Birmingham Water Works continues its commitment to introduce girls to careers in engineering and the infinite possibilities within the field.  

The number of women in engineering has grown steadily over the last 50 years, but the field is still a male-dominated one. According to the US Census Bureau, approximately 85 percent of engineering jobs are held by men.

The Society of Women Engineers hosted Introduce A Girl to Engineering Day on Feb. 17 at McWane Science Center. With female students from around the metropolitan area attending, more than 20 companies, including Birmingham Water Works, set up tables with information about careers in engineering and fun giveaways.

Jaquice Boyd, Ph.D., Engineer I in Purification and Meridith Hollins, Training Coordinator represented Birmingham Water Works at the event.

To demonstrate the role of science and engineering in water filtration, Boyd simulated the water treatment process, specifically coagulation, flocculation, and sedimentation, using jar testers. Boyd used raw water from the Cahaba River, which feeds into the Shades Mountain Filter Plant, and ferric sulfate, the primary coagulant for Shades Mountain.

Boyd has participated in Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day for the past five years. She is one of three female Birmingham Water Works engineers, along with April Nabors, Ph.D., Superintendent of Environmental Land Administration, and Ashlyn Manzella, Engineer I, who have earned doctorates in engineering from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.