496 Growing Through Change in Water Treatment with Mark Lewis, Part 2

When a water treater can run a test but cannot yet diagnose a failing system, the next training decision matters. In Growing Through Change with Mark Lewis, Part 2, Mark Lewis of CRB Water joins Trace Blackmore, CWT, to connect training choices with work in the field.

Match Training to Experience

Mark sees the space between AWT's March and November training sessions as a chance to revise material instead of repeating the same presentation. He explains how Fundamentals and Applications, Program Designs and Operations, and Technical Training serve different levels of readiness. His informal progression from "water tester" to "water technologist" gives managers a way to judge skills by the work someone can handle, not simply years in the industry.

He also urges professionals to stay within their expertise when a system is unfamiliar. Managers can help people advance by pairing technical instruction with recognition and constructive feedback.

Give neglected accounts the attention they need

Returning to the neglected accounts discussed in Episode 141, Mark describes how responsibility can sit with the water treater or the customer. A monthly visit may leave too much time for a broken valve, feed issue, or empty chemical drum to go unnoticed.

First, learn how much time the customer can give the program. Then agree on practical checks for pumps, controller lights, and chemical inventory. If the account needs more attention, Mark suggests offering additional visits or equipment maintenance at a clearly priced service fee.

Use technology - and check what it tells you

Mark traces his shift from basic timers to remotely monitored controllers, PTSA probes, ORP control, and tank level sensors. For him, the advantage is seeing program behavior between visits and planning before a problem becomes a customer call. Yet he still checks level sensor readings against what is in the tank.

That judgment carries over to AI. Mark and Trace discuss how a tidy report can mislead when it compares only the first and last conductivity readings while missing the fluctuations between them. The underlying data still need a professional's review.

Keep Learning

Mark recommends the AWT Technical Reference and Training Manual and experienced mentors. He also asks listeners to consider where they want to be in five or ten years and begin taking steps toward it now.