Everyone is now aware that in the near future we will be facing a severe shortage of qualified candidates to fill water industry jobs as the Baby Boomers retire. The current economic situation delayed the crisis and has given us some additional time to interest people in working in water but the impending shortage is real. Utilities and service providers all need to help increase awareness of rewarding careers in water and interest people in getting the appropriate knowledge and training to fill these critical jobs. She will outline AWWA’s current efforts in this area. Ms. Katie McCain is Director of Business Development for Wachs Water Service in Carrollton, Texas. She has a long history of AWWA and TAWWA volunteer service. For the Texas Section of AWWA, she served on the Board of Trustees as Vice-Chair, Chair Elect, and then Section Chair in 1998 and 1999, Membership Chair for 10 years, and is currently the Awards Committee Chair. For AWWA, she served on the AWWA Board of Directors from 1999‑2002, an AWWA Vice-President for two years during her service as a Director, and was President of AWWA in 2004‑2005.

1. Work for Water
An Outreach Campaign and Web Site
to Refresh the Water Workforce

2. Background
• AWWA Workforce Strategies Committee
• “Succession Planning for a Vital Workforce in the Information
Age” (Water Research Foundation 2005)
• AWWA State of the Industry Reports
• 2008 Sector Collaboration Workshop

3. Background
2008 Water Sector Workshop in Arlington, Virginia, produced
three recommendations:
1. Improve water sector career pathways definition
2. Enhance the water sector job image
3. Establish a water workforce resource clearinghouse

4. Response to Recommendations
1. Improve water sector career pathways definition
Competency model completed in 2009
2. Enhance water sector job image
Work for Water brand development, outreach campaign
3. Establish a water workforce clearinghouse
Work for Water website at WorkForWater.org

5. AWWA and WEF worked
with the U.S. Department
of Labor to create the
Water Sector Competency
Model in November 2009

6. Logo underscores role
current and future water
professionals play in the
sustainability of water
resources and systems.

7. Outreach Objectives
1. To enhance the image of water careers among present and
future job candidates.
2. To guide targeted audiences to the WorkforWater.org web site.
3. To provide utilities with adaptable communication tools that
help promote water jobs.
4. To build partnerships among stakeholders with an interest in
promoting water careers.

8. Target Audiences
1. Vocational and high school students.
2. College students (2- and 4-year degree).
3. Armed force veterans and other second-career candidates
4. Advanced Science

9. Overall Messages
Work for water because …
… water careers are personally and professionally rewarding.
… water professionals are guardians of public health and the
environment.
… because there are opportunities for people with many different
skill sets.

13. Exhibits are
available for
use at events,
career fairs

16. Example of
regional
adaptation of
Work for
Water exhibit

18. Next Steps
•Addition of web content
•Collateral Materials (toolkit)
•Outreach campaign implementation
•Exploration of partnerships

19. Questions?
Contact Katie McCain
214-707-8120
klmccain@aol.com
Staff Contacts: Greg Kail, AWWA, gkail@awwa.org
Linda Kelly, WEF, lkelly@wef.org