Hunt quashes plumber claims insisting he is at SuperSport United to deliver and not for financial gains - Goal.com - January 26th, 2023 [January 26th, 2023]
- Kind-hearted plumber gives family 170 in fuel and food after seeing their 'starving poverty' - Yahoo New Zealand News - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Plumber gives family 170 of food and fuel to get through to pay day - Wales Online - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- I saved $500 on a plumber by using three common household products to make the sink drain faster... - The US Sun - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Why More Inexperienced Candidates Are Running And Winning - FiveThirtyEight - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Burnaby resident fuming as city won't cover cost of sewage damage caused by its system - Burnaby Now - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Global Pipe Repair Clamps Market Applications, Types and Future Outlook Report 2021-2027 to Latest Innovations and Major Players are The Plumber's... - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Plumbing Devices Market Outlook 2022: Overview, Opportunities, Key Companies and Forecast to 2028 TOTO, Rifeng, Moen, Kohler, Joyou, Jomoo, Jinniu,... - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Royal Family: The 22 job vacancies the Queen is looking to fill right now - My London - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Get the Lead Out (of Your Home) - Earth911.com - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Global Plumbing Supplies & Parts Market 2021 Growth, Trends, Leading Players and Business Insights Forecast to 2027 The Oxford Spokesman - The... - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Why Hire Professionals For Plumbing Maintenance: Reasons And Benefits - Seekers Time - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- What are the Benefits of Hiring a Green Plumber? - Legal Reader - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- Experts explain how to keep pipes from freezing during frigid weather - KSNT News - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- Peoria plumber shares tips to prevent pipes from freezing this weekend - CIProud.com - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- Plumbing Accessories Market Trends, Outlook, Size, Share and Forecast by 2026 | The Plumbers Choice, Oatey, Elmdor, Zurn, Weld-On - The Courier - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- High Density Plumber Tape Market ? What Factors Will Drive The Market In Upcoming Years And How It Is Going To Impact On Global Industry | (2020-2027)... - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- Take care now to avoid frozen pipes given the plummeting temps in the forecast - My Ferndale News - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- Plumbing Parts Market Challenges and Opportunities by Covid-19 Impact Analysis and Future Investments by 2026| HAMAT, ROHL, Dornbracht, Elkay, Native... - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- 5 Tips in Choosing the Best Plumbing Service for Your Home and Business Needs - LA Progressive - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- Newswatch 12 - News From Where You Live - Rhinelander Wisconsin WJFW TV-12, WJFWDT 12.1, NBC Affiliate - WJFW-TV - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- Redundant South Yorkshire hospitality boss retrains as a plumber to beat the pandemic - The Star - January 20th, 2021 [January 20th, 2021]
- Plumber fears his race 'was involved' in client's false accusation over missing 10k - Mirror Online - January 20th, 2021 [January 20th, 2021]
- 'I won't employ anyone that refuses vaccination,' claims plumbing boss - LBC - January 20th, 2021 [January 20th, 2021]
- Plumbing the marvels of 'mRNA' in creating vaccines, therapeutics - Dorchester Reporter - January 20th, 2021 [January 20th, 2021]
- Plumbing Fixtures Market (2021-2026) | Potential growth, attractive valuation make it is a long-term investment | Geberit AG, Jacuzzi, Inc - The... - January 20th, 2021 [January 20th, 2021]
- Plumbing Hardware Market Size By Analysis, Key Vendors, Regions, Type and Application, and Forecasts to 2027 - NeighborWebSJ - January 20th, 2021 [January 20th, 2021]
- What To Always Check When You're In Need Of A Plumber - E/The Environmental Magazine - December 9th, 2020 [December 9th, 2020]
- The Plumber: Plumbing gifts that keep on giving - The Detroit News - December 9th, 2020 [December 9th, 2020]
