1. Water Systems, Conservation,
and Careers in Water

2. Purpose
This lesson is important because it will:
• Discuss the important work done by public water utilities
• Describe the “water system infrastructure”
• Summarize the basic human need for safe, clean water
• Discuss water treatment operators’ jobs and credentials
• Identify various career options in the water industry

3. Learning Objectives
As a result of this lesson, you will be able to:
• Summarize what a water/wastewater utility does
• Discuss water pollution, conservation, and the value
of water
• List various water utility careers
• Explain why you might choose a water industry
career

4. Agenda
• 0:00 - 0:02 – Introduction
• 0:03 - 0:18 – Module 1: Water Systems – How You Get Your Water
• 0:19 - 0:34 – Module 2: Water Conservation – Saving Our Scarce Resources
• 0:35 - 0:50 – Module 3: Water Careers – Your Future in Water
• 0:51 - 0:58 - Summary and Q & A
• 0:59 - 0:60 – Thank you, additional resources, scholarship/career information

5. Module One:
Water Systems – How You Get Your Water

6. Introduction to Water Utilities
Water utilities have 3 main jobs:
• Manage water found in
lakes, rivers, and other
places
• Treat (or “clean”) water so
that it is disinfected and
safe to drink and use
• Send clean water to the
public through water pipes

7. Water Utilities & Source Water
Water utilities’ 1st job is to
oversee water in nature (“source
water”). Source water is either:
• surface water (lakes, rivers,
reservoirs), found above the
Earth’s surface
• Groundwater (found below the
Earth’s surface; sometimes
also called an “aquifer”)
Source water is unsafe to drink.
Do you know why?

8. From Source to Utility
How source water
gets to the water
utility
• Pumping
• Gravity

9. Water Utilities & Water Treatment
Water utilities’ 2nd job is to
“treat” source water
• Source water cleaned
and disinfected
• Water becomes safe
• Safe water is called
“Potable”
How can utilities clean and
disinfect source water?

10. Water Utilities & Water Distribution
Water utilities’ 3rd job is
to deliver clean,
disinfected water
• Water moves through
a series of pipes
• Connected pipes =
the “water system
infrastructure”
• Infrastructure handles
40 billion gallons/day

11. Developed by AWWA, Published 2016
How Water Works: from source to you

12. How Water Works: from source to you
1a and 1b in this picture
shows water at its
source. In this case the
sources include a
reservoir and a river
2 shows the water
treatment plant where
the source water is
cleaned and disinfected
The red arrow shows
water moving from its
source to the treatment
plant for cleaning and
disinfection

13. How Water Works: from source to you
Item 3 shows you an
elevated tank.
The elevated tank stores
clean, disinfected drinking
water that comes from
the treatment plant shown
in 2
In 4, you see large pipes
called distribution mains.
Distribution mains carry
water from the treatment
plant or storage tank to
service lines. They also
provide water to hydrants
for fire protection.

14. How Water Works: from source to you
In the previous slide, we
talked about pipes
called distribution
mains. Item 4 illustrates
a distribution main.
Distribution mains
connect to service lines
as shown in item 5.
Service lines carry
clean, disinfected water
to the plumbing in a
building.
Once the water is in a
building’s plumbing
system, you just turn on
the faucet to drink it!

15. Module Two:
Water Conservation – Saving Our Scarce
Resources

16. Do You Know…????
How long can humans live without
water?
How much of the human body is
made of water?
We can live 30+ days without food,
but only 4-7 days without water
The human body is about 60% water

17. Do You Know…????
We must drink at least 6-8 glasses
of water each day
How much water should humans
drink each day?
How much of the Earth’s surface is
made of water?
About 70% of the Earth’s surface is
water
How much of the water on Earth is
suitable for drinking?
1% of the water on Earth is OK to
drink. The other 99% is unsuitable to
drink because it is salt water, or
frozen in glaciers and Polar ice caps

18. The Value of Drinking Water
In the U.S., drinking water from your
faucet costs….
….less than about one cent per
gallon
Bottled water costs…
….about $1.20 per gallon
Lemonade costs…
….about $3.40 per gallon
Soda costs…
….about $3.79 per gallon

19. Tap vs. Bottled Water: Yearly Value
Drinking 5 gallons of
water a week for a
year:
• Tap water: $2.60 per
year
• Bottled water:
$312.00 per year
Yearly savings drinking
tap water vs. bottled
water?
• $312.00 - $2.60 =
$309.40
• Think about it: a family
of 4 saves over
$1,000/year drinking
tap water instead of
bottled water

20. How Long Will Our Water Last?
• Supplies limited
• Many countries lack
clean fresh water that
is disinfected and safe
• Droughts, changing
weather patterns limit
supply
• Pollution: natural or
human causes

