Water Systems, Conservation, and Careers in Water

1. Water Systems, Conservation, and Careers in Water

2. Purpose This lesson is important because it will: • Discuss the important work done by public water utilities • Describe the “water system infrastructure” • Summarize the basic human need for safe, clean water • Discuss water treatment operators’ jobs and credentials • Identify various career options in the water industry

3. Learning Objectives As a result of this lesson, you will be able to: • Summarize what a water/wastewater utility does • Discuss water pollution, conservation, and the value of water • List various water utility careers • Explain why you might choose a water industry career

4. Agenda • 0:00 - 0:02 – Introduction • 0:03 - 0:18 – Module 1: Water Systems – How You Get Your Water • 0:19 - 0:34 – Module 2: Water Conservation – Saving Our Scarce Resources • 0:35 - 0:50 – Module 3: Water Careers – Your Future in Water • 0:51 - 0:58 - Summary and Q & A • 0:59 - 0:60 – Thank you, additional resources, scholarship/career information

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

6. 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

7. Water Utilities & Source Water Water utilities’ 1st job is to oversee water in nature (“source water”). Source water is either: 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?

8. From Source to Utility How source water gets to the water utility Pumping Gravity

9. Water Utilities & Water Treatment Water utilities’ 2nd job is to “treat” source water Source water cleaned and disinfected Water becomes safe Safe water is called “Potable” How can utilities clean and disinfect source water?

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

11. How Water Works: from source to you

12. How Water Works: from source to you 1a and 1b in this picture shows water at its source. In this case the sources include a reservoir and a river 2 shows the water treatment plant where the source water is cleaned and disinfected The red arrow shows water moving from its source to the treatment plant for cleaning and disinfection

13. How Water Works: from source to you Item 3 shows you an elevated tank. The elevated tank stores clean, disinfected drinking water that comes from the treatment plant shown in 2 In 4, you see large pipes called distribution mains. Distribution mains carry water from the treatment plant or storage tank to service lines. They also provide water to hydrants for fire protection.

14. How Water Works: from source to you In the previous slide, we talked about pipes called distribution mains. Item 4 illustrates a distribution main. Distribution mains connect to service lines as shown in item 5. Service lines carry clean, disinfected water to the plumbing in a building. Once the water is in a building’s plumbing system, you just turn on the faucet to drink it!

15. Module Two:Water Conservation – Saving Our Scarce Resources

16. Do You Know…???? How long can humans live without water? We can live 30+ days without food, but only 4-7 days without water The human body is about 60% water How much of the human body is made of water?

17. Do You Know…???? How much water should humans drink each day? We must drink at least 6-8 glasses of water each day How much of the Earth’s surface is made of water? About 70% of the Earth’s surface is water How much of the water on Earth is suitable for drinking? 1% of the water on Earth is OK to drink. The other 99% is unsuitable to drink because it is salt water, or frozen in glaciers and Polar ice caps

18. 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

19. 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 Think about it: a family of 4 saves over $1,000/year drinking tap water instead of bottled water

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

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

25. 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

26. 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

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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. Work Environment: Water Treatment Plant Treat fresh lake, river, and/or well water Water is not from sewage pipes Used for drinking water

32. Work Environment: Wastewater Treatment Plant Wastewater is water that was used before Wastewater is contaminated Wastewater is treated and recycled for non-drinking use Wastewater treatment is costly

33. 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)

34. 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

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

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

37. 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

38. 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 • Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment; Operator Training Opportunities: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/drinking-water-training-opportunities • EPA Selection of Training Programs for Water and Wastewater Operators: https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-water-infrastructure/selection-training-programs-water-and-wastewater-operators • Red Rocks Community College, Water Quality Management Technology degrees: http://www.rrcc.edu/water-quality-management • Water Environment Federation: http://www.wef.org/ • Work for Water: http://www.workforwater.org/