AWWA Member Spotlight – Joseph Rowell, Jamestown, N.D.

Joseph Rowell, water superintendent with the City of Jamestown, N.D., received the North Dakota Section’s 2022 Operator Meritorious Service Award. He manages the city’s water treatment operation and the distribution system.  

How did you get involved in the water sector? I was a plumber for 10 years, with experience in water and service line installation, and was looking for something a little more stable with better benefits and job security. I was hired by the city as a water treatment operator in 2005. I had intended to go into water distribution but there were no openings at the time. I soon found out that I had an interest in water treatment and things just grew from there. I was promoted to water superintendent in 2018.

Certifications: Water Treatment Operator IV, Water Distribution Operator I

What do you like most about your job? Passing on the knowledge I have gained with my years of experience to new employees and residents we serve, with the hope of sparking an interest in the water sector. Tours of our facility are a great way to make that connection with other individuals.

What advice do you have for a water operator just starting their career? Don’t be afraid to step out of your usual boundaries. Your knowledge and abilities will grow with your experience. Water treatment can be a very rewarding career.

What projects keep you busy? Annual water main replacement projects as well as developing a service line inventory for the Revised Lead and Copper Rule.

What are your system’s biggest challenges? Staffing, including the high rate of turnover and the shortage of individuals actively looking for work. This puts more demand and stress on loyal employees and can lead to a shortage of certified operators.

What is the career accomplishment you’re most proud of? Working my way up to the role of water superintendent. Also, the Operator Meritorious Service Award was on the top of my list. I attended my first North Dakota Water and Pollution Control Conference in 2008 and set this as one of my goals. 

How have you benefited from your AWWA membership? The main benefit for me has been access to a tremendous amount of education materials that have helped me further my knowledge in all areas of the water sector.

Please describe your family and/or hobbies and interests. I have been married to my wife, Corinna, for 36 years. We have three sons and five grandchildren. I enjoy cooking at our family get-togethers, usually including some kind of food prepared in one of my many smokers. Some of my interests are hiking, hunting, fishing, and going on weekend ATV excursions with my wife and good friends. (Pictured above center, from left, daughter-in-law Kasey, son Jeremiah, granddaughter Makhal, wife Corinna, Rowell, son Joey, father-in-law Wilfred.)