After training as a chemical laboratory technician at Boehringer in Ingelheim, Rudi Bonn initially worked in the private sector and at a hygiene institute. In June 1981, he was taken on as a chemical laboratory technician at the municipal utilities and has worked in the laboratory there ever since. In 1989, he also successfully completed a part-time training course to become a state-certified technician specializing in chemistry. After celebrating 40 years of service in 2020, Rudi Bonn is now set to enjoy a well-deserved retirement.
"The laboratory is a very important facility for the municipal utility company," emphasized Mayor Friedrich Marx. The public is usually unaware of everything that is done there. One of the most important tasks is, of course, sampling the drinking water. This starts with the inflows, then continues via the water treatment in the Steinbach dam and via the pipeline network to the end customer. "Numerous measuring points are distributed throughout the city, which are regularly sampled chemically and microbiologically," explained Bonn. In the area of wastewater disposal, the inflows and outflows of the sewage treatment plants are regularly checked to ensure that no impermissible substances are discharged. Checks are also carried out at companies that work with substances that are potentially hazardous to the water supply. These include metal processing companies, electroplating plants, laundries and large canteens. The laboratory also examines the water quality in the municipal swimming pools, but this also needs to be checked by another laboratory.
"Rudi Bonn, together with his colleagues of course, has always carried out all of these tasks accurately and reliably," emphasized Mayor Friedrich Marx. This is also necessary, as fines or court proceedings can quickly arise, especially in the event of breaches of environmental regulations, and the results of the investigations must of course be beyond reproach. The mayor thanked the soon-to-be retiree for his outstanding work, presented him with a few gifts and wished him all the best for the new phase of his life. Colleagues and staff representatives were happy to join in the thanks and good wishes.