When Amanda Cabiness joined Wake County in 2022 as an Environmental Consultant with the Onsite Water Protection Division’s Wastewater Repair Team, she found the perfect role to combine her passion for environmental health with her love of problem-solving. In addition to her work in Wake County, she serves as president of the Eastern District North Carolina Public Health Association and even volunteered as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist during recovery efforts in North Carolina after Hurricane Eileen.
Amanda was inspired to join Wake County because it gave her the opportunity to specialize in the part of environmental health she loves most.
“Environmental protection has always been my passion,” she said. “Here, I have the freedom to be creative and problem-solve, which allows me to truly serve the public instead of just being a permit pusher. I enjoy the challenge of solving problems and helping people. When someone is dealing with a septic malfunction, they’re not having a good day. If I can make that process easier, I do everything I can to ease their stress and worry. And working with such a supportive team is a huge bonus.”
Her path to Wake County was filled with diverse experiences. After earning her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences/pre-med at Campbell University and her master’s in environmental management from UNC Wilmington, Amanda began her career in public works with Cape Fear Public Utility Authority. She worked in both drinking water and construction, troubleshooting water problems and locating main breaks. She later returned to her home county of Warren, where she taught middle school for several years before joining the health department as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist intern. In a small county, she wore many hats, from food and lodging inspections to pools, wells and tattoo parlors, but she found her niche in wastewater repair, which eventually led her to Wake County.
A typical day for Amanda involves helping residents who are often facing unpleasant situations, such as sewage in bathtubs, toilets that won’t flush or septic tanks that collapse.
“Outside of age, there’s always a reason why a septic system malfunctions,” Amanda explained. “Figuring out the ‘why’ is critical. Otherwise, you’re just repeating the same mistakes. My goal is to design solutions that work long-term and give people peace of mind.”
Her work involves everything from diagnosing malfunctions to designing new systems, evaluating soil, mapping layouts with lasers and flags, and preparing detailed drawings that licensed contractors use to complete repairs. She also investigates sewage complaints, meets with contractors, inspects installations and answers phone calls from property owners.
Outside of work, Amanda enjoys spending time with her daughter (her “little broke bestie”), exploring coffee shops, shopping and making memories. She loves to travel with family, cook, bake and dive into audiobooks. And when the pressure is on, she shines. Once, when a bakery cancelled the order just days before her brother-in-law’s wedding, Amanda baked, decorated and delivered more than 300 cupcakes herself—and no one ever guessed the difference.
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