Mike Rivera joined the Southwest EFC in 2024. He is a New Mexico native originally from Tucumcari, NM. He is a certified level 3 wastewater operator, level 2 water operator, and level 1 lab technician with over 20 years of experience.

Mike has worked at basic and advanced wastewater treatment plants including facilities with trickling filters/rotating biological contractors, extended aeration activated sludge, and membrane bioreactors. On the water side, he has worked at manganese and arsenic water treatment facilities. Mike’s experience includes sampling, testing, and reporting on total coliform, lead and copper, disinfection byproducts, and radionuclides. He has extensive experience reporting results to state, tribal, and federal officials to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act and writing annual consumer confident reports for many different water systems. His work in the laboratory included sampling and testing to ensure compliance with wastewater NPDES permits and UIC discharge permits. He has also overseen and provided inspections on many utility projects. At the Southwest EFC, he provides technical assistance to water and wastewater systems and assists systems with funding applications.