About the SC Water Workforce Collaborative
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In South Carolina and across the nation, water and wastewater utilities are facing a shortage of operators and other skilled workers as many veteran operators prepare to retire. Recruiting the next generation of water professionals is a top priority.
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To accomplish this, the SC Water Associations began coordinating the formation of a utility workforce collaborative in 2023. Member utilities and partner organizations will pool resources to develop a strong, stable workforce that is essential for utility operations. This collaborative effort is modeled after Baywork, a similar network of utilities in California that has improved the workforce pipeline in the Bay area.
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Many factors influence the current workforce climate, but one that stands out as best addressed collectively is our lack of visibility. The water industry has long operated below the public radar, quietly providing the essential services that our communities rely on. As a result, many students and young professionals are unaware of career options in the water industry. We aim to change that.
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The Collaborative's initial goals are to build out this website to house water career information and launch a statewide marketing campaign to attract workers to our industry. A pilot campaign conducted in early 2025 on Instagram demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach.​​​
Become a Founding Member of the Collaborative!
Join by October 17, 2025
Let's build a strong water workforce together. Water/wastewater utilities and industry partners are invited to become members of the SC Water Workforce Collaborative. Together, we can develop a coordinated recruitment and marketing effort that individual utilities can't achieve alone.
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For membership details, including the Collaborative charter, membership dues, and membership form, click the button below to visit the SC Water Associations website.
The water industry has long operated below the public radar, quietly providing the essential services that our communities rely on. As a result, many students and young professionals don’t know about career options in the water industry. We aim to change that.
Join us!
Founding Members
