As a Utilities Supervisor and 26-year City employee, Mike Clinton has up-close-and-personal knowledge of hilly Arcata’s system of 16 water tanks, 11 pump stations, 7,000 water connections, 11 sewage pump stations and miles of underground piping. “Most people have no idea what’s under the asphalt,” he smiles. Arcata’s challenge now is to improve and replace this aging infrastructure to ensure reliable service. “We have very skilled and hardworking crews providing efficient water and wastewater service and I’m grateful to work with these guys,” says Mike. “Someone’s on call 24/7 in case there’s a sewer or water emergency.”