water 2030 task force highlights operator needs

“The purpose of the North Carolina Water 2030 initiative is to determine North Carolina’s water resource needs for the next 20 years and to explore choices that will ensure that North Carolinians, in every part of the state, will have access to ample supplies of clean water. The N.C. Economic Development Center launched the $2 million effort in March 2004 with state and national partners.”

One of the recommendations of the Water 2030 effort was to form a task force to address operation and maintenance concerns discovered during the study. Cavanaugh & Associates, P.A. was hired to manage the task force and facilitate the meetings. Representatives from public and private utility systems, technical associations, regulatory agencies and consulting firms comprise the task force. The task force was funded through an R&D Grant from The Rural Center.

Throughout the course of the task force meetings, however, certain topics surfaced as clear focus items for the group.

There is a shortage of qualified system operator candidates.
Seasoned operators are retiring or leaving the profession – taking valuable system information with them.
The perception of a career as a water or wastewater operator needs to be elevated both publicly and within the operators’ minds.
System owners (governing boards) must recognize the importance of fulfilling O&M needs, regardless of political aversion to rate increases.
Consumers must understand what it takes to provide water and wastewater services, therefore, understanding the need for possible rate increases to meet O&M needs.
Several campaigns were discussed to address each of these focus items. In order of priority as determined by the task force, those campaigns are:

  • Owner Education
  • Consumer Education
  • Leave a Legacy
  • Legacy of Learning
  • Operator Pipeline
  • High School Career Fairs
  • Traveling Road Show

Cavanaugh, NCAWWA/WEA and The Rural Center are continuing to work together to find funding for the initiatives developed by the task force.