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UN Releases 2020 World Water Development Report

June 9, 2020

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The United Nations released the 2020 World Water Development report, an annual publication summarizing trends and challenges for global water resource management. The 2020 report focuses on climate change mitigation and adaptation. Click here to read the full report.

In March, the United Nations (UN) released the 2020 edition of its annual World Water Development report, with a special focus on climate change. The report advises a combination of climate change mitigation and adaptation measures, covering such practical considerations as agriculture, finance, and disaster risk reduction. Of particular interest to water professionals, the report […]

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YH2O Youth Mentorship Program Provides Fresh Talent to Baltimore’s Water Workforce

March 6, 2020

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The YH2O Youth Mentorship Program recently won the 2019 City on a Cloud Innovation Challenge hosted by Amazon Web Services (Seattle, Wash.). Winning the challenge, which recognizes new ideas that capitalize on cloud computing to improve lives, will enable the program to add new training courses teaching information technology applications for the water sector. Image courtesy of Baltimore Mayor’s Office of Employment Development

Since launching in 2015, an innovative apprenticeship program developed by the Chesapeake Water Environment Association (CWEA) and the Baltimore Department of Public Works (DPW) has equipped nearly 100 young adults with the skills they need to become successful water professionals. Baltimore’s YH2O Youth Mentorship Program is an intensive, 6-month course for high-school educated Baltimore residents […]

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How To Perform Better Fieldwork: Tips and Considerations

January 28, 2020

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Whether you undertake field work every day or just a few times in your career, follow these basic tips to make the most out of your trips out of the water resource recovery facility. Image courtesy of Kipp Hanley/Prince William County Service Authority

Fieldwork is one of the most exciting things about working for water. Getting out of the laboratory or treatment facility and into the field gives you the chance to apply your knowledge to better understand factors affecting the environment and public health while also enjoying some sun and fresh air. However, effective fieldwork requires thorough […]

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Morrisville College Crash Course Prepares New Yorkers for Operator Certification Exams

October 4, 2019

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Total registration for training programs at Morrisville College’s Environmental Training Center exceeded 600 people this year. The program condenses a robust wastewater-operator training curriculum into just 1-2 weeks. Photo courtesy of Morrisville State College

Located about 48 km (30 mi) southeast of Syracuse, N.Y., Morrisville State College gives students the opportunity to study everything from seahorse conservation to cannabis farming. But the classes that attract the greatest number of students from across the state to the small agricultural and technological college are those taught at its Environmental Training Center […]

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Maryland Apprenticeship Programs Help Double Number of Job Applicants

September 3, 2019

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Kevin McClanathan (left), chief operator at a water resource recovery facility managed by Washington County Department of Water Quality (DWQ; Williamsport, Md.), stands beside participants in DWQ's Wastewater Apprenticeship Program. Photo courtesy of Katie Yoder/DWQ

With nine water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs), eight drinking water treatment facilities, 45 pumping stations, and miles of pipelines to operate and maintain, the Washington County Department of Water Quality (DWQ; Williamsport, Md.) sometimes struggles to find qualified candidates for its many technical jobs.   Since the launch of a new wastewater operator apprenticeship program last […]

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Hands-on intro course at Gaston College molds tomorrow’s water professionals

August 6, 2019

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The lectures in Whittemore's Introduction to Biology course are all online. Time in the classroom is spent on hands-on projects, discussions, and cooperative group work, Whittemore described. Gaston College

During their college careers, many students take a single, pivotal class that either cements their interest in a particular field of study—or sends them running in the opposite direction. Susan Whittemore, a science professor at Gaston College (Dallas, N.C.), believes the Introduction to Biology class she has taught at the community college for the past […]

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SUNY Ulster’s evening training program designed for new and current water professionals

June 4, 2019

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Conducted on the SUNY Ulster Community College (Stone Ridge, N.Y.) campus, the wastewater operator training program allows students to complete pre-certification training in six months by taking evening classes, Monday through Thursday. Photo courtesy of SUNY Ulster Community College.

A hundred miles north of New York City, not far from the origin of the 107-year-old Catskills Aqueduct that supplies 40% of the Big Apple’s water, a new generation of professionals is being trained to protect the region’s coveted water resources. All are students of SUNY Ulster Community College (Stone Ridge, N.Y.). SUNY Ulster launched […]

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Online Courses Educate on Fundamental Wastewater Topics

April 25, 2019

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Wastewater treatment Fundamentals I Featured

Water professionals who want to learn more about wastewater treatment fundamentals have multiple opportunities to learn online. The Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) released the Wastewater Treatment Fundamentals I: Liquid Treatment manual packaged with an online course and exam to help professionals prepare for certification exams and earn continuing education units (CEUs). Now, those […]

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