Employee Profile: Manager of Water Quality Chris Bobay

The scientists at Louisville Water’s Crescent Hill Water Treatment Plant work around the clock to maintain the integrity of our high-quality drinking water.

Although the water quality testing remains consistent, social distancing due to COVID-19 has changed the way workers operate in and outside of the lab.

Manager of Water Quality and Compliance Chris Bobay said the changes have been in place since March 2020.

“There’s lots of isolation in the labs. Now, there’s just one to two people per room. The scientists also work in staggered shifts. If possible, some employees are working from home,” Bobay said.

In addition to the lab changes, the way workers pick up and drop off water samples has also changed due to social distancing requirements.

“There’s no hand-to-hand contact. Anyone entering the building to drop off water samples has to have their temperature checked,” he said. “We get an electronic notification when the samples are ready for pickup.”

Bobay said rotating his staff and having a safety plan helps to keep everyone healthy, even if it means coworkers can’t congregate during breaks.

“We took all of the chairs out of the breakroom and we don’t have in-person meetings anymore. We sanitize and disinfect shared surfaces at the end of each day,” he said.

Taking these critical steps ensures that Louisville Water customers have continued access to clean, safe water during the pandemic.

More: Best choice for taste, quality starts at the tap