When Water Treatment Plant Coordinator Dail Booth graduated with his Bachelors of Science in Biology from East Carolina University, he wanted to be a marine biologist. Before coming to GUC, Dail did exactly what he'd set out to do, landed a job with the Division of Marine Fisheries.

"I was a marine fisheries technician," Dail said. "I set gill nets and recorded data, tagged specimens, etc. We were like the front line of defense, doing things like aging and stomach content analysis of marine and wildlife. Following Hurricane Floyd in 1999, our team was part of a project that studied the long-term effects of flooding on the sound and ecosystem."

However, after learning about an opportunity at GUC, Dail decided he wanted to give water treatment a try. As it turns out, he loves it, and has recently celebrated 10 years of service at GUC.

Dail works with Superintendent Julius Patrick to help manage and coordinate the day-to-day operations of the Plant and to ensure that operations meet local, state, and federal requirements.

Dail says every day is different and sometimes it's like solving a puzzle. "I love the challenge of our responsibilities here at the Plant," he said. "The treatment process is very complex, and everything affects it, from rain and drought to storms like Hurricane Matthew. Employees here are the unsung heroes of utilities sometimes because people don't often think about where water comes from and all that goes into getting it to them safely. I love giving Plant tours to show customers how the treatment process works."

As much as Dail likes treating water, he loves being on the water even more. An avid hunter and fisherman, Dail enjoys spending summer afternoons at a family house in Bath with his wife of seven years, Cindy, and their one-year-old daughter, Addison, along with other family members.

"We also try to get to Ocracoke once a year," said Dail. "Ocracoke is one of my favorite places on earth." During his time with the Division of Marine Fisheries, Dail spent a lot of time working in Hyde County, which includes Ocracoke. "I've got a real soft spot for Hyde County. If my wife could stand it, we'd live there and I'd drive to Greenville every day," he joked.

In addition to being a father and husband, Dail is very involved in his community, including our own GUC United Way Committee that he currently chairs. One thing he especially enjoys is serving as the co-chair of the Southern Pitt County Ducks Unlimited Chapter.

"I do a lot of fundraising and several events with Ducks Unlimited," he said. "We also host what's called a Green Wing Day. We take kids down to Contentnea Creek and show them wood duck boxes, fishing, and general outdoor and conservation knowledge."

It was obvious in our interview with Dail that he's proud to live (and serve) in Eastern North Carolina and also takes pride in what the dedicated staff at the Water Treatment Plant does each and every day for our customers.

"I enjoy knowing that we provide a quality product for our customers," he said. "Having the public's health being our primary responsibility is something we take seriously. I also enjoy the people here. It's a family atmosphere where we all work together."

Favorites:

Sports Team: NC State
Color: Red
Book: The Outlaw Gunner
Band: Metallica
Movie: Caddyshack