Presentation at Massachusetts Green Careers Conference 2015

1. Water Quality Professionals –Q y
Enforcing the Right to Clean Water
Massachusetts Green Career
Conference
October 1, 2015
Presented by:Presented by:
Ray Willis, P.E.
President‐Elect NEWEA
Vice President, Onsite Engineering, Inc., g g,

2. ABOUT NEWEA
 Member Association (MA) of Water Environment
Federation
 2000+ Members representing the six New England states 2000+ Members representing the six New England states
 86th year – Founded in 1929
 Over 40 committeesOver 40 committees
 Major Annual Events
 Annual Conference ~190 exhibits & ~1600 attendees
 Spring Meeting ~25 exhibits & ~200‐300 attendees
 Specialty Conferences

3. NEWEA MISSION
Promote education and
collaboration while advancing collaboration while advancing
knowledge, innovation, and sound
bl l f h fpublic policy for the protection of
the water environment and our t e wate e v o e t a d ou
quality of life.

4. ABOUT MWPCA
 Affiliated State Association of NEWEA/WEF
 800+ Members
th F d d i 6 50th year – Founded in 1965
 Major Annual Events
 Trade Show Trade Show
 Legislative Event
 Quarterly Meetings
 Specialty Training Sessions

5. MWPCA MISSION
The MWPCA is a not‐for‐profit
professional organization dedicated to
li f i l h h water quality professionals throughout
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The MWPCA serves as an advocate for The MWPCA serves as an advocate for
water quality professionals and
promotes sound policy for the promotes sound policy for the
protection of public health and the
environmentenvironment.

6. NEWEA and MWPCANEWEA and MWPCA
OUTREACH GOALS
 Promote the value of water and its importance
to sustaining life and public heath.
 Building an appreciation of water quality
professionals and their importance to society.
 Educate people of the need to support funding for
water related infrastructure and its benefits related to
sustaining the economy and protecting public healthsustaining the economy and protecting public health.
 Educate people of the opportunities available
in the water quality profession.in the water quality profession.

7. INDUSTRY CLIMATE
 U.S. EPA regulatory requirements are requiring
upgrades of existing wastewater treatment facilities
and necessitating the construction of new facilities to and necessitating the construction of new facilities to
provide enhanced nutrient removal.
 Newer drinking water regulations; Total Coliform
R l L d d C R l M d Rule, Lead and Copper Rule, Manganese, and
Disinfection By‐Products.
 Emerging concerns Microconstitiuents and Emerging concerns Microconstitiuents and
Microbeads in wastewater.
 Overall condition of water‐related infrastructure
d li hand climate change.

8. THE PROGRESSIVE PATHTHE PROGRESSIVE PATH
 Water and Wastewater Utilities are Becoming
“Greener”
S l P l (Ch l f d G f Li l ) Solar Panels (Chelmsford, Grafton, Littleton)
 Renewable energy, heat, or biofuels from utilization of
digester gasdigester gas
 Electrical energy and heat from thermal conversion of
biomass
 Electrical energy from biosolids products
 Heating/cooling using facility influent/effluent via heat
pumppump

9. CAREER PATHS IN WATER
QUALITY INDUSTRYQUALITY INDUSTRY
Advanced Technology Environmental and Energy
Center (ATEEC)
 Defining Water Management Report ‐ 2013
 Overview of Water Field in the United States
 Provided Occupational Categories
 Identified Technician Level Opportunitiespp
 Detailed Job Functions in Each Occupational Categories
 Regional Water Conversations ‐ 2014
 Six Regions of the United StatesSix Regions of the United States
 Obtain a Snapshot of Existing and Upcoming Water
Management Jobs
 Determine What Jobs are Needed by RegionJ y g
 Identify Skills Required for Jobs

10. CAREER PATHS IN WATER
QUALITY INDUSTRYQUALITY INDUSTRY
Northeast Water Conversation – Bristol Community
College
 Fastest‐Growing “Green” Jobs in NortheastFastest Growing Green Jobs in Northeast
 Water & Wastewater Facility Operators
 Instrumentation, SCADA, and Maintenance Technicians
D i ki W t Di t ib ti d C ll ti S t  Drinking Water Distribution and Collection System
Operators
 Construction Management
 Decentralized Wastewater Facility Operators
 Stormwater Utility Technicians
 Environmental Compliance and Pretreatment Coordinatorsp

