Apprenticeships & Workforce development Jill Miller SC Rural Water Association

Industry workforce development It is projected that 37% of water utility workers and 32% of wastewater utility workers will be eligible for retirement within the next decade. The anticipated loss of current utility employees is between 30% and 50% within the next 10 years.

Current number of water and wastewater operators - SC Total: 8,474 Biological wastewater: 2,597 Physical/chemical wastewater: 1,824 Water distribution: 2,169 Water treatment: 1,884

Average Age of operators / years licensed Biological wastewater: 47 years old; 15.8 years licensed; 47 years – oldest on file Physical/chemical wastewater: 48 years old; 13.8 years licensed; 40 years – oldest on file Water distribution: 46 years old; 9.8 years licensed; 17.5 years – oldest on file (grandfathered in 2000) Water treatment: 47 years old; 15.7 years licensed; 49 years – oldest on file

SC w/ww Apprenticeship programs Apprenticeship Carolina Central Carolina Technical College - Utility registered programs Apprenticeship Rural Water

Utility specific programs Berkeley County Water & Sanitation Charleston Water System Chester Metropolitan District* City of Columbia* City of Dillan* City of Florence* City of Rock Hill* Dorchester County Georgetown County Water & Sewer District* ReWa* Spartanburg Water

Apprenticeship rural water Program initiated nationally through National Rural Water Association SCRWA standards registered with US Department of Labor under the NRWA Nationally Certified Guidelines 2 year program - 4000 hours of on the job learning (OJL) - 288 hours “classroom” training and instruction Apprentice completes program with a C level License Ultimate goal is to have a pool of utilities and pool of apprentices

On the job learning

Job related course instruction 144 hours / year; 288 hours by program completion Guidelines developed by National Rural Water Association and customized by SCRWA Host utility can substitute and/or add any industry related instruction as deemed appropriate

Get your utility involved… Jill Miller Executive Director South Carolina Rural Water Association jill@scrwa.org 864-238-0505