There are so many talented and interesting people working in the pump industry that Empowering Pumps is making an effort to shine a spotlight on individuals who spend their time and energy making valuable contributions inside and outside of their workplace.

This week, we talked to Patrick Witts from Rain for Rent. Here is what he had to say:

“Since the Egyptians invented the shadoof in 2000 BC, pumps have held a place of importance, noticeable or not, in our society.  There is arguably no piece of equipment that is responsible for the advancement of our civilization than the pump.  As with most things, technology has allowed for exponential improvement of the equipment in recent decades, along with detailed computer modeling of complex systems.  But the understanding of the proper application, as well as being able to translate that complex system into terms a user can understand, is a delicate balance that “pump gurus” strike every day. On any given day, I can be working on a complex dewatering system design for a quarry, then move on to impeller and volute designs for a pump-end swap. Transitioning continuously from the mechanical world of the pumping equipment to the thermodynamic world of the process, the dynamics of a constantly-changing field, is what ultimately keeps me interested in the field itself.

I have helped solve many problems with my customers in my career, but partnering with them to solve one of the biggest challenges facing all of us is something I am most proud of: infrastructure improvements. You can make the most robust and reliable pump in the world, but, if your system is faulty, the value your pump brings to the table would be very small.  Right now, throughout the country, we are seeing some of this come to life in our failing infrastructure. For many years, we took for granted that the reliability of these systems, and we scaled back on the investment in their upkeep.

Early in my career, I became very active in the New Jersey Water Environment Association, a member organization of the Water Environment Federation. One of our main goals is to educate our system operators, and the public at large, on the importance of improving, maintaining and protecting our water resources.  I have given many presentations through this organization on topics such as understanding pumping systems, improving pump efficiency, and other pump-related topics, with the goal that this knowledge will go towards the benefit of our communities.  Now that I am President of the South Section of the NJWEA, I am also in the position to help steer some of this educational outreach, as we make sure that people remember that “water is worth it.”

If I were to give advice to anyone entering the pump industry, I would offer this suggestion…Don’t be afraid to ask questions as you enter the pump industry, whether it is your customers or your co-workers. Every day is a new opportunity to learn a new application, a new “rule of thumb,” or a new way to solve a problem. There are many ways to “find your niche,” in the pump industry. I put just a few examples above of my own path.  Pumps can be complex systems, but many great minds have worked on similar problems since 2,000 BC. The pump industry is close-knit, and, once you are in, you will see many familiar faces through the years. The key to staying in the pump industry is to find YOUR personal application, and apply your knowledge to make something better: mechanical equipment, hydraulic process, community infrastructure, system controls, etc.  Embrace the complexity, knowing that everyone in the pump industry is trying to do the same.”

Know an Amazing Person who is making valuable contributions within the Pump Industry? Nominate them to be “Pump Person of the Week”!