New Jersey American Water recently announced the launch of its third annual Water UP! — Water Utility Pipeline — training program, a paid, 9-week workforce development program for adults, in partnership with Rowan College of South Jersey.
The training program will equip this year’s cohort with hands-on water utility and essential business training necessary to join the water and wastewater utility industry upon graduation.
“The sustainability and longevity of the water utility industry is only as good as its employees, which is why it is so important that we continue training programs like Water UP! to invest in a new generation of talent,” Mark McDonough, president, New Jersey American Water, said. “Each year, the Water UP! program brings together qualified and diverse professionals that will carry out a commitment to providing high-quality, reliable water and wastewater service with the tools to excel in a lifelong career.”
The 2023 Water UP! class features 10 adults who were selected by New Jersey American Water and Rowan College of South Jersey through an application and interview process. Over a 9-week course based at Rowan College of South Jersey’s Career and Technical Education Department and New Jersey American Water’s new Lawnside Operations Center, the group will experience classroom-based lessons administered by Rowan College and hands-on field training facilitated by New Jersey American Water.
McDonough added that this year’s program is especially impactful because it is the first one created in partnership with Rowan College of South Jersey, which provides participants with college credits that they can use as they continue to build their careers.
“We are excited to provide New Jersey American Water with a business curriculum for their Water UP program that will qualify participants to earn six college technical elective credits upon completion of the program,” Brigette Satchell, dean of career and technical education at Rowan College of South Jersey, said.
Upon completion of the Water UP! program, participants will be uniquely qualified for open roles within New Jersey American Water or its utility industry partners, such as utility mechanic, operations specialist, customer service representative, or water quality and environmental compliance technician.
The 2023 Water UP! program is funded by a grant from the New Jersey Governor’s Office of Climate Action, the Green Economy & the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Building our Resilient, Inclusive and Diverse Green Economy (BRIDGE) Initiative.
