WASTE WATER OPERATOR’S PRAYER

BY RAYBURN CASEY HALL



Please God make the storm go around

To avoid another plant shut down

This is the place that lightening will strike twice

And with our lives we could pay the price

You know while I’m out there on my rounds

I could provide the perfect ground



Please God let it rain another day

How about on my off day

At home I can stay inside

But here I have to be outside

I can wait about going fishing

I’ll just stay home wishing



Please God no more pumps down

Overflows causes us to frown

Give maintenance the power

We could really use it within the hour

Their failure would be depressing

Lord I could use a blessing





Please God tell our customers we are sane

Don’t let our pride be in vain

Yes we work with human waste

But each man to his on taste

If not for our choice of vocation

Can they imagine the situation?



Please God no more college degrees

We have lots of PHD’s

We need a few more qualified walkers

And a lot less certified talkers

Please take away those engineers

Cause all they do is interfere.



Please God tell our city mothers and Fathers

That we hate to be a bother

We know spending money on us

Will cause the constituents to fuss

After voting for environmental protection

Help them win another election



Please God give me the know how

To complete my duties and my vows

Because if at this I do fail

My boss will rant and rail

Oh Lord Please this day I ask

Help me to complete my task.

ODE TO WASTE WATER PLANT OPERATORS

BY RAYBURN CASEY HALL



Weather man predicting rain again

Boys we gotta do what we can

Gotta keep those manhole tops from blowing

Prevent those sewers from overflowing

If you lose a cup of sewage today

It’s the same as a million gallon a day.



Well boys here we go again

We gotta deal with this rain

Those big pumps are humming

The wet weather flow is coming

Gallons coming in by the millions

Boy what a way to make a living



Well the creek is out of its banks

And even without the thanks

Gotta keep the town from flooding

So those people can keep on flushing.

Close the Levee floodgates

Start the pumps before it’s too late



Hey those CSO are filling up fast

And look at that new weather forcast

We just got them cleaned and drained

Well there’s no need to complain

They’re calling for two more inches tonight

Are you sure those high level alarms are right



There goes another station down

The biggest pump station in town

Runs like a top during dry weather

But fails every time in wet weather

Let’s get those pumps a pumping

Before those manholes start to jumping



Hey those EQs are filling up fast

And look at that new weather forcast

Don’t like but another foot

Having those EQ basins full

You know the operator’s SOPs

Ramp those pumps to full speed



Start those clarifiers sucking

Stop those solids from puking.

Don’t let me hear you whine

Its our reputation on the line

Hold those solids in the plant

Don’t let me hear the word Can’t



You know the operator creed

And you know what we need

You know we’re the last defense

So don’t it make sense

Don’t be stingy with disinfection

We gotta stop those violations