Raywillis,kirstenking,gcc2013

Raywillis,kirstenking,gcc2013
Water Quality Professionals – Enforcing the Right to Clean Water Massachusetts Green Career Conference October 3, 2013 Marlborough, Massachusetts Oct
 Ray Willis, President Massachusetts Water Pollution Control Association  Kirsten King, Communications Director New England Water Works Association Co‐Presenters
Massachusetts Water Pollution Control Association (MWPCA)  Founded in 1965  Located at Richard Alden Training Center in Millbury  Comprised of over 800 water quality professionals  Strives to be an advocate and provide a voice for the wastewater and stormwater sectors  Associated state association of WEF and NEWEA Overview ‐ MWPCA
Overview ‐ NEWWA  Established in 1882  Approximately 3,000 members  Serves six New England states  Based out of Holliston, Mass. – a central location for the New England states  Is a section of the American Water Works Association
NEWWA – Mission Statement Our mission is to promote public health, safety, quality of life, and environmental stewardship through education/training, advocacy, and outreach relating to safe drinking water and to advance the membership.
NEWWA Water Utilities Consultants Manufacturers Regulators Environmental Associations Academia Construction NEWWA – Who We Serve
Regulatory Requirements ‐ Wastewater  U.S. EPA policies/regulations requiring upgrades of existing facilities and constructing new facilities  Phosphorus and Nitrogen Removal Industry Climate ‐ Wastewater
Industry Climate – Drinking Water  New & Revised Regulations  Total Coliform Rule  Lead and Copper Rule  Manganese  Disinfection byproducts
 Majority of water‐related infrastructure locally and nationally has reached its design life and requires replacement  Massachusetts Water Infrastructure Finance Commission identified that $39.4 Billion will be required over the next 20 years  AWWA ’s seminal report, Buried No Longer™: Confronting America’s Water Infrastructure Challenge (AWWA , 2012), showed that restoring existing potable water pipe networks as they reach the end of their useful lives and expanding them to serve a growing U.S. population will cost at least $1 trillion over the next 25 years Aging Infrastructure
The True Cost of Water  Consumers do not pay for the true cost of water  Public outreach campaigns are working to educate public about the need to invest in our water and wastewater systems  Also the Mass. Water Infrastructure Finance Commission and national WIFIA (Water Infrastructure Finance & Innovation Authority) $0 $50 $100 $150 $200 $250 Utility Cost Comparisons Average Monthly Cost
The Progressive Path  Water and Wastewater Utilities are Becoming ‘Greener’  Solar panels (Chelmsford, Grafton, Littleton)  Wind power (MWRA)
Career Paths in Drinking Water and Wastewater The “Original” Green Professions  Engineering  Civil, Environmental, Chemical  Design  Facility Operations  Construction Management
Career Paths in Drinking Water and Wastewater The “Original” Green Professions  Construction  Laborers  Equipment Operators  Supervisors  Project Management
Career Paths in Drinking Water and Wastewater The “Original” Green Professions  Treatment Plant & Reservoir Operations & Management  Plant managers/supervisors  Water quality analysts/chemists  Watershed managers/foresters  Operators
Career Paths in Drinking Water and Wastewater The “Original” Green Professions  Distribution System Management  Collection/Distribution  Supervisors/Managers  Mechanics  Plumbers  Operations crews  Metering  Valves  Hydrants  Emergency crews  Maintenance crews
Career Paths in Drinking Water and Wastewater The “Original” Green Professions  Sales  Equipment Sales  Technical Support  Field Technicians
Cross Connection/Backflow  NEWWA certifies cross connection control surveyors as well as backflow prevention device inspectors/testers
Additional Careers  Regulatory  Accounting/Finance  Customer Service  Public Relations  Information Technology  Lawyer
 “Promoting Entry to Career Pathways in the Drinking Water and Wastewater Sector,” Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, University of Massachusetts Lowell and The Massachusetts 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 years old  Potential for 2,400 operators to retire in Massachusetts over the next 10 years  There are 250 Municipal Drinking Water Utilities and 120 Municipal Wastewater Utilities in Massachusetts in addition to private drinking water and wastewater facilities Drinking Water/Wastewater Critical Need: Operations
