Wastewater Lab Technician Tony Lamb

Wastewater Lab Technician Tony Lamb enjoys keeping up with the wastewater plant and identifying when there’s a problem that needs fixing.

He has over 6 years of experience with the City of Fulton and over 40 years in the industry, having previously worked for other cities.

“Sewer stuff didn’t bother me, and I liked it. I wasn’t stuck inside,” he said. “One thing led to another, and I just stayed.”

Tony said that one of his favorite parts of his job is being able to recognize when something is wrong and has to be corrected. For instance, if the water passing through pipes sounds unusual or inconsistent, it could indicate that something is stuck in it.

"That means you're paying attention to what's going on," he remarked. "You can tell by sight, by certain numbers in the laboratory, and by smell." There are several ways to detect a problem. Not everyone notices there is a problem. They could be looking at it and not knowing there's a problem. You have to know when you have a problem and then know what to do about it."

He claims that consistency is critical in the wastewater treatment plant because two employees running the same test can receive different results.

"That's not a bad thing," Tony added, "but you should rely on a steady number. It's much easier to be consistent and pay attention."

Tony enjoys caring for his yard, gardening, and refinishing furniture in his spare time.

"I'm by myself, so I don't really need garden stuff, but I kind of like it," he explained. "It keeps me busy."