City of Sacramento Department of Utilities

An RC cola bottle from the 1950s, license plate, even a fishing pole— these are just a few of the unexpected items Jeff Garber has pulled from Sacramento’s drainage system.

As a utilities leadworker in drainage collection, he helps maintain the underground systems that keep neighborhoods from flooding during storms and prevent debris from reaching local waterways.

Much of that work now involves operating the City’s first-ever Vac-Con Recycler, an innovative truck that reuses water to clean thousands of feet of pipeline using a single tank.

Garber says his favorite part of the job is connecting with customers and serving the community he calls home.

Outside of work, he enjoys cheering on his daughter as she plays college softball in Kansas, riding bikes and hanging out with family.

Introducing the Department of Utilities Car Air Freshener collection.

Now you can take the scent of essential drinking water, stormwater and wastewater services on the road.

Enjoy the serene Reservoir Breeze, invigorating Sky Water, or soothing Midnight Flush scents today.

Every time you turn on your tap and know your water is safe to drink, that confidence is due in part to Melanie Madsen.

As a quality manager for the City's Water Quality Laboratory Research and Development, she oversees the laboratory’s quality assurance program, ensuring testing from source water through the distribution system meets strict state and federal standards.

She is also part of a team developing new testing methods for PFAS, a group of man-made chemicals receiving increasing regulatory attention.

As a first-generation immigrant from China, Melanie takes pride in helping ensure drinking water is safe in her new hometown—something she says her 9-year-old daughter also proudly shares with classmates.

Outside of work, she enjoys competitive online video gaming and building an international StarCraft community with people from around the world, visiting art museums and exploring philosophy.

Join the movement.
No flushing this Feb. 29, 30 and 31.
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As a senior staff assistant in our Engineering & Water Resources Division, Kelly Cunningham says no two days are the same—and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

From coordinating travel for trainings and conferences to managing a small fleet of vehicles, she supports more than 90 full-time employees with a wide range of administrative needs.

Kelly says her favorite part of the job is the people she works with, and that her flexible, people-focused style fits naturally within the team’s precision-driven environment.

Outside of work, she’s focused on completing her degree at Sacramento State but still makes time each summer to attend ‘Broadway at Music Circus’ performances with her family.