Shout Outs! Small Acts of Kindness Make a Big Impression Erika Hoffman (Engineering) saw the following on a facebook post: I just finished a quick lunchtime bike ride. A little after noon, I was riding down Sanderson Rd. There was a Western Virginia Water Authority truck parked on the shoulder. As I approached the truck, the driver reached out the window and folded the mirror in to the side of the truck so I would have more room to pass. That little act of kindness is really appreciated.
Fire Road Improvements Field Operations CIP crews completed a project at Carvins Cove along the fire road during September. The project involved removing an existing undersized storm culvert pipe and replacing it with a box culvert to avoid future washouts during extreme wet weather events. The new box culvert is 4-feet in height and 5-feet wide and should provide adequate capacity to pass upstream debris as well as any significant storm runoff.
1957 Pump Station
Photo taken July 2020
Competing in a Virtual World
Blue Ridge Brawlers Win National Championship The Webs We Weave
This Argiope aurantia, more commonly know as the black and yellow garden spider, had spun its web on a gate. Also known as a “zipper spider” due to the appearance of the center of their web, this spider can become as large as your hand.
If someone you know has been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic or are having financial difficulties paying their water and sewer utility bill, assistance to pay that bill is available through Authority Cares and the CARES Act. Authority Cares is the utility assistance program of the Western Virginia Water Authority that can help customers that may experience difficulty in paying their water or sewer bill.
While it’s appearance can be eerie, it won’t hurt you. There are only two venomous spiders in Virginia, the brown recluse and the black widow.
To view the contact information for funding through the CARES Act or for more information about Authority Cares, please visit our website:
www.westernvawater.org/authoritycares
If you have a suggestion for a story, photos or announcements for On Good Authority, please send your ideas to robin.bailey@ westernvawater.org. Thanks for reading. Keep those emails flowing! September/October 2020
You never know what you’ll see on a walk through the WPC Plant.
In Remembrance Mike Cundiff, AKA Cuda, passed away on September 9. Mike retired from the Authority in 2017 as a Utility Construction Technician. Mike often helped with set-up at company luncheons and events. His obituary noted, “He was an avid outdoorsman, never knew a stranger, and was always the life of the party.”
Remember when people used the word “virtual” to mean the following: “After living in this neighborhood for 15 years, the person next door is still a virtual stranger to me.” Now we use the term to apply to virtual realities, virtual hugs, virtual classrooms, virtual medical appointments and the list virtually goes on and on. The Blue Ridge Brawlers recently competed in two virtual competitions. In September Lacy Burnette and Stephen Lofaro were named VWEA Operations Duo Challenge winners. In October Lacy and Stephen positioned their cameras and equipment to compete in WEFTEC’s National Operations Challenge virtually.
Stephen adds, “Andy Weddle and Zach Booth were a big help in setting up the network. Thanks to everyone who tuned in to watch us live.” The Brawlers were named National Champions in 2016 while competing as a four-person team. Lacy explains, “The change to a twoman team per event was a WEFTEC change due to the COVID-19 virus. I am hoping that things will return to normal and we can get the fourman team back together for next year’s competition.” Until next year, we send you congratulations via emails, phones, and virtual high fives.
The Brawlers competed in the Laboratory and Collections Systems events LIVE from the Roanoke Regional Water Pollution Control Plant via webcams while seasoned judges reviewed rules and recorded times from afar, and virtual onlookers cheered aloud in their offices. Results were announced - you guessed it - in a virtual ceremony on October 8. The Brawlers finished first in both the lab and collections July 2020 events, and placed first overall and were declared National Champions. What was the most difficult part about competing virtually? The duo says, “Making sure that we had a good network connection in a room that is not set up for internet was perhaps the most challenging aspect ... Communication with the judges also proved to be somewhat difficult. We knew this going in, so we reserved a lot of patience in working with everyone to make sure it was done right the first time.” The Brawlers are grateful for the support they have received from colleagues. Lacy remarks, “Mike McEvoy and Scott Shirley have always been huge supporters of Operations Challenge. Without them, I don’t think we would be able to compete at the high level that we do. Randy Williams, Catherine Holland and Zach Booth all stepped up to help us out and fill in as the proctors for the lab and collections event. They maintained contact with the judges while Steve and I competed. They August 2020fan support which is always a good thing.” also provided A Newsletter for the Employees of the Western Virginia Water Authority
Judges complimented teams on their willingness to compete under unusual circumstances and for their ingenuity, creativity, and commitment. Video and competition images courtesy of WEF.
September/October 2020