Before being a guest in the Karijeroteka program, which took place on Thursday, February 25th, 2020, starting at 5 pm, we spoke with Marin Ganjta, the chief technologist of the Zagreb Wastewater Company.
KARIJEROTEKA: You only have two sentences, present the Zagreb Wastewater Company!
Marin Ganjto: The Zagreb Wastewater Company was established in 1998, when a concession agreement was signed with the City of Zagreb. The maintenance of the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant in Zagreb is handled by a German-Croatian corporation consisting of three companies: WTE Wassertechnik GmbH from Essen, innogy Aqua GmbH from Mülheim, and the city company Vodoprivreda Zagreb d.d.
This Zagreb wastewater treatment plant is one of the most advanced in the whole of Eastern Europe.
KARIJEROTEKA: What is your occupation and how did you come to ZOV?
Marin Ganjto: By profession, I am the chief technologist and Head of the environmental protection and waste management service on the CUPOVZ project (Central Wastewater Treatment Plant of the City of Zagreb). I am also the Quality Representative of the Company’s Internal Laboratory. I completed postgraduate university studies and obtained the academic degree of Doctor of Science in the field of technical sciences, while I obtained the academic title of graduate chemical engineer through graduate university studies. I came to the company ZOV through a tender in the final phase of construction and commissioning of the said Device.
KARIJEROTEKA: What exactly does a chemist do at ZOV, what does your workday look like?
Marin Ganjto: A chemical engineer does a variety of jobs, and in one working day it is possible to divide them into administrative and technological jobs. Administrative affairs are communication with employees and communication with external users related to the procurement and collection of various goods and services as well as with interested parties related to the research of the Central Device. Technological work is related to the review and calculation of technological and laboratory data and analysis of specific requirements related to the improvement and legal compliance of the entire CUPOVZ project.
KARIJEROTEKA: What are the advantages and disadvantages of working at ZOV?
Marin Ganjto: I only must show the advantages in my case. At ZOV, I really have the opportunity to participate in many projects that are directly and indirectly related to wastewater testing. The device also includes a certified laboratory that works to the highest standards, and we have the opportunity to contribute to numerous new tests on wastewater. The scope of my work as a scientist in a private company, as opposed to, for example, that at an institute, may be somewhat wider and faster but these are things that actually upgrade my profession and round out my story not only as a scientist but also as a private sector employee.
KARIJEROTEKA: What can students expect on Thursday at Karijeroteka? How will you interest them in chemistry, in environmental protection, in science?
Marin Ganjto: I hope that in the upcoming interview, students will get some insight into the breadth of jobs for which a chemical engineer is educated and the opportunities that the profession provides in independent work and training. It is possible to interest young people in these areas through insight into the relevance of the area and the growing demands of interdisciplinarity through which they must learn to appreciate and use differences in perspectives and methods of other areas in order to integrate knowledge and thinking from different disciplines.
