Meet John Crawford - Wastewater Process Engineer, BECA

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Ko Maugataniwha te maunga
Ko Hokianga te awa
No Hokianga ahau
Ko John Crawford toku ingoa. 
I am a wastewater process engineer based in Hamilton, where I have been for the past 25 years.
I have been doing this work for 35 years now in various different parts of the world.
I love my work. There is a huge amount of variety and every little step forward for me means some sort of improvement in public health or environmental outcomes in New Zealand.
 
How do you describe your role to family and friends?

My role in #TheBigWastewaterStory is to strategize the most appropriate combinations of and locations for the wastewater treatment technology then to develop the concepts and later designs around those technology selections. I am the ‘Treatment Guy’.

What is your proudest moment in your role so far?

When our technical team, working with a group of community stakeholders and Council staff ‘Landed’ the preferred way forward for long term servicing of Waipawa, Otane and Waipukurau with wastewater treatment and discharge.

What is the most exciting aspect of working on #TheBigWastewaterStory?

This is about bringing a fundamental change to the way an entire District ‘Does’ wastewater.

What is the most challenging aspect of working on #TheBigWastewaterStory?

Knowing that we are committing a relatively small community to a very large cost over the next decade or so.

What is something people might not know about Wastewater?

Wastewater contains a lot of valuable resource in the form of water, nutrients, carbon and energy. All can be beneficially reused by our communities.

What is one thing you wish everyone knew about Wastewater?

It’s not sooooo YUCK.  If you’re up for it, we can treat it so that it’s safe and great to drink again.

What is one element of the #TheBigWastewaterStory that you are most looking forward to working on or completing?  

If I am lucky enough to get the opportunity, then undertaking the design for the combined wastewater treatment facility at Waipawa.

What’s your go-to productivity trick? 

Noise cancelling headphones to block out the nearby distractions, select favourite Spotify playlist to set the cadence and Go For It!

If you could be automate one part of your job, what would it be?  

Completing my weekly Time Sheet !!!!!

What is one thing you couldn’t live without at work?

At least one strong coffee in the morning. Most other aspects of my work environment have acceptable ‘Work arounds’ or ‘Patches’. I can even write legibly and use a calculator and scale ruler.

What’s your favourite thing to do outside of work?

Photography. But in my job it’s actually quite hard to get enough time to go out and focus on good quality photo shoots. One of my favourite shots came from early morning views across the Waipawa WWTP.

Best minute of your life so far?

Probably when my son was born. I have a very dramatic photo of that as well.

What is your favourite place or thing to do in Central Hawke’s Bay? 

It would be trout fishing in the Tukituki – if I had time during my visits down from Hamilton. But since there normally is no time, it would have to be taking breakfast at the Paper Mulberry Café at Te Aute.

3 May 2021

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