There is no charge to attend, but registration is required for admission to Aqua’s Headquarters
Melissa Meeker, Founder of The Water Tower, will share how her organization attracts people into the water industry while helping them advance through their careers. She brings practical insights from running a multifaceted workforce development program.
Our meeting will, as always, include time to share updates, requests and announcements for the good of the group.
We will finish with a brainstorming discussion about the next phase of our work.
Aqua, an Essential Utilities Company, is graciously hosting our meeting and will provide lunch and tours of the Aqua lab after our meeting.
The Water Tower, officially launched in 2019, is comprised of two nonprofit organizations: The Water Tower at Gwinnett, a 501(c)4, which is responsible for the development and operations of the campus, and The Water Tower Institute, a 501c3, which is responsible for our solutions, instruction, and engagement programming.
Together, these entities are committed to building a thriving ecosystem of innovation driven by water challenges, informed by research, and powered by people. This is being accomplished by bringing together the public and private sectors of the water industry, side by side with academia and nonprofits, to tackle the industry’s greatest challenges.
Building off of the success of our workforce pilot program, Water Workforce for Resilient Communities, the WTR Hub, established as part of a nearly $2 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will expand The Water Tower’s reach beyond Georgia into multiple states across the U.S.
The WTR Hub is a unique national utility, academic, and nonprofit network focused on expanding internships and post-secondary bridge programs that will result in an increase in the number of certified water operators in drinking water, wastewater, water reuse, and stormwater fields.
Aqua’s 14,700-square-foot Environmental Laboratory houses four specialized testing areas covering the full spectrum of water quality analysis. The Research Lab uses technology sensitive enough to detect contaminants at parts per trillion. The Inorganic Chemistry Lab tests both drinking water safety and ensures wastewater returns cleaner than the streams that receive it. Microbiology staff monitor bacterial safety. The Organic Chemistry Lab handles the most complex analyses, measuring disinfection byproducts and volatile organic compounds with precision. Notably, this is one of only two Pennsylvania labs accredited to test for PFAS. Aqua has tested every water source for these compounds since 2016.
WRA is spearheading this initiative which was launched as part of Water Table Project, a collaboration with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, Philadelphia Water Department, and Partnership for the Delaware Estuary.
The Workforce Development Initiative is a multi-sector stakeholder group uniting individuals across water and water related sectors, including government, municipal, industrial, non-profit, and academic organizations, to advance the development of the next generation of water professionals from all backgrounds.
To get involved, contact Skelly at ed@wradrb.org
