Jacobs Celebrates 40+ Years of Dedication, Innovation and Excellence in Oregon

Jacobs is over the hill, but picking up speed in Hood River, Oregon. The Hood River City Council unanimously agreed to a 15-year contract renewal with Jacobs, extending a 42-year partnership. 

Jacobs has operated and maintained the City of Hood River Wastewater Treatment Plant, six lift stations and managed a biosolids management program since 1983. The extension marks a significant milestone for Jacobs — the City of Hood River is now the company’s longest tenured operations and maintenance (O&M) client.

“The partnership spans over four decades and has been marked by continuous improvement and innovation,” says Jacobs Northwest Geographic Director of Operations Shawn Moffitt. “We built the partnership on our shared goals, and our timeline highlights our commitment to excellence, safety and environmental stewardship.”

Access to specialized skills and knowledge 

The local team boasts collective experience of over 100 years in wastewater utilities. But even more impressive is the tenure at the project. In fact, Plant Manager Louie Hooks has been at the project for over 35 years — working in various departments, from biosolids and the laboratory to operations and training — and brings unparalleled experience and institutional knowledge to the city’s facilities. 

“The team dynamic and culture makes it easy to show up to work every day,” adds Louie. “We understand the ins and outs of the city’s wastewater utility needs and take pride in the impact we can have on the community and the environment.”

Our collaboration extends beyond the local team, granting the city access to a network of seasoned O&M, engineering and consulting professionals in the Northwest. Shawn adds, “We have a broad network of expertise that we can draw upon when needed, which allows us to address unique challenges, facilitate collaborative projects, increase professional development opportunities and more.”

For instance, biosolids are hauled annually to Oregon Department of Environmental Quality approved land application sites. In collaboration with nearby Jacobs-operated projects in The Dalles and Gresham, a regional biosolids team was established to optimize resource sharing for this effort. This included investigating and negotiating new sites to dispose of biosolids, maintaining relationships with farmers and landowners, coordinating hauling, disposal biosolids and more, while maintaining an effective biosolids program. 

Additionally, Jacobs partnered with Windsor Engineers to complete a Wastewater Master Plan. “Our operators worked closely with our inhouse consulting counterparts and Windsor Engineers to consider the future growth of the city, evaluate our equipment and processes, and deliver a master plan for the city’s consideration,” says Jacobs Hood River Area Manager Jeff Houchin. 

Decades of safety and staff well-being

Protecting the workforce and the work environment is essential to the project’s success. Our strong commitment to safety has resulted in 23 years without a recordable incident. 

“Our commitment to safety is led by project and regional safety leadership who actively engage and involve staff to create a culture of caring and vigilance,” says Jeff. 

The team applies technological advances for safe job planning. Staff uses the ion© platform to conduct electronic pre-task plans, weekly safety inspections, facility and vehicle inspections, BeyondZero® observations and near-miss reporting. This technology helps keep staff safe by identifying hazards prior to each job task and more efficient planning.

From one tap to another

Partnering with and giving back to the communities where we work is integral to Jacobs’ values. As such, we have found ways to educate the community about our role in the city and, more importantly, what happens once you flush the toilet.

“We host regular tours for city staff, schools and residents to help them understand how we contribute to the environment,” adds Jeff. “Beyond the plant, we also explore critical events in the community.”

Jacobs serves as the presenting sponsor for Hood River Hops Fest, an award-winning beer festival that celebrates the Pacific Northwest’s great micro-brews. For more than 15 years, we have supported the family-friendly event to strengthen community connections and celebrate the region’s fresh-hopped beers. 

This spring, the wastewater facility and Louie will be featured in The Watershed Rock Opera. The event will consist of a five-piece multimedia performance celebrating the Columbia River Gorge during which attendees will learn about environmental stewardship and watershed management. 

Jeff adds, “Our achievements, in conjunction with the city’s trust and confidence in us, provide a solid foundation as we continue to serve Hood River residents and care for the city’s largest infrastructure investment.”