Water Sector Employers Join Together to Recruit and Train the Workforce of Tomorrow

MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Water Works (MWW), the Metropolitan Milwaukee Sewerage District (MMSD), Veolia Water Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, and the Department of Natural Resources are coordinating recruitment of youth and budding professionals for internships that could lead to lifelong careers in the fast-growing and increasingly important water sector.

“High school students can learn valuable and transferable skills at good pay, and get on the path to a rewarding career through the Earn & Learn program,” said Karen Dettmer, Superintendent of Milwaukee Water Works and Interim Commissioner of the Department of Public Works.

Available internships provide hands on experience and real world training that can serve as a starting point for a variety of water sector careers. High school students in Milwaukee’s Earn and Learn program, administered by Employ Milwaukee, can earn $15 an hour learning about aspects of Milwaukee Water Works operations, including the Business, Distribution, Engineering, and Purification Plant sections. College and university students can gain valuable paid experience in water quality, construction management, wastewater treatment, and community outreach, as well as civil, electrical, environmental and industrial engineering with MMSD and Veolia. Internships are also available through Milwaukee County and the DNR.

As federal funds flow towards water infrastructure and water quality projects, the demand for workers in the water sector has never been higher. Building the resilient water systems of the future requires a coordinated approach to workforce development in order to attract and retain talented professionals and maintain critical infrastructure.

The collaborative effort among leading water sector employers to promote summer internships is part of an ongoing initiative to establish a more equitable water workforce that reflects the diversity of the greater Milwaukee area.

The Milwaukee Water Works purifies and pumps about 100 million gallons of water a day, providing clean drinking water to nearly 900,000 people across 16 municipalities.

MMSD provides water reclamation and flood management services for about 1.1 million people in 28 communities in the greater Milwaukee area.

Veolia Water Milwaukee is contracted by MMSD to operate, manage and maintain its regional wastewater treatment system.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.