Renaissance man

In July, Ken Noren, foreman of the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), retired from SURF. During his 15-year tenure, more than 9 billion gallons of water were treated and the WWTP recognized each year by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for outstanding operation of the wastewater system and environmental compliance.

“Ken has transformed the way we treat water. His leadership made this happen year after year,” said Mike Headley, executive director of the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority. “He is leaving a legacy that will continue to inspire well into the future.”

For Noren, keeping the water leaving SURF sparking clean is more than just a job—it’s personal. The water treatment process requires the use of chemicals to remove solid waste (iron) and other impurities. Noren found ways to reduce the amount of chemicals used and implement cost-saving processes at the same time.

“I live downstream from SURF. I wanted to make sure the water was clean for me and my neighbors. The less chemicals we put in the water, the better it is for everyone,” Noren said. “I was also happy that it cut the cost of running the plant.”

Noren and his team also implemented the use of a gravity flow system to move the water into the treatment facility. Combined with reducing the number of rotating biological contactors needed to clean the water, Noren’s team significantly reduced the amount of power used while treating the same volume of water.

“I was given the opportunity to experiment and make these changes,” Noren said. “A lot of places would just say, ‘Nope, this is the way we’ve always done it.’ But SURF let me try new theories—and I’ve done a lot of them.”

Will McElroy, deputy director of Operations at SURF, referred to Noren as an innovator and inventor. “Rarely have I come across an individual who is relentlessly looking to improve a process or design. We at SURF will continue to see Ken’s fingerprints on the future of the treatment plant.”

Renaissance Man

Noren’s innovative and inventive spirit extends to his life outside of SURF. He draws inspiration from one of the greatest minds of all time: Leonardo DaVinci.

“He was my hero,” Noren said. “He was forward thinking. He drew a helicopter—and it was proved that it worked. He did everything.”

And so, it seems, does Noren. He’s designed and built a 120-pound medieval suit of armor—hammering it by hand—a working canon, jewelry boxes, plumbing, welding, and dozens of home improvement projects. He even did sword fighting at Renaissance fairs.

“I don’t like watching TV and I don’t like being idle,” Noren said.

Noren said he inherited his creative side from his mother and now he’s passed that creativity on to his own children, working with them to design custom tools and woodworking projects, among other things.

Educator

Noren loved working with his children; and that desire to educate and inspire shone through during his years at SURF.

“I have been so very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with Ken during my time here,” said Julie Dahl, education specialist at SURF. “Ken is extremely humble, but very passionate about what he does. He recognizes the importance of clean water and being a good steward of the place we work and live. And he finds inspiration everywhere!”

The Education and Outreach team brings hundreds of students to SURF every year. And most of those field trips include tours of the WWTP to explore the ways the plant processes the water pumped from underground.

“After every tour, I love to listen to participants banter about what they got to see and how amazed they are that they understood the complexities of such a facility,” Dahl said. “They can see that what happens here makes a difference. They all love Ken!”

Noren said he is looking forward to his new adventure, to being home with his wife, and doing more projects with his kids. But he’ll miss the interaction with students.

“You know, I give a lot of tours to a lot of people—a lot of kids,” Noren said. “One of the things I try to impress on kids it to think outside the box. I want them to think about how to solve problems, not give them an answer.”

That philosophy fits perfectly with the way the E&O team approaches their work in curriculum and classroom presentation development. 

“The thing that most amazes me about Ken is his ability to adapt in the moment,” Dahl said. “It is about more than just being systematic; rather, it’s about understanding that in the ebb and flow of life, nothing is stationary, and everything is connected.”