- Company wins contest for product geared to help plumbers - KOLR - OzarksFirst.com - December 9th, 2020 [December 9th, 2020]
- GE Appliances Announces New Air & Water Solutions to Serve Plumbing and HVAC Industry - ACHR NEWS - December 9th, 2020 [December 9th, 2020]
- Drink-drive plumber had been "having a very difficult year" - Hereford Times - December 9th, 2020 [December 9th, 2020]
- How to Add Plumbing to Your Already Profitable HVAC Business - ACHR NEWS - December 9th, 2020 [December 9th, 2020]
- Get Quality Backed, Prompt, and Cost-Effective Plumbing Services from Boyd Plumbing, Inc. - Press Release - Digital Journal - December 9th, 2020 [December 9th, 2020]
- The 20-year-old trainee plumber from Wythenshawe hoping to sink Spurs in the FA Cup - Manchester Evening News - December 9th, 2020 [December 9th, 2020]
- Plumbers, carpenters, welders, mechanics and aerodrome managers wanted to run Australias Antarctic Program - PerthNow - December 9th, 2020 [December 9th, 2020]
- West Lothian mum fumes after catching her plumber sleeping on the bathroom floor - Edinburgh Live - October 20th, 2020 [October 20th, 2020]
- UFC stars who have other jobs, including McGregor as ex-plumber and Miocic who still works as a firefighter - The Sun - October 20th, 2020 [October 20th, 2020]
- Who installed the sprinkler plumbing? - liherald.com - October 20th, 2020 [October 20th, 2020]
- Joe the plumber? No - The Hindu - October 20th, 2020 [October 20th, 2020]
- Amigo Plumbing and the COVID Comeback - Contractor - October 20th, 2020 [October 20th, 2020]
- Reasons to Hire A Professional Water Heater Plumbing Company - EndZoneScore - October 20th, 2020 [October 20th, 2020]
- Parallel Plumbing And Heating Perhaps Your Best Choice - News Anyway - October 20th, 2020 [October 20th, 2020]
- Superior Plumbing and Heating boasts 40 years of experience - Cut Bank Pioneer Press - October 20th, 2020 [October 20th, 2020]
- Racist actions, attitudes 'nothing new' on construction sites - Construction Dive - October 20th, 2020 [October 20th, 2020]
- "Official Truck of 2020": NKY Plumbing Company Brands Septic Vehicle - The River City News - October 20th, 2020 [October 20th, 2020]
- Plumbers reveal why people shouldn't use this popular cleaning 'hack' - Western Telegraph - October 20th, 2020 [October 20th, 2020]
- Plumbing Market: Good Value & Room to Grow Ahead Seen - The Think Curiouser - October 20th, 2020 [October 20th, 2020]
- Here's How a Local HVAC Company Adapted During the Pandemic - Small Business Trends - October 20th, 2020 [October 20th, 2020]
- Water Saving Plumbing Product Market Trends, Key Players, Overview, Competitive Breakdown and Regional Forecast by 2025 - Eurowire - October 20th, 2020 [October 20th, 2020]
- Plumbing Fixtures Market 2020-2027 Global Industry Development Trends and Analysis - The Think Curiouser - October 20th, 2020 [October 20th, 2020]
- Life Changes: Mission trip to Haiti after earthquake takes Patton Ford from a future in law to plumbing - Northside Sun - October 20th, 2020 [October 20th, 2020]
- This trailblazing plumber seeks gains for other minority women in skilled trades - Las Vegas Sun - October 10th, 2020 [October 10th, 2020]
- 4 Fast Plumbers, Arlington is taking over the plumbing services in Arlington with their broad and professional services - Press Release - Digital... - October 10th, 2020 [October 10th, 2020]
- Fifty-Five Students Awarded Scholarships Through the PHCC Educational Foundation - ACHR NEWS - October 10th, 2020 [October 10th, 2020]
- Do your homework: Household repairs are a recurrent cost and can make us run up huge bills - The Times of India Blog - October 10th, 2020 [October 10th, 2020]
- Super Mario Bros. 35: How to win and be the last surviving plumber - GameCrate - October 10th, 2020 [October 10th, 2020]
- Plumbers frustrated by code change that could take away business - The Topeka Capital-Journal - October 10th, 2020 [October 10th, 2020]
- Plumbing and IOT in South Africa - IT News Africa - October 10th, 2020 [October 10th, 2020]
- Multi Skilled Technician - Joiner/ Plumber job with The Guinness Partnership | 4642979 - Inside Housing - October 10th, 2020 [October 10th, 2020]
- Plumbing, HVAC technician jobs expand with fluctuating workforce - WPTV.com - October 10th, 2020 [October 10th, 2020]
- Luxury Plumbing Fixtures Market Report to 2024 - Trends Insights and Business St - GroundAlerts.com - October 10th, 2020 [October 10th, 2020]
- Gary Pettus Dies at 70; Used Skills To Bless the Lives of People - The New York Times - October 10th, 2020 [October 10th, 2020]