SYP: LAB Webinar: Navigating the Waters: A Guide to Early Careers in Water/Wastewater Lab Management - Live Webinar

Scott Giatpaiboon is an accomplished water quality leader with extensive expertise in environmental laboratory management, regulatory compliance, and scientific research. As Water Quality Laboratory Manager for Irvine Ranch Water District, he directs a team of 26 professionals in a high throughput, accredited environmental laboratory. Serving as the District’s Technical Manager for CA-ELAP certification, he ensures operational excellence, delivers high-quality data, implements new laboratory standards, and leads strategic initiatives to meet evolving regulatory requirements. At the District, he spearheaded the implementation of the new Technical Information Management System (TIMS) project that modernizes data reporting, management, and accessibility.

Previously, Scott was a Research Scientist II at CalEPA’s Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, where he developed and maintained an ISO/IEC 17025:2017-compliant quality management system, oversaw accreditation processes, and provided expert guidance on complex environmental analyses for regulatory decision-making. He also serves as a voting member of The NELAC Institute’s Laboratory Accreditation System Executive Committee, shaping national accreditation policies. Scott is also a distinguished published author of three technical publications in the Journal of Analytical Biochemistry for his work in enzyme kinetics and bacteria antibiotic resistance.

Scott holds a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of California, Santa Barbara, an M.S. in Chemistry from Cal Poly Pomona, and an M.P.A. with a leadership emphasis from California State University, San Bernardino

I began my wastewater career as a temporary laboratory employee at Napa Sanitation, beforebeing hired as a Water Resources Laboratory Technician for the City of Livermore in 2004. I hold a CWEA Laboratory Analyst Grade 4 certification and worked for the City of Livermore performing various chemical, physical and bacteriological analyses until my retirement earlier this year.

Jack Clarks is the laboratory assistant for Inland Empire Utilities Agency since 2021, starting as an intern. Jack has just crossed his first year of working full time in the industry. Jack receives samples for the laboratory, prepares kits for various sampling event and coordinates

 with different sampling groups like our Groundwater Recharge Team, our Pretreatment and Source Control Team, and our Plant Operators. I also liase between these sampling groups and any external labs that samples may need to be sent off to.

Iris Yuen, an Environmental Engineer with the CWEA San Francisco Bay Section, has been serving as Vice Chair of the Student and Young Professional (SYP) Committee since 2024. With over two years of experience in the wastewater industry, Iris has been involved in wastewater and lead service line replacement projects across California, Connecticut, and Wisconsin. Her commitment lies in bridging the gap between academic studies and professional practice, empowering the next generation of water and wastewater professionals.

Through a great working relationship with IRWD, as a student intern, Brianna was able to secure a permanent position at IRWD as a Laboratory Scientist. Transitioning from an intern to a scientist at the district, Brianna has gained new and further mastered preexisting technical skills in the lab, running biological and biochemical analyses that generate pertinent data in relation to the efficiency and cleanliness of our reclaimed water plant and potable routes, that service Irvine and surrounding cities. As a microbiologist in the lab, we get to analyze multiple water matrices through traditional multi-tube fermentation and plating techniques, microscopy, and reagent dependent techniques, like Colilert-18/24 and Enterolert. These analyses help to identify and determine the presence and bacterial density of samples. In addition, the microbiologists run biochemical tests, requiring the usage of more advanced instrumentation, that helps us determine the biochemical oxygen demand of various water samples. The data generated from these analyses allows our reclaimed water plant to assess the effectiveness of each stage of the reclaimed process. With a robust QA/QC system in place and such reputable data being produced, the microbiologists at IRWD are able to supply clients and the serviced community with reassurance that their drinking water and irrigation water are of the highest quality.

Brianna, a Laboratory Analyst, received her degree in Biotechnology in 2023 from California State San Marcos. Following her education, she worked at a private lab developing test kits used for research. With a devotion to environmental conservation and innovation, she pursued a career in the water and wastewater industry. Brianna's career path was initiated through an internship program at Inland Empire Utilities Agency in Chino, California. As a laboratory intern, she provided support in special projects and plant expansion efforts. After a year and a half, she transitioned into a full-time position with the City of Redlands. She is motivated to contribute her knowledge and efforts to the transformation of water and wastewater treatment technologies.

At City of Redlands she is responsible for reporting accurate and reliable data for the process control of water and wastewater treatment. She performs tests to assess the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water as it goes through a treatment plant.