A focus on hiring veterans could help ease the industry’s skilled-labor shortage

Jose Martinez firmly believes that military veterans are great candidates for jobs in the water and sewer industries, which sometimes struggle to attract employees. And the general manager of the Otay Water District should know — he’s a United States Navy veteran himself. Granted, Martinez had an easier path than many veterans when he transitioned from the …

Jumping into a Wastewater Apprenticeship

Have you read the Wastewater Treatment Fundamentals series published by the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Virginia)? I served as a development editor for the second book in the series. My time researching wastewater operations from a distance eventually compelled me to jump into the trenches. Today, I am an Operator-in-Training (OIT) for Maryland Environmental Services.

Microsoft Systems Academy now free for transitioning service members

By Julia LeDoux February 9, 2021 Transitioning service members will no longer have to use their GI Bill funds to attend the Microsoft Systems Academy. “MSAA is now fully funded by Microsoft and is permanently offered online,” said Chris Cortez, vice president of military affairs at Microsoft. “MSSA is one of only a few corporate-sponsored programs that …

American Water Earns 2021 Military Friendly® Gold Employer, Spouse Employer and Supplier Diversity Designations

February 25, 2021 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time CAMDEN, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–American Water (NYSE: AWK), the nation’s largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility company, announced today it has earned the 2021 Military Friendly® Gold Employer, Spouse Employer and Supplier Diversity designations produced by VIQTORY. “American Water remains committed, and takes great pride in creating meaningful opportunities …

North Carolina jobs program fills vacancies, forges careers

Charlotte (N.C.) Water has a fresh approach to finding new utility technicians. That approach is a yearlong apprenticeship program offered by the utility trains recruits in a variety of skills — and even guarantees them a job upon completion.   The program was created to tackle a high turnover and vacancy rate for the city’s utility technician position, which involves water and sewer maintenance. …

Water Utility Hero of the Week, Veteran Phil Stevens, Padre Dam MWD

February 24, 2021 Editor’s Note: This feature highlights water utility employees in the San Diego region working during the coronavirus pandemic to ensure a safe, reliable and plentiful water supply. The water industry is among the sectors that are classified as essential. Phil Stevens, Padre Dam Municipal Water District Senior Lab Analyst, is the Water Utility Hero …

Collections Systems Professionals Invent New Tools for Battle Against Non-Flushables

Flushing woven and nonwoven household products – such as wet wipes for restroom use or cosmetic wipes for removing makeup – is a global issue for the wastewater sector. These products are often mislabeled as “flushable” despite their inability to disperse in conventional collections systems. Flushing them can result in costly and messy septic backups, …