by Paula Jackson
This article was published in the summer 2025 issue of our newsletter.
The water resource industry is in a transitional phase of generations. We have new operators coming into the field as seasoned operators are retiring and taking knowledge of their
facilities with them.
I am part of the seasoned operator generation and I know the lack of training and mentorship that
sometimes happens when a new operator starts at a facility.
Paula Jackson and Allison Smith with apprentices at the Village of Orleans.
I remember working in water and wastewater treatment plants and asking, “Why are we doing it
this way?”
Most often the answer was, “Because that’s the way we have always done it.”
Water and wastewater facilities use treatment processes designed on scientific principles which
require evaluation of effectiveness and optimization according to analysis.
It is important for operators to receive enough training to understand the science and mechanics
behind the treatment processes, but unfortunately not everyone receives this training.
When a new operator is hired, there is not always a lot of support from staff and management. The
new operator may be given an outdated book and told to study the book and take and pass the
certification exam in order to keep their job. Some municipalities will not even pay for an exam preparation class. These new operators who are not trained properly will fall into the “this is the way we have always done it” group.
Vermont Rural Water offers apprenticeship opportunities for water treatment, wastewater treatment, and water distribution operators. The two-year program provides new operators with 288 hours of classroom education, self-study, and one-on-one tutoring as well as 4,000 hours of on-the job training at their facility with support from a mentor.
Investing in your operators means investing in the future. Having trained operators who are operating their facilities based on analysis and observation rather than “this is the way we have always done it” will bring your facility to a new level of professionalism.
Vermont Rural Water currently has openings in our Apprenticeship Program. Please contact us
to schedule a meeting for more information:
Paula Jackson
802-660-4988 x332
pjackson@vtruralwater.org
Allison Smith
802-660-4988 x337
asmith@vtruralwater.org