Angel Tarango, Tuolumne Utilities District
California Rural Water Association is excited to announce Angel Tarango was named the 2023 Operator of the Year during the California Rural Water Association’s annual banquet part of the 2023 CRWA conference held at Harvey’s Resort and Casino in South Lake Tahoe. Angel has worked for Tuolumne Utilities District for four years and currently occupies the position of Water Treatment Operator and Regulatory Compliance Specialist. Over her nine-year carrier in water operations Angel has overcome many challenges which has inspired her to reach out and support upcoming operators and young women.
Nine years ago, her journey started at Columbia College while on maternity with her second child. While enrolled in a few courses inspiration struck in Don Nessle’s wastewater class. Fascinated by the complexity of treatment and specified calculations associated with the trade, she knew she had found her calling. Passing her State Exam and earning her OIT Grade 1 she found a short-term wastewater OIT intern position at Twain Harte CSD that paid $5/hr. for a 4-hour workday. Despite the fact that her babysitter was making more than she was, she knew in the long run the experience would lead her to a well-rounded carrier. This internship was followed by another at Calaveras Public Utilities District during which she passed both the Water Treatment Grade 1 and 2 exams. With her Treatment certification under her belt, she secured her first permanent operator position with Sierra Pacific Industries. Even with a growing family and difficult work Angel persevered and completed the CSUS Office of Water Programs correspondence course and earned her Distribution Grade 2 certification. Now duly certified, she landed a job at Mi Wuk Mutual Water Company. During her time at Mi Wuk Mutual she was privileged to work with an excellent group of operators who taught her how to operate a backhoe, repair mainlines and hone her skills in water treatment plant operations. Culminating her five years’ experience and self-acquired education, she passed her Water Treatment Grade 3 exam.
In 2018 opportunity came knocking and two positions opened at Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD), one for water and one for wastewater. To her delight Angel was offered her choice between the positions and decided to take the Water Treatment path. In true testament to her dedication and discipline Angel was promoted after one month at TUD to her current position as the Regulatory Compliance Specialist and Water Treatment Operator. Currently she oversees regulatory requirements for ten surface water treatment plants, as well as seven wells, totaling eleven water systems all over the county. For daily operations, she works at three water systems split between the week and provides back-up operations for nine other utilities during non-scheduled hours. After four years at TUD she has passed both her Water Treatment Grade 4 and Water Distribution Grade 4 exams and is working towards her qualifying hours to file for her certifications. Now Angel hopes to help new incoming operators. She has written “How to” manuals for in-coming operators on sampling procedures and water treatment plant routines. She is also aspiring to author a book detailing her experiences throughout the years as a woman in a male dominated industry in hopes to inspire young women to learn and excel in any industry they set their hear to. Now a mother of three daughters herself, she will be sure to teach them all about perseverance, handwork and, of course, all about the water industry.
