Life at the Bottom of the Water Industry

Water operator welcomes challenges and adventure in Antarctica

Life at the Bottom of the Water Industry

Operating a water system is a tough job. Operating the McMurdo Station water system through Antarctica’s bitter winter presents a whole other set of challenges.  

For Coby Forth, it’s been an adventure.  

Forth graduated from Vermilion Community College in Minnesota with a degree in water quality science in May 2018. That fall he landed a job with PeopleService Inc., a water industry contract operation firm based out of Omaha, Nebraska. In October Forth began his career with PSI as a maintenance technician at the water and wastewater facilities in Riverside, Iowa. The job allowed him to gain experience and skills. After obtaining his Iowa certification, he took a promotion with PSI as lead wastewater operator for their LaPorte City, Iowa, operation in May 2020.  

Antarctica wasn’t on his radar at that point, but he enjoyed searching job sites and exploring the opportunities in other cities. Then in October 2020 he came across a listing for “Water Operator in Antarctica” that sparked his interest.  

He says he was shocked to find an employment opportunity in the water/wastewater industry that would take him so far from home and provide such an adventure. In March 2021 Coby decided to leave PSI to pursue the Antarctica opportunity.

Physically qualified

The pre-employment process was intense. Besides the normal interviews and drug testing, there was a four-month process during which Forth had to show he was “physically qualified” to work in Antarctica. Pacific Architects and Engineers hires the water operators for Antarctica and many other locations around the world through close contacts with the U.S. government.  

The location Forth applied for was McMurdo Station on Ross Island, Antarctica. The U.S. National Science Foundation, which oversees these operations, has three year-round locations in Antarctica. McMurdo Station is the largest on the continent. In summer months (October to March), the population can be over 1,200 at this location and in winter (March to October) the population can drop below 200. At the beginning of winter 2022, the population was 126, including primarily support staff to keep the station open and get ready for the summer rush. The other two locations that are manned year-round are Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station and Palmer Station, which is located on the peninsula side of the continent in Antarctica.   

The certification requirements for the water operator position in Antarctica are based on Colorado water operations requirements as this is the home base for this section of PAE. They also recognize licenses from other states. Forth’s Grade 2 Iowa licenses, along with his training and experience, were recognized and deemed acceptable for the position.  

That prior training and experience has proved invaluable as he’s been able to offer insights and suggest improvements in both the water and wastewater plants at McMurdo.

Crossing oceans

Before he could start his new job, Forth first had to get to McMurdo Station — another challenge on its own. He started from O’Hare airport in Chicago, arriving in San Francisco where he had to quarantine for five days. Then it was onto a 17-hour private charter flight with Antarctica employees and flight staff heading to Christchurch, New Zealand. Once there, he had to go through Managed Isolation Quarantine before moving on to Antarctica. Everyone going to McMurdo Station goes by way of Christchurch, either by boat or plane. The final leg was a 5.5-hour flight on a New Zealand government plane. He says there’s nothing quite like flying over open water and then suddenly being over Antarctica.  

Forth was the only certified water operator on site, working with two other water plant mechanics. One previously worked on Navy ships and the other was on his third season at McMurdo.  

The water treatment system in McMurdo is a reverse osmosis system similar to the one Forth worked on in Riverside, Iowa. One of the main differences with the McMurdo system is the use of heat exchangers to warm up the water because the intake/raw water comes from the frigid Ross Sea. This offers some complications when it comes to pulling pumps and the occasional power outage. All lab work is performed on site at the plant.  

As long as there are no issues with water production, there are no restrictions on water use. They are required to keep at least 160,000 gallons of water in their storage tanks at all times. If a major issue requires work that takes the system out of production for a day or two, they go into water restrictions when reserves hit the 160,000-gallon mark. The maximum storage capacity is 204,000 gallons and typically never falls below 170,000 gallons. All the buildings at McMurdo are connected to water, sewer, power and internet, and all are above ground. 

Being outside here has its own set of challenges but some workers are outside every day depending on needs and the weather conditions. Forth is outside at least twice a day to go to and from work. It’s about a three-minute walk from his dorm to the water plant. People are allowed to go anywhere on station outside alone at any given time, but that changes and there are restrictions when the weather conditions are what is called Condition 1:  

  • Winds greater than 55 knots (63-plus mph) sustained for one minute, or 
  • Visibility less than 100 feet sustained for one minute, or 
  • Wind chill greater than -100 degrees Fahrenheit for one minute 

Forth has seen Condition 1 four or five times and says it can get a little hairy to say the least. 

Supply lines

Any supplies and materials required for operation are resupplied around the same time each year. There will be some light cargo coming in on the August and October flights. The main resupply operation happens in January. That’s when the big cargo ship sails, packing more cargo than the airplanes can carry.  

Forth says his accommodations are a lot like a motel or a dorm system. In the winter most dorm rooms are not shared, and Forth has a room to himself. During the summer, most people have roommates. Meals provided are buffet style with cold and hot food lines, with fresh bread and dessert for every lunch and dinner.  

“If you get hungry for a late-night snack, there’s a 24/7 deli where you can make wraps and sandwiches for yourself. There’s also a 24/7 cooler where you can get previous days’ buffet line leftovers.” Room and board are provided for the staff at no cost, and Forth says he’s been pleasantly surprised with the food quality.

Fighting isolation

Working in extreme and harsh environments can take a physical toll, but the station is set up so the crew can relax, have some fun and enjoy some of the comforts of home.  

The saunas are popular, especially after a cold walk outside the station. A gym provides exercise opportunities. There’s also a bar called Gallagher’s where people go to unwind, have a drink and play darts, pool, foosball and old arcade games. One of Forth’s favorite things to do is watch movies in the back of the galley, which is converted into a movie theater equipped with a 65-inch flatscreen, couches, comfy chairs, surround sound and a popcorn machine in the low-population winter months.  

Forth also enjoys reserving “Hut 10,” which is a small ranch home furnished with a full kitchen, two bathrooms and a nice dining area. It’s a great place to get about 10 people together and cook dinner and socialize. McMurdo also has its own general store full of souvenirs, snacks and essentials. The store is also where everyone gets their weekly alcohol rations — the one item that is controlled.  

There are hikes that can be done alone outside, like climbing up the 750-foot Observation Hill. There are two other hikes permitted during winter but they require at least two people and adherence to strict requirements. One trail is about 1.5 miles up a small hill range opposite Observation Hill which offers a view of the entire McMurdo Station. The other is about a 7-mile hike to an area known as Castle Rock. This hike offers great views of the night sky, Auras and the milky way. Straying off the marked trail here presents the very real possibility of falling into a glacial crevasse.  

Forth says he loves the almost unimaginable beauty this continent has to offer. “The community lifestyle we live is amazing,” he says.  

“This has been a real adventure and career builder all while getting paid to use my skills as a professional water operator. I may consider doing a summer tour at USA/NSF Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, or Palmer Station to see and experience the other operations. But for now, I want to get back closer to home and be around family and friends. I must say, this has been one of the great adventures of my life.”



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