21. Conservation: Preventing Pollution
• Don’t flush products
or pills down toilet
• Don’t pour paint or
used oil down drain
• Take toxic products to
hazardous waste
facility
• Always clean up your
pet’s waste

22. Conservation: Saving Water
How can you save water?
• Reduce, reuse, recycle
• Water Wisely
• Shorter showers, fewer
baths
• Fix running / leaking toilets
• Don't leave faucet running

23. Conservation: for Life
• One person makes a
difference
• You are not alone –
others will join/follow
• Everyone has a stake
• We must conserve
for future generations

24. Module Three:
Water Careers – Your Future in Water

25. Water Industry Career Overview
Water/Wastewater Utility Careers:
• Water Plant Operator
• Water Plant Manager
• Water Quality Engineer
• Water Lab Technologist
• Operations Supervisor
• Distribution Operator
• Engineering Manager
• Science Technician
Developed by AWWA, Published 2016

26. Water Industry Career Benefits
Water/Wastewater Utility Careers:
• Stable jobs, can’t outsource
• Everyone needs clean, safe
water
• Great career growth
• Excellent benefits, good pay
• Current shortage of skilled
workers
Developed by AWWA, Published 2016

27. Water Utility Operators: Skills and
Abilities
• Analytical
• Detail oriented
• Good math skills
• Mechanical skills

28. Water Utility Operators: Keeping
Your Water Safe
• Run equipment, control
processes, monitor
plant operations
• Pump water from source
to plant
• Treat (“clean”) and
disinfect source water
• Deliver water to the
public

29. Operators Protect Public Health
How Operators Protect Public
Health:
• Follow U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)
regulations
• Ensure safety standards are
met
• Add chemicals to disinfect
water or other liquids
• Collect and test water and
sewage samples

30. Operators Work with Equipment
How operators use equipment:
• purify and clarify water or
dispose of sewage
• record meters, gauge readings
and data
• regularly inspect and monitor
equipment
• clean and maintain tanks, filter
beds, & other work areas

31. Work Environment: Water
Treatment Plant
• Treat fresh lake,
river, and/or well
water
• Water is not from
sewage pipes
• Used for drinking
water

32. Work Environment: Wastewater
Treatment Plant
• Wastewater is water that
was used before
• Wastewater is
contaminated
• Wastewater is treated and
recycled for non-drinking
use
• Wastewater treatment is
costly

33. Fast Facts About Operator Jobs
$44,790/year
2015 average pay =
Entry level education =
Related work experience =
Growth rate (2014 – 2024) =
High School
None required
6% (average)

34. Operator Credentials
• Must become state
licensed
• There are multiple
license levels
• Higher license levels
control larger plants
• Largest plants
employ those with
highest license as
shift supervisors

35. Should YOU Work in Water?
Name the top 5
reasons you might
want a water
career…..

36. Summary
• Water utilities protect public health
• Earth is 70% water; only 1% is usable
• Water supplies becoming scarce
• Conservation critical for future survival
• Water industry is highly regulated (EPA)
• Water employees must obtain credentials

37. Resources
We wish to thank the following for providing resources used in this presentation:
• DrinkTap.org: http://www.drinktap.org
• How Water Works: http://www.awwa.org/resources-tools/water-knowledge/how-
water-works.aspx
• Only Tap Water Delivers: http://www.awwa.org/resources-tools/public-
affairs/communications-tools/only-tap-water-delivers/only-tap-water-delivers-
materials.aspx
• Rocky Mountain Section of the American Water Works Association:
http://rmsawwa.org/getintowaterco/index.html
• United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
https://www.epa.gov/students
• United States Geological Survey (USGS): https://www.usgs.gov
• Work for Water: http://www.awwa.org/resources-tools/water-knowedge/how-water-
works.aspx

38. Scholarships & Career Information
For more information:
• AWWA Career Center: http://www.awwa.org/resources-tools/career-center.aspx
• AWWA How to Become a Certified Operator: http://www.awwa.org/resources-tools/operator-
certification-advancement/become-a-certified-operator.aspx
• AWWA Scholarship page: http://www.awwa.org/membership/get-involved/student-center/awwa-
scholarships.aspx
• Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook for Water and Wastewater
Treatment Plant and System Operators: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/water-and-
wastewater-treatment-plant-and-system-operators.htm
• Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment; Operator Training Opportunities:
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/drinking-water-training-opportunities
• EPA Selection of Training Programs for Water and Wastewater Operators:
https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-water-infrastructure/selection-training-programs-water-and-
wastewater-operators
• Red Rocks Community College, Water Quality Management Technology degrees:
http://www.rrcc.edu/water-quality-management
• Water Environment Federation: http://www.wef.org/
• Work for Water: http://www.workforwater.org/