Rika Lashley Email & Phone Number

I am a water and wastewater engineer. While I enjoy all types of work in this field, my passion is with wastewater treatment process analysis and design. From lagoons to membrane bioreactors, from BOD removal to nutrient removal, from design of a new system or modifying an existing system to troubleshooting an ongoing process, I enjoy it all!One of the best ways for an engineer to get to know a treatment plant is to work on a facility plan. Going through every component in a facility, describing it, assessing it, and developing alternatives for future improvements allow me to appreciate just how many unique ways there are to make a treatment plant perform well. The best part is visiting the facilities and learning the operational details from the operators.Process modeling and the determination of specific plant parameters for model input also help me gain an understanding of a treatment plant. A well-built model will resemble the performance of the real thing and can be used to simulate how better performance could be tickled out of an existing process, determine size for expansions, or see construction effects on process, to name a few scenarios. Process modeling is a powerful tool in the design toolbox and I definitely enjoy using it.In my work with communities around the state, I have also become very familiar with MPDES permitting, water quality standards, and the ever evolving nutrient regulations. Through my contacts with Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality staff, I stay involved and informed about developments in this arena. For many communities, permit limits dictate future planning and investments for wastewater facilities, and I believe that it is imperative that I am well informed on current and potential future regulations to help guide and advise the folks I work with.All the skills I described and more serve me in doing my job. Which is? My job is to work with communities and those who have the responsibility for providing safe drinking water and treating their wastewater. My job is to provide information and offer solutions to the planners, decision makers, and operators in these communities to help build and improve their communities.

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  Environmental Engineer

  Morrison-Maierle, Inc.

  Mar 2006 - Present

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  South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology

  Environmental Engineering