Ray Hernandez, Maintenance Technician – Grade II

The Orange County Water District is very pleased to announce that Ray Hernandez, Maintenance Technician – Grade II, is the 2023 Employee of the Fourth Quarter.

Ray Hernandez is the District welder and an exceptional employee. While Ray’s fabrication skills are top notch, it is Ray’s creativity and positive “can do” attitude that really makes him valuable. Here are a few of Ray’s accomplishments:

• Recently, the District was feeling political pressure to seal out homeless encampments along a GWRS pipeline underneath the Edinger Street Bridge. The original chain link fence was ineffective and being penetrated by homeless people. Ray designed, fabricated, and installed a homeless barrier made of robust steel bars. Since being installed in early October, the barrier has proven to be impenetrable by the homeless and quelled a politically charged concern for the District.

• When the GWRS screening facility was malfunctioning and requiring a long time to tear down and repair, Ray figured out a way to complete the work and eliminate four days of GWRS down time. Ray’s out of the box solution caught the attention of the screening facility manufacturer, who sent engineers out to interview Ray and photograph his solution. In addition to avoiding four days of GWRS plant shut-down, Rays screening facility solution saved the District approximately $10,000.

• Another achievement that highlights Ray’s remarkable skills and dedication occurred when he took the lead in repairing faulty cooling coils in the reverse osmosis motors. His expertise not only resolved the issue but resulted in substantial cost savings for the District. Each coil costs roughly $20,000. To date, Ray has refurbished eight. When this project is finished, Ray’s efforts will have saved the District over $280,000!

Ray’s impact extends beyond his technical expertise. His willingness to lend a helping hand with projects across all departments showcases a remarkable team spirit. Whether it’s collaborating within his own department or offering support to others, Ray consistently goes above and beyond to ensure the success of various projects. His versatility and eagerness to contribute make him an indispensable asset to his entire team, and his out of the box approach to solving problems and positive “can-do” attitude qualifies for the honor of being the Employee of the Quarter.

Congratulations, Ray!