11. CAREER PATHS IN WATER
QUALITY INDUSTRYQUALITY INDUSTRY
Northeast Water Conversation – Bristol Community
College
 Job CategoriesJob Categories
 Administration
 Engineering
L b t Laboratory
 Facility Maintenance
 Regulations & Compliance
 Wastewater & Water Operations
 Watershed & Stormwater Control
 Report Found at www ateec org/downloads/environmental Report Found at www.ateec.org/downloads/environmental

12. DRINKING WATER/WASTEWATER
CRITICAL NEED OPERATIONSCRITICAL NEED: OPERATIONS
“Promoting Entry to Career Pathways in the Drinking Water
and Wastewater Sector,” Lowell Center for Sustainable
Production, University of Massachusetts Lowell and The
M h tt W kf Alli Ma 20 2Massachusetts Workforce Alliance, May 2012
 Nationally 30‐50% of current water workforce will be eligible
for retirement in the next 5 to 10 years
 Average age in Massachusetts 50+ years; MWPCA member 52  Average age in Massachusetts 50+ years; MWPCA member 52
years old
 Potential for 2,400 operators to retire in Massachusetts over
the next 10 yearst e e t 0 yea s
 There are 250 Municipal Drinking Water Utilities and 120
Municipal Wastewater Utilities in Massachusetts in addition
to private drinking water and wastewater facilities

13. DRINKING WATER/WASTEWATER
CRITICAL NEED OPERATIONSCRITICAL NEED: OPERATIONS
Quote from Study:
“The drinking water and wastewater industry is g y
comprised of good but challenging jobs with
advancement potential, clear career pathways
and supervisors who support education and
training for those pathways. Industry leaders
i d h i l f i are committed to their employees, profession,
and mission to protect public health and the
environment ”environment.

14. DRINKING WATER/WASTEWATER
CRITICAL NEED OPERATIONSCRITICAL NEED: OPERATIONS
Operator Skill Requirements
Basic understanding of math and Basic understanding of math and
science concepts required
M h i ll i li dMechanically inclined
Licensure requirementsq
Other positions available within field
that require less skill/licensurethat require less skill/licensure

15. DRINKING WATER/WASTEWATER
OPERATOR SALARIESOPERATOR SALARIES
Current Salary Ranges
 Entry Level ‐ $38,000 ‐ $42,000
 Mid Level ‐ $46,000 ‐ $52,000
 Supervisor Level ‐ $74,000 ‐ $83,000
P t ti l f I d S l iPotential for Increased Salaries
 Supply vs. Demand
 Sophistication of facilities now requiring skilled  Sophistication of facilities now requiring skilled
employees
 Licensure requirements
 Jobs cannot be outsourced

16. DRINKING WATER/WASTEWATER
MARKETSMARKETS
 Municipal Drinking Water and Wastewater Facilities
 Department of Public Works, Water Districts, Commissions, Sewer
Districts
P i D i ki W d W F ili i Private Drinking Water and Wastewater Facilities
 Private operation firms, decentralized facilities, private water
supplies, etc.
 Industrial Industrial
 Private industrial facilities, commercial facilities, etc.
 Private Sector
C lti / i i fi t ti fi i t  Consulting/engineering firms, construction firms, equipment
manufacturers
 Government
 Federal State Local Federal, State, Local

17. HOW DO I FIND THESE JOBS?HOW DO I FIND THESE JOBS?
Industry Web sites
 www.mwpca.org
 www.mwwa.memberclicks.net
 www.newwa.org/careercenter
 www.newea.org
 www.awwa.org ‐ career center
 www.wef.org – job bank
Workforce Development Agencies
 Career Center LowellCareer Center Lowell
 Skill Works
 Regional Employment Agencies/Workforce Investment Board
 MassDEP
 Veteran Affairs Services

18. NEED HELP?NEED HELP?
Mary Barry, Executive Director
New England Water Environment Association
( 8 ) 8(781) 939‐0908
mbarry@newea.org
Lynn Foisy, Executive Director
Massachusetts Water Pollution Control
Association
(774) 289‐3405
@ hmwpca2011@yahoo.com