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Saturday, February 22, 2025
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Navigating the Silver Tsunami: The Aging Workforce in the Water Treatment Industry

By
Nate Talley
-
Senior Water Analyst

The water treatment industry, vital for ensuring the safety and availability of one of our most crucial resources, is facing a demographic challenge that could impact its future sustainability and efficiency. Known as the “Silver Tsunami,” the aging workforce in this sector poses significant hurdles for hiring qualified professionals in the coming years. This article delves into the implications of this trend and explores strategies to mitigate potential risks. 

The water industry, like many other sectors, is experiencing a wave of retirements as baby boomers exit the workforce. A 2020 survey by the Water Environment Federation (WEF) indicated that a significant portion of the workforce is nearing retirement age. This scenario is set against a backdrop of increasing demand for water treatment services, driven by a growing population and heightened environmental concerns. 

The departure of experienced workers means not just a reduction in numbers, but a substantial loss of institutional knowledge and specialized skills unique to water treatment. Newer employees must be trained not only in the latest technologies but also in the nuanced, site-specific knowledge that departing workers possess. Moreover, the industry is already grappling with challenges in attracting younger workers who often overlook this sector in favor of more high-profile technological fields. 

Filling the void left by retiring professionals is not a straightforward task. The water treatment industry requires a combination of technical skills, regulatory knowledge, and practical experience. However, there is a noticeable gap in these skill sets among younger workers. Additionally, the industry has struggled to effectively market itself to millennials and Gen Z, who are more driven by career paths offering technological advancement and sustainable development opportunities. 

To effectively navigate the challenges posed by the aging workforce in the water treatment industry, a multi-faceted approach towards future workforce development is essential. This includes investing in enhanced training programs that not only provide comprehensive technical knowledge but also facilitate mentorship and the transfer of invaluable insights from seasoned professionals to newcomers. Equally crucial is the collaboration with educational institutions, such as universities and technical schools, to develop curricula that align with the specific needs of the industry, thus creating a steady flow of graduates who are ready to tackle job responsibilities.  

Additionally, there’s a pressing need to rebrand water treatment careers, highlighting them as not just vital and rewarding, but also as roles at the forefront of technological advancement and environmental sustainability. Leveraging modern technology, particularly virtual and augmented reality, in training methodologies can attract tech-savvy younger generations and make the learning process more efficient. Furthermore, implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives can enhance the sector’s appeal to a broader range of young professionals. Finally, offering competitive compensation, clear career pathways, and emphasizing the stability and long-term prospects in the water treatment sector are essential strategies to attract and retain the new generation of workers. These concerted efforts are pivotal in ensuring that the industry remains robust and capable of adapting to evolving challenges and innovations. 

The aging workforce in the water treatment industry is a pressing issue that requires immediate and strategic action. By investing in training, collaborating with educational institutions, rebranding the industry, and embracing diversity and technology, we can ensure a steady influx of skilled professionals. These efforts will not only address the workforce gap but also propel the industry forward, adapting to new challenges and innovations in the field. 

Citations: (1) Water Environment Federation. (2020). Workforce Survey Report. 

Addressing Saltwater Intrusion: A Technical Perspective

By
Nate Talley
-
Salt Water Intrusive

Water treatment technicians, tasked with safeguarding the quality of our aquatic resources, are facing a subtle yet significant threat in the Mississippi River. Beyond the familiar challenges presented by the sea, an insidious issue arises: the progressive intrusion of saltwater into the delta. 

Due to long lasting drought upstream, saltwater is moving up the Mississippi River. The denser saltwater flows underneath the less dense freshwater, creating a two-level flow pattern in a wedge-shaped formation. The saltwater wedge is pushed upstream by the tides and by the prevailing winds. The Mississippi River is primarily a freshwater river, so the intrusion of saltwater is likely to be highly detrimental for local drinking water and infrastructure.  

