t is estimated that roughly 1/3 of the water and waste water utilities will be eligible for retirement within the next 10 years. This is an immediate problem for cities. Maintaining enough licensed workers is critical for the safety and well being on the drinking water cities receive. Agencies such as the environmental protection agency have warned that without expand recruitment efforts, this loss could cost over 27,700 operators by 2035.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has begun to launch various programs to combat this growing issues. Programs such as the innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant Program, which has invested over $20 Million to expand training pipelines.
Across the nation, various utility managers have reported the same growing issue. Vacancies are on the rise and new workers are not replacing them fast enough. A recent economic analysis from The Value of Water Campaign find that for every $1 Million Dollars invested in water infrastructure, 10 jobs and $2.5 Million is generated in economic output
To increase the amount of workers entering this workforce, states need to reduce barriers of entry. Careers in the water sector are well compensated and regarded as relatively AI safe. They earn roughly 17 percent higher than the nation average across all occupations.
https://www.nlc.org/article/2026/04/20/building-a-resilient-water-workforce-in-u-s-cities/
Writing About the Environment 
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