Rising to the occasion.
Adolphus has been with EBMUD for 32 years.
Adolphus supervises a crew that replaces sections of the 4,200 miles of pipes that keep water flowing to East Bay taps. A former machinist at a steel plant, he decided to make the move to EBMUD 32 years ago for a temporary position as a plumber. He quickly learned everything he could about EBMUD’s complex water system and advanced to his current position.
Adolphus loves the camaraderie of his “Pipeline 5” crew. He credits their great teamwork with landing some of the more complex replacement projects, including tackling a complicated pipeline replacement in the Panoramic Hill neighborhood in the Berkeley Hills. On two separate occasions, helicopters air-lifted 40-foot segments of pipe to be installed in narrow, winding streets. These helicopter trips required substantial coordination and saved significant construction time on the project, allowing the timely replacement of aging water mains. “They are the best crew for getting the job done and done right,” says Adolphus.
Working for EBMUD provides Adolphus opportunities to rise above challenges, to learn all he can, and to show up for his team. His advice to those seeking a career at EBMUD: “Have good people skills, respect your team, don’t dwell on the negative, and never underestimate yourself – take the test and make it happen.”
“This is the best job at the District – you get to plan your work and see it through from start to finish.”