Walking through ankle-deep sewage backed up in a restaurant convinced Jim Faulkner, who was spending his first week as supervisor of the Cottonwood Improvement District in Salt Lake City, Utah, that its maintenance program had serious flaws. He swore an oath that wastewater would leave patrons’ homes and businesses forever, instead of visiting neighbors two or three times per week.The trustees of the district, which operates and maintains the collection system, charged Faulkner to reorganize and gave him permission to handpick his staff, replace people if needed, and purchase equipment. His efforts produced a massive manhole inspection campaign and sewer-cleaning
