December can be a quiet month when it comes to work outside, but inside Commission staff are busy gearing up for the new plant.
Elise Tarnauskas is a cornerstone of operations at the West Parish Filters Treatment Plant. With a career spanning 16 years with the Commission—plus three summers as a lab intern before that—Elise has risen through the ranks from Lab Technician to Process Control Manager and Primary Operator. Her deep well of experience and commitment make her an integral part of our water treatment team.
Elise currently holds Treatment 3 and Distribution 2 operator licenses, which are required to operate the existing plant. But this December, she’s completing her coursework for the Treatment 4 (T4) license—which will be required to manage the complexities of the new, state-of-the-art treatment plant. With construction just around the corner, her preparation underscores the exciting preparation taking place both physically on the ground and among the staff at West Parish for this transformative project.
A Day in the Life
As Process Control Manager and Primary Operator, Elise wears many hats. She’s responsible for overseeing the Chief Operator and shift Operators, ensuring plant safety, staff training, and the smooth, 24/7 operation of the facility. Her role includes:
Submitting monthly regulatory reports to MassDEP.
Monitoring water quality trends to optimize treatment.
Managing the plant’s operating budget.
Providing operational input on capital improvement projects at the current facility.
Spearheading Source Water Monitoring and Drought Management Plans.
She keeps an eye on the future, identifying new technologies for data collection and analysis to make plant operations even more efficient.
A Vision for the Future
Elise was deeply involved in the planning and design of the new treatment plant, contributing her expertise to decisions about treatment system layout, lab configurations, and even architectural elements. Now, as the construction phase begins, Elise is helping evaluate and implement new technology for the treatment plant, and planning for the future—from staffing and budgeting to routine maintenance needs.
What excites Elise the most about the new plant? Watching the pieces come together, quite literally, from the ground up. This firsthand knowledge will not only enhance her understanding of the new systems but also position her to train staff and fine-tune operations once the plant is online.
The Heart of the Operation
Elise’s dedication goes beyond her job title. Her work ensures that every drop of water reaching our homes meets the highest standards of quality and safety. As the new treatment plant comes to life, Elise’s leadership will be instrumental in navigating this exciting chapter for our community. We’re so proud to have her on our team.
Congratulations, Elise, on your T4 journey and all the milestones ahead!