Improvements in technology have made the job of operator at a water plant a little bit easier.
"Operators used to have to get in a truck and drive down to the pumps at the river to adjust equipment, then come back up and get the equipment going at the main plant on top of the hill," said Steve Ridenhour, lead operator for Missouri American Water. "That process could take 30 to 40 minutes. Now, computers run a lot of the process and turn pumps on and off."
In May, Ridenhour marked 31 years with the company, making sure that the water coming into the treatment facility on West Main Street, and the water going out, meets quality standards.