Blog Layout

Shrinking Pool of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators Will Impact the Stability of Clean Water

Jun 19, 2023

WesTech EngineeringNovember 3, 2020

   

A wave of recent retirees has left experienced water and wastewater treatment plant (WTP and WWTP) operators in short supply and high demand. Given 2019 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and a recent Time magazine analysis of occupation-based retirement ages, this shortage is set to become even more pronounced.


The Time magazine analysis indicates that only 0.91 percent of WTP and WWTP operators – whom the EPA terms water protection specialists – work beyond 66 years of age, while the BLS data shows that over a third of current operations professionals are at, or nearing, retirement age (see the following chart).


Operator demographics per Bureau of Labor Statistics 2019 estimate


Current data suggests the field will lose about 4,550 experienced workers by 2021, and 27,550 by 2031. If the number entering the field remains consistent, the number of workers in younger demographics won’t be sufficient to replace the retirees.


The increasing shortage could impact your plant’s ability to meet the nation’s need for clean water.


Recognizing this, the EPA announced America’s Water Sector Workforce Initiative to support workforce resiliency for water utilities and thereby help ensure that Americans can continue relying on safe drinking water and vital wastewater services that protect public health and the environment. While the EPA and other organizations are putting plans into place, you have several options for mitigating the impact of impending shortages on your plant.


Cross training can reduce the impact of operator shortages.


Options for Ensuring Continuous Water Treatment Services


Here are a few methods of combating operator shortages:


  • Actively recruit young people to the field through job fairs and internship opportunities.
  • Cross-train operations employees and new hires to cover for colleagues and rotate non-operations employees into various plant operator positions, providing career-path opportunities for those who are interested in plant operations.
  • Retool plants with systems, controls, and automation to reduce the number of physical workers required. This can be especially beneficial if your plant is remote, highly depended upon, or inside areas that present dangerous working conditions.
  • Enter into an operator-sharing agreement with nearby plants.
  • Outsource plant operations to a services organization that offers experienced and licensed operators. Organizations that offer contract flexibility and a range of operations and maintenance services can do things such as:
  • Pull quarterly test samples and file compliance reports
  • Evaluate, develop, and provide employee training
  • Oversee construction
  • Develop a contingency plan – or plan B – to address operator shortages resulting from unforeseen disasters such as fires, floods, pandemics, and other conditions (including market forces) that can disrupt continuous operation.


If you determine that outsourcing plant operations is the best course of action, try to select a services organization that provides operators who are experienced with the equipment they will be operating or maintaining (or both). Several equipment design and manufacture organizations offer operations services. WesTech’s team of operator experts have experienced the benefits of this first-hand while working with our customers.


Access to equipment experts helps to quickly resolve problems as they arise.


Carson Judy, one of our lead operators, explains the benefit like this: Having access to equipment experts, in addition to process knowledge, enables us to quickly help and resolve problems when they arise.


Learn how WesTech can provide Plant Operations and Services


Summary


WTP and WWTP plants will soon face a shortage of experienced, certified operations professionals. To ensure that you remain able to provide essential water and wastewater treatment operations, devise and implement one or more of these strategies now, before the impending operator shortage impacts your plant.


References


AWWA: EPA Announces Initiative To Recruit And Retain The 21st Century Water Workforce

Time Magazine: The 50 Jobs Where People Retire the Earliest

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey

U.S. EPA: America’s Water Sector Workforce Initiative: A Call to Action (PDF)

Establishing an Effective PFAS Treatment Plan

19 Jun, 2023
A group of chemicals known as PFAS – perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances – has been generating a lot of attention. With PFAS in drinking water, public health may be at risk of adverse health effects such as high cholesterol, low birth weight infants, immune-system problems, cancer, and thyroid disease. Media attention about the topic has grown, and municipal water plants are facing pressure to evaluate PFAS treatment and how to best approach this emerging contaminant in their own water sources. The Extent of the Problem Concern over the evidence of PFAS in drinking water has received worldwide attention. An international group of authors created the 2018 Zurich Statement on Future Actions on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances to encourage collaboration between researchers, regulators, and PFAS users around the globe. The 2019 Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants required countries to take action to eliminate the production and use of the chemical. In a recent Harvard study, elevated levels of PFAS chemicals were found in 194 out of 4,864 water supplies in 33 states. Nearly 17 million U.S. residents had perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in their water at or above the EPA suggested advisory limit. With this awareness, communities began testing and seeking PFAS treatment options. In 2016, the EPA established a health advisory level of 70 parts per trillion combined for the main drinking water PFAS chemicals, PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid). With drinking water PFAS measured in the parts per trillion, that is like detecting a grain of sand in an Olympic-sized swimming pool. 

What is Water Treatment?

By The TDH Company • 25 Sep, 2022
Wastewater treatment is a process that uses physical, chemical, or biological methods to remove contaminants from wastewater. Water treatment is necessary because water can be a carrier of disease and can become contaminated by sewage, agricultural runoff, industrial discharge, and leaching from landfills. Wastewater treatment is necessary because it reduces the volume of waste that must be disposed of, it reduces the pollution of surface water bodies, and it protects public health.

Why Water Management Plans?

By The TDH Company • 05 Sep, 2022
Why Water Management Plans?

Provider of the Highest Quality Floating Aerators

By The TDH Company • 01 Sep, 2022
The TDH Company is the leading provider of floating aerators. We are unmatched in terms of quality and performance. We offer a wide range of floating aerators to suit any need, and our team is always available to help you find the perfect product for your application. Contact us today to learn more about our floating aerators and how we can help you achieve your water treatment goals.

How Water Treatment Plants Work

By Robbie Cornelius • 01 Sep, 2022
A water treatment plant is responsible for providing clean drinking water to a community. There are many different types of water treatment plants, but all use similar processes to remove contaminants from water. The first step in treating water is to screen it for large objects like sticks and leaves. Next, the water is pumped into a holding tank where chemicals are added to remove smaller particles. After the chemicals have done their job, the water is sent through filters to remove any remaining contaminants. Finally, the treated water is stored in a clean reservoir until it is needed by the community. The TDH Company has been designing and building water treatment plants for many years. We have a long history of providing our customers with safe, clean drinking water. Our team of experts can help you choose the right type of plant for your community and ensure that it is built to last.
Share by: