The Calaveras County Water District is celebrating Water Professionals Appreciation Week (WPAW) from October 7 through October 15. After a concerted effort by members of the water industry in California, WPAW was established by Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 80, approved by the Legislature and chaptered into law on September 19, 2017.

The resolution, authored by Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa), was sponsored by an ACWA-led coalition that includes WateReuse California, California Municipal Utilities Association, California Association of Sanitation Agencies and California Water Association. The California Water Environment Association also is also a partner in the effort.

Under SCR 80, WPAW begins on the first Saturday of October and ends on the Sunday of the following weekend each year.

As part of the designated week, local urban and agricultural water agencies across the state are working to organize programs and events that educate California water customers, local elected leaders, state and federal legislators, and other key audiences on the value of water and wastewater services and the important role that water professionals play in providing these services. It is also an opportunity to showcase the many excellent and varied careers in the water industry.

Recent labor studies estimate that 60,000 people work in the water industry in California and the industry needs roughly 6,000 new employees each year due to turnover. The water industry offers a wide array of career opportunities from water quality supervisors to plant operators to environmental supervisors to customer service and more.

This video shows the amazing variety of water careers, and how important the water industry is to the state: https://vimeo.com/217540388

Looking locally, 50% of CCWD’s workforce is eligible for retirement within the next five years, which presents both challenges and opportunities. While the District is actively engaging in succession planning to ensure critical knowledge is not lost, retirements also open up opportunities for new community members to work in the local water industry.

The District is thankful to all its employees for their dedication and the hard work they do each and every day to keep the systems that serve Calaveras communities running.