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Drinking Water Week 2017: Water Systems, Conservation, and Careers in Water

Join us in celebrating Drinking Water Week 2017! Learn about water systems, conservation, and explore exciting careers in the water industry. Discover the importance of clean water and ways to conserve this precious resource. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity!

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Drinking Water Week 2017: Water Systems, Conservation, and Careers in Water

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  1. Participate in Drinking Water Week 2017 For more than 35 years the American Water Works Association and its members have celebrated Drinking Water Week – a unique opportunity for both water professionals and the communities they serve to join together in recognizing the vital role water plays in our daily lives.

  2. Water Systems, Conservation, and Careers in Water

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

  4. 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

  5. Water Utilities & Source Water Water utilities’ 1st job is to deliver clean, safe drinking water. 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?

  6. From Source to Utility Source water is pumped to the water treatment plant

  7. Water Utilities & Water Treatment Next, utilities “treat” source water Source water cleaned and disinfected Safe water is called “Potable” How?

  8. Water Utilities & Water Distribution Water utilities’ 3rd job is to deliver the clean, disinfected water Water moves through a series of pipes called a water system Infrastructure handles 40 billion gallons/day

  9. Module Two:Water Conservation – Conserving Our Precious Resources

  10. Did You Know… We can live 30+ days without food, but only 4-7 days (except in summer) without water The human body is about 60% water

  11. Did You Know… About 70% of the Earth’s surface is water Only 1% of the water on Earth is drinkable. The other 99% is unsuitable because it is salt water, or frozen in glaciers and Polar ice caps

  12. 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

  13. 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 What else could you buy for $309.40 a year instead of bottled water?

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. 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

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

  19. 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

  20. 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

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

  22. 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

  23. 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

  24. 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

  25. Work Environment: Water Treatment Plant Treat source water Water is not from sewage pipes Used for drinking water

  26. Work Environment: Wastewater Treatment Plant Wastewater is water that has already been used Wastewater is contaminated Wastewater is treated and recycled for non-drinking use Wastewater treatment is costly

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

  28. 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

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

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

  31. 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

  32. 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 • EPA Selection of Training Programs for Water and Wastewater Operators: https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-water-infrastructure/selection-training-programs-water-and-wastewater-operators • Water Environment Federation: http://www.wef.org/ • Work for Water: http://www.workforwater.org/

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