Joyce Kippin is no novice when it comes to complex water systems.
Over the past 20 years she's undertaken a wide range of roles at the town water treatment plant, becoming plant superintendent in 2001 with the responsibility of ensuring Ipswich met state and federal water regulations.
Kippin retired recently. At the July 28 Board of Selectmen meeting, the town commended her for her achievements. Selectman Jim Foley presented her with a plaque for outstanding work and service.
"There were many times when the plant was shorthanded and Joyce would work countless hours operating the plant to keep the water tanks full," says Tim Henry, director of utilities. "She was also instrumental in identifying the sources of problems as they related to bacterial programs in the distribution system over the past 10 years."
Kippin jumped right to work when she came to the Water Department in 1988. She clearly didn't have any reservations about getting her hands dirty.
"I did everything that the guys did," says Kippin. "Long before I was superintendent I'd do clean up work on the pumps and shovel up carbon down in the tanks."
The shortest in her crew, Kippin often went down into the tanks with a fire hose to clean up. She was also sent into the tunnels underneath the plant.
"I worked with a great group of guys and can't say enough about them," she says. "The town is very lucky."
These weren't your typical eight-hour workdays. In the winter Kippin plowed out wells and circumvented lagoons until three in the morning. When springtime rolled around hydrants needed to be flushed.
As superintendent, Kippin faced the challenge of keeping Ipswich's water balanced.
"Every week was different. Nothing is static," she says. "The water that's coming in changes all the time. Sometimes it could be a battle."
Nearly eight chemicals affect the water and a great deal of time is spent examining the supply.
"The town spends $50,000 every year on state-mandated water testing. There's a lot of paperwork that goes with this," Kippin says. "But I'm very proud that we've passed federal and state ordinances."
On some weekends Kippin traveled to treatment plants in Florida, New York and Indiana that were dealing with similar water quality issues.
A career full of achievements
Kippin's fascination with water began at an early age. Her father was a superintendent in Essex for 30 years. After graduating from Northeastern University she worked in the microbiology field. She interned at the Salem and Beverly water filtration facility, and in 1975 she became superintendent of a West Peabody plant.
Kippin collaborated with a colleague and wrote a series of articles pertaining to how bacteria sticks in distribution systems. This won the attention of numerous publications such as the "American Water Water Works Journal." Kippin and her partner won some awards as a result and received funding from seven research grants to further explore this phenomenon.
The 80s were a prosperous time for Kippin. She conducted a study with a Yale professor that later led to the development of a powder used to detect E. coli in water. This became widely-used during the time of Desert Storm.
"It's quick and easy to use," explains Kippin. "It's used worldwide now."
Kippin also worked on a water return system that was being developed at the time by NASA.
Kippin plans on doing some traveling with her husband.
"He always used to tell me 'Boy, I can't stand to see someone so happy to go to their job,'" she says. "But this is a job I've never dreaded going to and I'm very fortunate for it. I've had a wonderful career."
http://www.wickedlocal.com/ipswich/news/lifestyle/x1448610962/Kippin-Ive-had-a-wonderful-career
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