Miguel Arambula
Water & Sanitation
Operations & Maintenance Staff
Miguel Arambula is Senior Water/Wastewater Service Worker and has been part of the VCPWA team for 6 years. Arambula has stepped up and taken on a leadership role of lead worker and supervisor in his work group, embracing new technical systems and programs and taking the time to teach newer crew members how to use these tools.
He has led the Operations Crew with a positive, dependable and resourceful attitude and has helped keep well production as high as possible while minimizing the need to purchase imported water at a higher cost, resulting in significant savings to the Districts. VCPWA is honored to recognize the dedication and hard work Arambula signifies as a valued team member.
Q&A with Miguel Arambula
What are your job duties or what do you do on a day-to-day basis?
I am the Lead Operator for Operations & Production in the Water & Sanitation Department. My work crew has a very wide range of responsibilities, so there’s nothing routine about the day-to-day job duties.
Some highlights would be;
- Operating and maintaining the districts Wells and pump stations (We produced and treated 4,060.42 Acre Feet of water last year, that’s 1,323,091,917.42 gals!) to ensure a clean and safe drinking water supply for the public.
- Operating and maintaining our departments emergency generators to ensure that a backup power supply is ready and available for all our mission critical facilities.
(This has become increasingly important given all the recent Edison Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) which occur during the high wind weather that regularly effects the county. During these high wind events there’s a greater risk for fires, so it’s crucial that we have these emergency generators on standby, so we’re able to provide an adequate water supply for fire protection.)
- Operate our departments Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, which allows us to remotely gather and analyze real time data from our many facilities across Ventura County.
Are there any special skills needed to perform your job?
I’m certified by the California State Water Resources Control Board as a Grade 2 Water Treatment Operator and a Grade 4 Water Distribution Operator.
How does it feel to be honored for this recognition?
The Ventura County Public Works Agency is filled with so many hardworking men and women, that are all dedicated to serving our community, so it really is a great honor to be recognized as an Employee of the Quarter.
What about your work are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of the fact that we are able to deliver clean and safe drinking water to so many households across Ventura County. Before I began working for The Ventura County Public Works Agency, I never realized all the challenges that are associated with it. I think I even took it for granted, simply because it’s such an everyday part of our lives. I’m proud to embrace those challenges and serve this great community.
Nathaniel Summerville
Watershed Protection
Office Staff
Nathaniel Summerville Engineer IV has been with VCPWA for nearly three years. Recognized by his colleagues for his strong character, positive attitude, and service-centric mindset, Mr. Summerville has strengthened VCPWA’s vision philosophy in becoming a regional leader.
As a licensed Professional Engineer and Certified Floodplain Manager with an MS degree in Civil Engineering, Summerville’s technical, political, and soft skills are a rare combination to find and are assets valued by VCPWA – Watershed Protection (WP).
His personal achievement and outstanding project contributions include Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Physical Map Revision Virtual Outreach, where he strengthened relationships among the organizations and provided a soft saving of more than $150,000. VCPWA is proud to have a sincere, hardworking, and dedicated colleague that helps make every critical project a great success.
Q&A with Nathaniel Summerville
What are your job duties or what do you do on a day-to-day basis?
My regular work consists of floodplain management activities, hydraulic engineering, and planning technical studies. I also do some customer service and outreach tasks.
Are there any special skills needed to perform your job?
My background is in Civil Engineering. After joining the Agency, I have had the privilege of receiving additional training in floodplain management and hydraulic modeling. Communication skills have also been important to perform my job duties. Shortly after joining the Agency, I joined one of the Toastmaster clubs at the County, where I get to practice speaking alongside other PWA colleagues and people from the wider county family.
How does it feel to be honored for this recognition?
I have worked with so many great people in VCPWA. Being recognized has been a humbling experience.
What about your work are you most proud of?
I am most proud of my work when I get to be a part of a team working on something technically challenging that is meaningful and provides value to our customers and the community.
