Staff Splash: Meet Alison Wade

Alison is the friendly face who greets all new Mesa Water employees on their first day.

What do you do in your role at Mesa Water?

n my role as Human Resources Analyst, I mainly deal with benefit administration. This includes everything from Open Enrollment to leave administration and helping employees better understand and navigate the complex elements surrounding each benefit.

How did you get into the water industry?

I’ve always cared about water and the environment. One of my first jobs out of college was at the wastewater plant in Fountain Valley. After that job, I took a job at an aerospace company in benefits administration. When I saw this job advertised in the paper – yes, the paper – I thought it would be a perfect combination of the things that are important to me, making an impact in water by helping employees with their job benefits.

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of this job is going through the onboarding process with new employees and welcoming them to our amazing team. As a small agency, we are more like family, and this gives me the opportunity to get to know them at the onset of their career here.

What might the community find surprising about Mesa Water?

One surprising fact about Mesa Water is that we have two groundwater wells that pump amber-colored water from over 1,000 feet below ground. Since the water is amber-colored, we process it through nanofiltration to remove the color and deliver crystal clear water to our customers. Those wells pump amber-colored water as a result of the ancient redwood forest that existed here in Costa Mesa thousands of years ago.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?

I enjoy spending time with friends, taking a walk or lunching at the beach. Being by the ocean brings me a sense of peace. I’ve always loved being close to the water.

Do you have a favorite water-themed movie or song?

My favorites are “The Ocean” by Led Zeppelin and “Into the Mystic” by Van Morrison.