On Friday, October 22, 1999, Lori Williams of Sierra Pacific Power Company came to the University of Nevada Reno's weekly meeting of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. The department provided pizza from Round Table and sodas for faculty and students, who ranged from freshmen to graduate students.

Ms. Williams' presentation consisted of her experiences with Sierra Pacific, as well as some interesting and humorous side notes.  She began with some of the opportunities available to Chemical Engineers in S.P.  Some of these included:  high level water decisions, management, computer modeling, as well as many hands on and people oriented positions.

Lori then continued to tell the students about all of the engineers within the company, noting that although there were only three chemical engineers currently employed, they were always looking for more because of the diversity that the profession.  She also gave a shout out to the University's own, Wayne Burton and Russ Norton, who are currently employed part time for Sierra Pacific Power.  Williams then told the group that one of the current problems facing the company was the possibility of new Arsenic level mandate by the federal government.  She predicted that the new level would be 10 parts per billion for arsenic, and that the new laws would cost the company approximately $90 million to treat the water to the new standards.

Another problem facing the company, or rather a possible problem, is the Sparks Marina, formally known as Helm's Gravel Pit.  The problem facing Sierra Pacific, as well as the city of Sparks, is the high nitrates and the TDS levels are too high.  The City of Sparks is now in the process of building a Denitrification plant to reduce the nitrate levels in the lake, as well as the number of TDS, before pumping the water from the lake into the Truckee River.  The problem that faced Sierra Pacific was the inability to obtain the water rights to the pumped out water.  The reason that the marina has to be pumped is linked to the water level that has to be maintained to prevent ground water infiltration.  The basic dilemma for SP was over the water rights, and whether or not they can obtain them.  They were involved in litigation with the government and the Paiute Indian tribe, as the tribe felt that they deserved a portion of the water rights.  In the end, Sierra Pacific Power decided not to pursue the matter further.

Ms. Williams wrapped up the presentation with a brief over view of her career and her life.  All in all, the group of chemical engineering students gained a lot of valuable information about the profession, as well as a personal insight into Williams' career.
 

submitted by:

Sage Hiibel
Class of 2003