Gather a random sample of water utility customers from nearly anywhere, and chances are good that they will represent an array of different ages, races, genders, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Gather a random sample of water utility workers, however, and data suggest the range of demographics they represent will shrink dramatically. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics …
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Keeping the topics and technologies covered in water sector workforce development programs modern is essential. In addition to promoting employee skills, emphasizing technology during training provides a vital investment in community resilience. The goal is to create a workforce that can adapt to the next generation of threats — and opportunities — to better protect …
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The Transformative Water Leadership Academy (TWLA) is where the next generation of high-level water utility leaders focus on the foundations of sustainable community leadership: how to integrate social, environmental, and financial concerns into important decisions about water utilities. This 10-month program addresses leadership for drinking water, wastewater, stormwater management, and water reuse. Participants will learn …
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Reinvigorating the water workforce will require more than public outreach. It will require intentional, proactive planning to connect with potential workers where they live, as well as establishing easily navigable paths between training and career. Read the full article in May 2022 Water Environment & Technology
Ask anybody in the water sector how they first entered the profession, and most answers will have something in common: the influence of a mentor. Read the full article in May 2022 Water Environment & Technology
LISTEN to @AndyKricun of @MoonshotWater discuss a compendium of 21 case studies on how water utilities improved workforces through educational programs and internships, recruitment practices, employee optimization, and transfer of institutional knowledge.
“Perhaps no aspect of water and wastewater treatment is more important than the workforce that performs the day-to-day work needed to provide safe drinking water and to protect our public waterways.” says Andy Kircun in his WEF Blog about WEF’s Compendium of Successful Water Workforce Practices. Read the full blog. Download the full Compendium on …
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Nowadays, it’s rare to find someone without an account on at least one social network, whether that be Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Snapchat. For water professionals, social media represents one of the simplest ways to convey the value of water — and your organization’s role in ensuring its safety — to customers and community members.
By: A Newly Minted Retiree Most people reading this are currently working for an employer. Many have worked for several employers over their career. Some are no longer on any employers’ payroll. Most organizations, be they public or private, should outlast individuals’ terms of service with them. This presents the challenge to the organization of …
Coverage of the 2021 Operations Challenge competition in Water Environment & Technology magazine is now live! Take a look: PART 1 PART 2 This year’s coverage features stories from all three divisions and all five events, with many new and familiar faces making appearances. Congratulations again to this year’s competitors, especially Mount Pleasant Waterworks Controlled …