Looking to enter the water sector and not sure where to start? Take the new Find Your Water Career quiz on WorkforWater.org and be matched with career profiles that align with your skills and interest. Browse the various Career Profiles on the site to learn about the role and what education and training you may …
Applications are now open for the Hach Water Quality Equipment Grant, designed to support high school students in developing research projects for the USA Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition. This grant provides access to high-quality water testing equipment, empowering students to explore real-world environmental challenges through hands-on science. Last year, 20 students received equipment, and …
It is no secret that the water and wastewater sector faces a looming workforce crisis. More than 30% of water resource recovery facility operators are 55 or older, according to Brookings Institution (Washington, D.C.) estimates. With countless decades of institutional knowledge set to leave the frontlines of the field in the coming years, utilities are …
WEFTEC is the largest annual convention and exposition for the water sector. WEFTEC 2025 will take place in Chicago, Illinois from September 27 – October 1 and will offer more than 130 technical sessions, 20 Workshops, 1000 exhibitors, and more than 20,000 water professionals to connect with. Find out more and register at www.weftec.org.
Operator Essentials is a monthly column in Water Environment & Technology (WE&T) magazine that covers “What Every Operator Needs to Know” about hot topics in the industry. Read Operator Essentials in the latest issue of WE&T or browse the archive of articles on AccessWater.
It is no secret that the U.S. water sector has a recruitment problem. According to Black & Veatch’s (Overland Park, Kansas) 2024 Water Report, a whopping 47% of water-sector survey respondents ranked the difficulty of attracting early-career staff to replace retiring veterans as their top challenge. And with approximately one-third of the entire water workforce due …
The flushing of disposable wipes and other products labeled as “flushable” causes serious and costly issues for water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs). After experiencing ongoing issues with unflushables in its wastewater system, regional utility Metro Vancouver (British Columbia, Canada) worked to shift residents’ flushing habits using behavior-change campaigns. Read the full article in the February …
In the water sector, every drop counts. As the landscape of the water profession shifts to better reflect the communities it serves, organizations that champion diversity, equity, and inclusion are demonstrating that every experience counts, too. Read the full article in the January 2025 issue of Water Environment & Technology.
The 2025 WEF Operator Scholarship application period is now through March 31. The scholarship provides up to $5000 per individual for career development within the field of water/wastewater operations. Past recipients have used funds for things like: in person/online training and courses; study books; college courses in water, wastewater, environmental management, etc; attending local meetings; …
It is no secret that the water sector is grappling with significant workforce challenges. Per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, approximately one-third of U.S. water workers are eligible to retire within the next decade. Coupled with the rapid advancement of technologies in the sector, there is an urgent need to attract, train, and retain specialists …
Continue reading “Holding Fast Against the ‘Silver Tsunami’”