Workers in the water industry need years of on-the-job training to master the complex systems.
Photographer: David Cabrera/Bloomberg
America’s Next Water Crisis? A Lack of Experienced Workers
Climate change and aging infrastructure already threaten to disrupt drinking water supplies. A shrinking workforce risks making the problem worse.
Shannan Walton was at a conference in Utah for water workers — the often-invisible employees who ensure Americans have clean tap water and working sewer systems — when she found herself seated next to a 90-year-old gentleman.
“I thought, ‘Oh how nice, they're inviting a retiree to still participate and be involved,’” said Walton, who runs workforce development for the National Rural Water Association, a nonprofit that trains and supports industry professionals in small communities across the US. But as the conversation progressed, she learned he was still working.