Work and Training Opportunities Abound in Local Water and Wastewater Industry
March 18, 2020
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The San Diego region’s water and wastewater agencies have developed several pathways to jobs in the water and wastewater industry, and they are seeking qualified small businesses to bid on a variety of projects. Public agencies like the Water Authority and its 24 members play an important role in the region, both in terms of employment and providing critical services to support 3.3 million residents.
Employment
With approximately 1,400 water and wastewater jobs expected to open up across San Diego County in the next five years due to retirements, the industry offers promising opportunities. Go to www.sdcwa.org/careers for information about job openings around the region. Also, follow the Water Authority and its member agencies on social media to learn more about quality job opportunities that provide a public service.
The Water Authority and the Otay Water District in 2019 co-sponsored successful state legislation that created a pathway for veterans to receive credit for their education and experience in the military.
Education
The San Diego region is home to several training and education programs for students seeking water-related careers or people who already are in the industry and want to advance.
- San Diego Regional Water & Wastewater Internship Program – A regional internship program that provides practical, on-the-job experience to students.
- Water Management Certificate at CSU San Marcos – A certificate program designed to prepare current intermediate-level supervisors in the water/wastewater industry for upper management.
- Center for Water Studies at Cuyamaca College – A certification program with state-of-the-art facilities, a water quality laboratory, and a workshop for backflow, cross-connection controls and related skills-based courses.
- Water & Wastewater Technology Program at Palomar College – A certification program that provides pre-employment training as well as advanced courses in water and wastewater technology for careers in water and wastewater operations.
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Contracting
The Water Authority’s Small Contractor Outreach and Opportunities Program (SCOOP) is designed to maximize small business participation on contracts and procurements through networking, training, and technical assistance.
The Water Authority’s Sheltered Market Program designates competition for certain contracts to small, registered and certified businesses. The program applies to procurements between $10,000 and $150,000 for which there is a competitive pool of three or more small businesses in the Water Authority’s online vendor registration and solicitation system.