Reader Profile—Dakota Millican

Dakota Millican

Military Point Regional Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility Bay County Utilities, Panama City

Work title and years of service.

I am the wastewater facilities lead operator at the Military Point Regional Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility (AWTF) on Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB). Our plant capacity is 7 million gallons per day (mgd) average flow, with a peak flow of about 14 to 20 mgd with heavy rainfall. We have a five-stage Bardenpho biological nutrient removal process (BNR) with ultraviolet disinfection as we discharge to St. Andrew Bay (Class III Marine Waters). Our pollutant removal efficiencies average 98.9 percent for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and 99.6 percent for total suspended solids (TSS). I started my career as a wastewater operator trainee in 2015, I obtained my Class C wastewater license in 2017 and I was recently promoted to lead operator, when I then obtained my class B wastewater license. I have been in the industry almost seven years. I am only 27 years old so there’s a lot to accomplish.

What does your job entail?

I oversee and direct the operation of the facility to meet all applicable regulatory requirements in accordance with design criteria. I assist the chief operator with developing and implementing techniques and methods of process control, which increase plant efficiency, and also assist with submitting monthly, quarterly, and annual reports to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). I walk the plant daily to ensure safe and proper operation of all equipment, pumps, etc., and initiate work orders as needed.

What education and training have you had?

I recently passed my Class B wastewater exam and will be working toward obtaining my class A license in the near future. After that, I plan to pursue a degree in environmental science. There are countless seminars and training classes that I’ve attended throughout my career, along with a leadership development program provided by my employer.

What do you like best about your job?

Our wastewater division has won numerous awards from FDEP, Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA), and other professional organizations over the past years for innovative technical advancements in the treatment of wastewater. Our team is passionate and dedicated to the treatment and disinfection of wastewater, and we take pride in our work.

What professional organizations do you belong to?

I am the director for Region I of FWPCOA and a member of the Florida Rural Water Association (FRWA) and FWEA.

How have the organizations helped your career?

To maintain my licenses, I attend training classes and workshops for continuing education units. These workshops not only support my credentials, but also give me the opportunity to network with others and update myself on current industry standards and state regulations. As I learn of new developments, I communicate them to my team members and we implement them in our day-to-day operations. This would not be possible if it weren’t for these organizations.

What do you like best about the industry?

The fact that we are making a huge impact on our future, and there’s always room for improvement and growth. There is constantly new technology coming out that not only makes our jobs easier, but improves treatment efficiency with accuracy and even equipment runtime costs. Many people call us super heroes—we can turn wastewater into what Bobby Boucher would call “Dat High Quality H20.” S