Post Date:08/25/2026Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority (VVWRA) Assistant General Manager Kody Tompkins was selected to present at the Smart Water Networks (SWAN) 16th Annual Conference in Tampa, Florida, one of the premier international conferences focused on innovation, technology, and the future of water and wastewater utilities.
Tompkins’ presentation, titled “Crawling Out of the Graveyard: Practical Learnings from Utilities Transitioning from 24/7 Staffing,” was chosen through a highly competitive peer-review process that evaluated more than 200 abstracts submitted by utilities and industry experts from around the world.
The presentation highlighted VVWRA’s successful transition from a traditional 24-hour staffing model to a modern operational approach supported by advanced automation, real-time monitoring, cybersecurity improvements, remote operational tools, and enhanced operator training.
Over the past decade, VVWRA has made significant investments in operational technology and infrastructure, including modernization of its SCADA system, replacement of critical programmable logic controllers (PLCs), network backbone upgrades, cybersecurity enhancements, remote monitoring capabilities, and deployment of a number of CCTV cameras throughout its facilities. These investments have strengthened system reliability, improved operational awareness, and enabled the Authority to safely reduce reliance on overnight on-site staffing without reducing workforce levels.
“Many utilities are facing challenges related to workforce shortages, operator burnout, and increasing operational complexity,” said Tompkins. “Our experience demonstrates that with the right technology, planning, training, and organizational commitment, utilities can improve both operational resiliency and employee quality of life while maintaining compliance and reliability.”
The presentation was featured during SWAN’s Wastewater Track panel session, “The Building Blocks of Wastewater Intelligence,” where utility leaders from North America and Europe shared practical strategies for advancing automation and operational intelligence in wastewater treatment facilities.Return to full list >>