Quote from Study: “The drinking water and wastewater industry is comprised of good but challenging jobs with advancement potential, clear career pathways and supervisors who support education and training for those pathways. Industry leaders are committed to their employees, profession, and mission to protect public health and the environment.” Drinking Water/Wastewater Operations
Drinking Water/Wastewater ‐ Operations Operator Skill Requirements:  Basic understanding of math and science concepts required  Mechanically inclined  Licensure requirements  Other positions available within field that require less skill/licensure
Licensure Options  Municipal and Industrial Categories  Operator  Grades 1 – 4 Municipal  Grades 1 ‐ 4 Industrial  Grades 5 – 7 Combined  Collection System (voluntary) – Grades 1 ‐ 4  Laboratory (voluntary) ‐ Grades 1 – 2 Wastewater Operators
 Schedule exam on‐line at goamp.com (3 locations in New England)  Pass exam and submit results to NEIWPCC with fee  Issued license in one of three categories: WI – When & If Status OT – Operator in Training, employed by a facility but does not meet educational requirements Full – Employed by a facility and meet educational requirements • Information – www.neiwpcc.org Wastewater Licensure Process
Passing of the Equivalent Exam and Experience at Equivalent or Higher‐Graded Facility  Grade 1 – One year experience; 6 month education credit  Grade 2 – Three years experience; 2 year education credit  Grade 3 – Five years experience; 3 year education credit  Grade 4 – Six years experience; 4 year education credit  Grade 5 – Six years experience; 4 year education credit  Grade 6 – Seven years of experience; 5 year education credit  Grade 7 – Eight years of experience; 5 year education credit Wastewater Licensure Full Status Requirements
Licensure Options  Distribution – Grades 1‐4  Treatment – Grades 1‐4 New course requirements to sit for Grades 2‐4 Full operator certification requirements vary depending on education level and test passed: http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep/water/drinking/educatio n‐and‐experience‐requirements‐for‐full‐operator‐c.html Drinking Water Operators
Drinking Water/Wastewater Operator Training  New England Water Works Association  Certificate Program  New England Water Environment Association  Massachusetts Water Works Association  Massachusetts Rural Water Association
Student/Young Professional Involvement  Student Poster Session at NEWWA Annual Spring Conference each year  YP Session/Competition at Conference  Student Activities Committee  Young Professional Committee  Discounted Student Member Rate for Joint NEWWA/NEWEA/NEAPWA Membership
 Municipal Drinking Water and Wastewater Facilities  Department of Public Works, Water Districts, Commissions, Sewer Districts  Private Drinking Water and Wastewater Facilities  Private operation firms, decentralized facilities, private water supplies, etc.  Industrial  Private industrial facilities, commercial facilities, etc.  Private Sector  Consulting/engineering firms, construction firms, equipment manufacturers  Government  Federal, state, local Drinking Water/Wastewater Markets
Current Salary Ranges  Entry Level ‐ $38,000 ‐ $42,000  Mid Level ‐ $46,000 ‐ $52,000  Supervisor Level ‐ $74,000 ‐ $83,000 Potential for Increased Salaries  Supply vs. Demand  Sophistication of facilities now requiring skilled employees  Licensure requirements  Jobs cannot be outsourced Drinking Water/Wastewater Operator Salaries
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 Lowell  Skill Works  Regional Employment Agencies/Workforce Investment Board  MassDEP  Veteran Affairs Services How Do I Find These Jobs?
Kirsten King, Director of Communications New England Water Works Association (508) 893‐7979, Ext. 243 kking@newwa.org Lynn Foisy, Executive Director Massachusetts Water Pollution Control Association (774) 289‐3402 mwpca2011@yahoo.com Need Help????
Thank You – Any Questions?

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