Meet Jason Auge, our Senior Manager of Sewer Operations! 

We sat down with Jason to learn more about his background, what brought him to Pittsburgh Water, and how his role prioritizes the health and public safety of our customers. 

Tell us about your role at Pittsburgh Water and your typical responsibilities.

In my role, I oversee the daily sewer operations and the green infrastructure crews. We have crews who regularly inspect, maintain, and troubleshoot any possible issues with the hundreds of miles of sewer mains and thousands of catch basins throughout the city. These crews check daily resident complaints that might include sinkholes, sewage backup calls, catch basin cleanings, and the cleaning and jetting of the sewer mains.

What made you decide to pursue a career in your field?

I started working at Pittsburgh Water in 2007 at the Water Treatment Plant. There was an opportunity to join the sewer operations crew as a general laborer making routine sewer repairs and learning the sewer system. Once I started in this role, I realized how interesting the sewer system is and I enjoyed the problem solving that came along with the position.

How do the contributions of you and your team members impact the customers and community members who live and work in our service area?

Using our tools, we inspect and make determinations on issues that help keep the sewer flowing and in working order. The work we do is key to keeping customers satisfied and their toilets and drains in working order. Well-maintained sewers and catch basins also help prevent localized flooding during heavy rains, protecting community members and their homes and property.

What’s something that a Pittsburgh Water customer might be surprised to learn about the work you do?

The video inspections we perform help us and our engineering group determine if sewers need any kind of maintenance or to be fixed. These inspections are performed by inserting a CCTV camera into the sewer to identify any areas of blockage or damaged sewer pipes. Based on our findings, a rehab or sewer lining project can be planned.

Based on your experiences, what advice would you share with others in your line of work, or young people just starting their career?

Ask questions. I feel that is the key to learning the job and everything that comes along with it. There are a lot of unknowns in an older system like Pittsburgh's, and asking questions about what we are doing on the job could help you understand why we do what we do. Having a detailed understanding of the process also gives you valuable context to be able to suggest new solutions to unique challenges.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I enjoy going to my camp with my wife and two daughters. We try to go on most weekends when my daughters aren’t competing in dance competitions.

What’s something you’re planning on doing in the next year that has you excited?

My daughters were invited to dance and compete during a filming of the television show Dance Moms. We are looking forward to watching that episode and seeing if they made it onto the show. Also, my daughter Trinity’s solo won first place overall.