Dennis Bergstrom
SCADA Technician
Dennis Bergstrom helps ensure that operators can control all of the Truckee Meadows' water flow with the push of a button. He is able to do this from computers in a central control room at the Glendale Water Treatment Plant.
"It's all about getting the signals to and from the remote station," he said. Dennis works as a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) technician for Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA). The entire TMWA water system can be operated and monitored from the control room by a technician like Dennis. For example, with the click of a mouse Dennis can bring water into and out of a water tank and turn pump stations and wells on or off.
Dennis joined TMWA during its inception in 2001. Prior to that, he worked for Sierra Pacific Power Company for ten years. Before working in Reno, he was an electrical technician at Sierra Pacific in a town outside of Battle Mountain for 11 years. He also has education and experience in instrumentation, which is where his interest lies.
"I'm interested in electronics," he said. "I think having a hobby that's also your career is the best-case scenario."
At TMWA, Dennis gets to do a little bit of both electrical and instrument work, which is what he enjoys most. When something breaks, he fixes it, which is why every day can be a little different from the last.
"I like to fix things, figure out why they're broken and get them working again," he said of his work.
SCADA technicians really do keep things running smoothly since delivering water in the Truckee Meadows is not as easy as other, flatter cities, because the water has to be pumped uphill in Reno and surrounding areas.
Though Dennis considers himself a lucky man to have the privilege of getting paid for one of his favorite pastimes; he enjoys more than just playing Mr. Fix-it. He recently bought a Harley Davidson and enjoys taking in the Reno landscape while riding his bike. He also enjoys spending time with his wife, Linda, his son, two daughters and four grandchildren. He likes listening and talking on his ham radio and he said it is the one thing, besides survival essentials, he would take on a deserted island.
