Lowell Regional Water Utility Water Distribution Superintendent Tim Brinkman and his team are modernizing the way the City of Lowell approaches its most vital resource — drinkable water. (Photo Courtesy City of Lowell)
LOWELL — Lowell Regional Water Utility Water Distribution Superintendent Tim Brinkman is laser focused on modernizing the City of Lowell’s water distribution system and the way the City takes care of its most vital resource.
A native of Pepperell, Supervisor Brinkman comes from a family with a history of working in both the water and wastewater arenas. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry with a minor in Biology from Fitchburg State University.
Supervisor Brinkman first went to work for the City eight years ago, when he joined the Lowell Regional Water Utility (LRWU) as an engineer. He has since held jobs at both LRWU and the Lowell Regional Wastewater Utility (LRWWU).
Last year he became Water Distribution Supervisor at LRWU and took responsibility for about 215 miles of pipes that carry up to 13 million gallons of water per day to Lowellians. He oversees about a dozen employees who maintain the City’s water distribution infrastructure.
It’s not an easy job.
A significant portion of the system was installed around the turn of the 20th century, and City leadership has made it a priority to upgrade and modernize the system and the approaches taken to maintain it.
As Supervisor of Distribution, Brinkman is focused on modernizing management systems that sometimes still include paper records. Workers now use iPads and other modern technology to document inspections. Important records have been digitized to improve efficiency.
The LWRU has also improved its mapping of the water system, and documentation of the location of valves and other important infrastructure.
Modernization means City workers can respond quickly and effectively in an emergency. Employees now focus on preventive maintenance instead of just responding when things go wrong.
“It’s hard to respond to an emergency when you don’t know where the nearby valves are,” Supervisor Brinkman said. “There has been a lot of antiquated methodology in the custodianship of the water system, and we’re trying to really modernize the approaches, use more technology, and get the system working the right way.”
Supervisor Brinkman said his team deserves credit for much of the progress, as well as taking on more work to reduce the need for outside contractors.
“Some of the hardest work we do in the city is done by these guys, and I’d like to acknowledge their importance,” he said.
“I think that working at the Water Department gives you a special responsibility, because delivering clean water is one of the most important things we do as a society,” Supervisor Brinkman said. “A lot of times people forget about the Water Department or other utilities until something goes wrong, but I want people to know that their Water Department is here, we are doing this hard work, and we care about what we do.”
This is one of an ongoing series of profiles sharing the stories of the Lowell workers who keep the city running.
Lowell Regional Water Utility Water Distribution Superintendent Tim Brinkman stands in the Utility’s garage with a dump truck that is used to maintain the approximately 215 miles of water pipes in Lowell. (Photo Courtesy City of Lowell)
