Glad to be joining the KRWA team
by Doug Langhofer, Technical Assistant

Hello, my name is Doug Langhofer. I am pleased to have joined the Kansas Rural Water Association's team as a Circuit Rider/Technical Assistant. I would like to take this opportunity to tell you a little about myself.

I graduated from Russell High School and attended some college at Fort Hays State University. I previously was employed with a local Russell farming operation for three years and worked in a recreation vehicle manufacturing plant for three years before becoming employed in 1994 with the City of Russell as a water operator in their surface water treatment plant. My duties included general operations and maintenance of the plant, including the calculating of chemical dosage and the collection of required water samples.

I received my Class I water certificate in March 1995 and my Class II water certificate in October 1995 from Salina Area Vo-Tech Potable Water District School. In October 1996, I attended the Salina Area Vo-Tech 18-week course in Potable Water System Operation and Maintenance and received my Class IV water certificate. I have also attended schooling from Midwest Fire Training in confined space entry, Kansas Section of American Water Works Association on surface water treatment, and a KRWA seminar on emergency planning.

In 1996, in addition to my duties as a Class IV operator with the City of Russell, I assumed the duties of manager/operator with Russell RWD 4. In this capacity, I operated and maintained five water wells and pumps, along with disinfecting equipment. I was also responsible for ensuring the water system was operated within budget, completed all required reports and collected all required samples.

My experience in the water field at seven years may seem short by comparison to some of you, but from the knowledge gained working for the City of Russell and RWD 4, along with my schooling in the water field, I am confident that I will be able to provide assistance to you. I find working in the water field an interesting and challenging career, which makes the best combination.

On a personal level, I reside in Russell with my wife, Gina, and our two lovely little girls, ages 6 and 3. During my spare time (what little there is with two young girls), I enjoy bass fishing and hunting, and I am just starting to get into amateur radio operating. I am a collector of Dale Earnhart die-cast race cars and since I am the father of two girls, I am becoming pretty adept at the collecting of porcelain dolls, carousels, angels, barrettes, hair bands, Barbies. . . . I think you get the picture!

KRWA provides many training opportunities, a lot of technical assistance ranging from daily operation to review of water and wastewater rates, legislation, networking with others whether with agencies or other organizations. The list of services and benefits KRWA provides is formidable. One thing that I'd promise to do is to work to encourage operators, board and council members to do more discussion. There is a lot of help available; all you need to do is ask. I and other KRWA staff are here to help.

In closing, I would like to add that I look forward to working for you. I will do my best to be of service to systems across the state. I look forward to the opportunity to meet and work with you.


From March 2001 issue of The Kansas Lifeline © 2001 KRWA

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