Currently the Army Corps of Engineers has constructed underwater sills on the river at a number of locations, including near Head of Passes, Louisiana. Underwater sills are typically constructed of rock or concrete and are placed across the riverbed. They are designed to slow the upstream movement of saltwater by increasing the resistance to flow. The Corps also operates a number of reservoirs on the river that allow it to release fresh water to combat the intrusion, but these are not permanent solutions.  

The good news is the distance required for saltwater to cause problems in the Mississippi’s infrastructural water intakes is quite far, likely tens to hundreds of miles. However, the salinity of the saltwater is a critical factor. Generally, freshwater sources like the Mississippi River have low salinity, so even a small increase in salt content due to seawater intrusion can have adverse effects on drinking water quality and the infrastructure that relies on freshwater for local towns and cities. Aside from drinking water and infrastructure concerns, saltwater intrusion can also have detrimental effects on the local ecosystems, aquatic life, and vegetation that depend on freshwater. Salt can also slowly corrode pipes, making this a potentially long-lasting infrastructural problem. 

In addressing the challenge, both the government of Louisiana and the Army Corps are shifting their focus towards substantial initiatives. This includes the potential implementation of reverse osmosis units to extract salt from drinking water, the construction of a 55-foot-tall underwater levee to impede the encroachment of the saltwater wedge, and a rather bold strategy involving the transportation of millions of gallons of freshwater downstream to alleviate salt overload in water systems. 

From maintaining reverse osmosis units to supervising the structural integrity of the proposed underwater levee and managing freshwater transportation logistics, the expertise of technicians is crucial. These expert contributions ensure the efficacy of these interventions and pave the way toward innovation, resilience, and safeguarding our communities against the nuanced threat of saltwater intrusion. Through strategic, targeted efforts, we can protect our water systems, maintaining their safety and functionality amidst this lurking challenge.

Drinking Water Contamination Incidents: Is Your PR Team Ready?

By
Desirée Sykes
-
City Water Contamination

Most water treatment professionals are used to the day-to-day analysis of water and maintenance that comes with the job. Howbeit, not all are prepared for a drinking water contamination incident such as E.coli. Is your team ready to respond when an emergency strikes?

Unfortunately, this topic hits close to home for me. As a resident of Tyler and customer of TWU, I was quick to learn about a boil notice issued by the City of Tyler for E.coli contamination, and of course, was mildly horrified. The boil notice didn’t last long, though; the city lifted it the following day at 11 am. After talking with other residents and customers of TWU, to my surprise, this was not the first time the city has had water quality issues. Feeling concerned, I reached out to the City and asked if it was normal after E.coli detection in a water sample to only have a 24-hour boil notice for customers?

The City of Tyler released this statement:

“It is not normal for us to have a water sample test positive for E.coli.  We take dozens of samples everyday at various points around the City. Those samples got to the North East Texas Public Heath Regional Laboratory in Tyler to be tested according to TCEQ requirements.  

The boil water notice had to be issued  as the result of a single routine sample site tested showing the presence of e. coli, followed by a repeat sample at the same site in Central Tyler showing the presence of total coliform. E. coli was only found in one sample site out of many tested.   

Tyler water meets and exceeds all State and Federal standards. Our water system is safe.”

Famed environmental activist, Erin Brockovich, has long expressed concerns over the safety of the city’s water. In 2015, responding to another TWU water contamination incident, she posted on Facebook that the City was downplaying the incident. City officials were quick to respond to her post, “Our drinking water is the No. 1 priority of this department,” Assistant City Manager Susan Guthrie said. “We followed exactly what TCEQ requires us to do.”

No matter your opinion on the safety of Tyler’s water, the fact remains that the city was quick to respond in both situations. When disaster strikes, water facilities need to be prepared to react assuredly and quickly to ease customers’ minds. To avoid being caught unprepared, the EPA offers this guidance on how to react in situations like these. The City of Tyler followed the guidance of The Distribution System Contamination Response Procedure (DSCRP) outlined by the EPA, does your facility have a plan in place to do the same?

Sources: EPA.gov, City of Tyler, Tyler Morning Telegraph

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