The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently convened a national Water Sector Workforce Roundtable to discuss strategies for recruiting, training, and retaining the next generation of drinking water and wastewater professionals.
The roundtable brought together water utilities, state agencies, water associations, and federal partners to address the growing workforce shortage facing the nation’s water sector. With approximately one-third of the current water workforce nearing retirement, EPA is working to identify solutions that support workforce development and ensure communities continue to have access to safe, reliable drinking water and wastewater services.
EPA plans to build on its 2020 Water Workforce Initiative by developing an online toolbox with resources to help utilities and technical assistance providers strengthen recruitment, training, and employee retention. Topics discussed included apprenticeship opportunities, operator certification, education and training, cybersecurity, and developing the technical skills needed to support modern water systems.
EPA also highlighted its continued investment in workforce development through the Innovative Water Workforce Development Grant Program, which has invested more than $15 million since 2018 to expand awareness of water careers and strengthen workforce pipelines.
These efforts may be of interest to Tribal drinking water and wastewater programs, utility operators, environmental professionals, and organizations working to build and sustain the water workforce.
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