Preparing Students to Help Make a Difference:

Careers in the Water Industry

UC Santa Cruz SymposiumJanuary 29, 2008

Cheryl K. DavisChair, Workforce Development Task Force

Bay Area Forum

To find opportunities to increase the cost-

effectiveness of workforce development investments

through regional collaboration

Goal of Workforce Development Task Force

Industry Perspective on Workforce Development

Challenges

Employment growth in water supply and sanitary services sector

Drinking water and ancillary technologies increasingly complex

Shrinking pool of available, technically skilled workers

Strategic Assessment of theFuture of Water UtilitiesWater Research Foundation, 2006

A Reduced Labor Pool Can Be, At Best, Delayed But Not

Avoided

75M

80M

46M

76M

1946

1964

1982

Traditional(over 62)

Baby Boomer(44 - 62)

Gen X(27 – 43)

Gen Y(under 26)

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Mission-Critical

Functions at RiskCATEGORY OF WORK Number of Classifications

Power Generation Operations 4Engineers 6

Electricians/Electronic Maintenance 3

Plumbers 3Automotive Mechanic 1Machinist 1

Water Quality Technicians/Chemists 6

Biologists 3Watershed Natural Resources/Security 4

Utility and Water Operations Analysts 2

Water Treatment Operators 2

West Coast Water Utility Workshop

May 30, 2008

Attended by 75 participants:

15 water and wastewater utilities

1 power utility Department of Labor 1 workforce development board 1 community college district 2 professional water associations

Findings from Pre-Conference Research

Mission-Critical Classifications:

Water/Wastewater Treatment Operators Electricians/Electronic Maintenance Technicians/Instrument Technicians

Engineers Mechanics/Machinists/Maintenance Transmission System Operations, Construction, and Maintenance

Environmental Operation of Hydro-Electric Plants

Water Sector Workforce Sustainability Initiative

Collaborative effort of American Water Works Association

and Water Research Foundation:

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission on Steering Committee

Bay Area water and wastewater utilities participated in national workshop

Roadmap for the Future

Strategy 1: Get enough of the right people in mission-critical

categories

Strategy 2: Give staff the information they need to do quality

work

Strategy 3: Modify work processes to optimize available staffing

Strategy 4: Maximize cost-effectiveness of workforce

development investments through collaboration

Identification of 5 Mission-Critical Job Categories of

Shared Concern

Mechanic/Machinist Electrician Technician/Electrician Electronic Maintenance Technician/Instrument Technician

Water Treatment Operator Wastewater Treatment Operator

Expansion of the Labor Force in 5 Mission-Critical Job Categories

Increased Use of Technology to Support Workforce Development Activities

Workforce Development Task Force established subcommittees to

focuson two priorities:

WHY MIGHT YOUR STUDENTS BE INTERESTED IN CAREERS IN THE WATER INDUSTRY?

HOW COULD YOU BEST PREPARE THEM FOR UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES?

Career Planning From A Triple Bottom Line Perspective

ECONOMIC – Income, job stability

ENVIRONMENTAL – Opportunity for stewardship

SOCIAL – Ability to contribute to the community by protecting public health and safety

Salaries for Key Craft Job Classifications

Annual Journey-Level Salary at San

Francisco Public Utilities Commission

Electrician $75,140

Electronic Maintenance Technician

$83,174

Machinist $65,182

Water Treatment Operator

$79,950

Wastewater Treatment Operator

$79,950

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

Entry Level Annual Salary for Engineers

5212 Principal Engineer $140,322

5211 Senior Engineer $120,900

5241 Engineer $104,442

5207 Associate Engineer $90,220

5201 Junior Engineer $68,640

Water Supply vs. the Environment

Shelter Cove, California

San Francisco’s Integrated Water Resource Planning

P

More Favorable

Moderately Favorable

Less Favorable

Water Conservation

Groundwater Recycled Water DesalinationRationing During

Drought

Reliability

Affordability

Responsible Management of

Entrusted Resources

P

PPP

P

Removal of Obsolete Dams

Environmental Stewardship ofWatershed Lands

Docent-Led Docent-Led ToursTours

Biological Biological MonitoringMonitoring

Field Training Field Training for Staff on for Staff on Vegetation Vegetation SpeciesSpecies

EnvironmentalEnvironmental

HydraulicsHydraulics

ScheduleSchedule

CostCost

ROWROW

Project Project CoordinationCoordination

GeotechnicalGeotechnical

Route & AlignmentRoute & Alignment

O&M PhilosophyO&M Philosophy

GISGIS

Life Cycle Cost

ImplementabilityImplementability

EnvironmentalImpacts

Operation & Operation & Maintenance IssuesMaintenance Issues

Salt Marsh Mouse

California Clapper Rail

Endangered Species in Environmentally Sensitive

Areas

Pulgas Outfall ChannelPulgas Outfall ChannelCrystal Springs ReservoirCrystal Springs Reservoir

Potential Implications of Climate Change for Water

Management

Shorter, warmer winters with precipitation falling more often as rain

Earlier snowmelts, higher winter-time stream flows

Increasing frequency of extreme events (flooding, droughts)

Greater summertime water demands Greater water loss due to evaporation Impact of rising sea levels on wastewater treatment and effluent discharge facilities

Environmental Analysis Tool

The Natural Step™

The Ecological Footprint

The Leadership in Environmental Design (LEED™) Green Building Rating System

Cheryl K. DavisManager, Workforce Development Initiative

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

ckd@sfwater.org(415) 554-1875