The Case for Building a Stronger Water Reuse Workforce

By: Sarah Simons, Senior Technical Writer, CDM Smith

As climate change and water shortages continue to threaten water-scarce regions across the United States (U.S.) and around the world, CDM Smith is driving innovation and leading the way in water reuse. However, to continue to expand water reuse and increase water resilience, we must address the ongoing shortage of qualified operators, maintenance workers, and process engineers. 

Demand for Water Reuse Workers

The shortage of workers in the water sector is intensified by rising water demand from AI-driven data centers, which in the U.S. consume an average of 300,000 gallons per day—the equivalent of 100,000 homes. With about 25% of the world’s data center servers located in the U.S., the country faces a disproportionate reliance on limited water resources.

At the same time, these data centers are also instrumental in driving demand for and acceptance of recycled water. As part of Amazon Web Services (AWS) water stewardship goals, AWS is expanding water reuse at over 120 data centers across the U.S. with the aim to be water positive by 2030. This highlights even more the need for investment in water reuse workforce development.

Water reuse—the treatment and repurposing of wastewater, stormwater, or graywater—is steadily expanding. States like Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, Texas, and Virginia have led the way, particularly in potable reuse, which treats wastewater to meet high purity drinking water standards. Many states have developed guidelines to advance both water reuse and to establish standards for the certification of staff.

However, advancing water reuse will require a stronger focus on workforce development. Water operators must have a deeper understanding of advanced technologies and regulatory frameworks—expertise that goes beyond on-the-job learning. Skilled, knowledgeable staff are also essential to building and maintaining public trust and public confidence in the ability to deliver safe drinking water is critical to success.

Programs like the Advanced Water Treatment Operator Certification, offered by the California-Nevada American Water Works Association in conjunction with the California Water Environment Association, provide a pathway to building expertise and public trust. They help develop a workforce with the expertise needed for advanced technologies (e.g., membrane and biological filtration, chemical stabilization, and advanced oxidation) as well as tools like AI and machine learning that can optimize treatment, boost efficiency, and cut costs. 

While many certifications are currently voluntary, they are expected to become more rigorous as demand grows, raising the bar for the water reuse workforce.

Efforts to build a stronger water reuse workforce face a significant challenge: the rapidly shrinking pool of qualified water operators. According to 2022 Census Bureau data, nearly 40% of water treatment and wastewater treatment plant operators are aged 50 or older, signaling a water workforce on the verge of retirement. 

As the supply of experienced operators declines and the demand for specialized expertise grows, coordinated action from both the public and private sectors will be essential.

Investing in a Resilient Water Reuse Workforce

To build a stronger water reuse workforce, several strategic actions can be taken:

• Policymakers must elevate water workforce challenges and support opportunities—such as tax incentives, grant funding, and other resources—to strengthen professional development, training, and certification programs.
• Policymakers also play a key role in building public understanding and trust in water reuse. By championing education and outreach efforts—from early childhood through high school and college—they can not only boost public confidence but also highlight the diverse career opportunities within the sector.
• Public water utilities can strengthen workforce development by adopting private-sector models to improve targeted outreach at schools and colleges, streamline recruitment processes, and remove barriers—such as restrictive internal hiring rules that limit access to outside expertise.
• Utilities and data centers can make a significant impact by incorporating training of operations staff into the scope of work for water reuse projects, leveraging the expertise and experience of the engineering firms that lead project delivery, thus ensuring staff are fully equipped to operate recycled water facilities effectively.
• Trade associations like the WateReuse Association will be central to efforts and must continue advocating for policies, laws, and funding for water reuse initiatives and workforce development needs.
• Engineering firms, through their engagement with private, public, and community stakeholders, can play a vital role in advancing expertise and new technology, while fostering understanding of water reuse benefits, policies, and workforce needs.

With these strategic investments in the water reuse workforce today, we can lay the foundation for a stronger, more water-resilient tomorrow.

For more information on CDM Smith’s water reuse experts, projects, and services, please see CDM Smith Water Reuse.

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