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Preparing Students to Help Make a Difference: Careers in the Water Industry. UC Santa Cruz Symposium January 29, 2008 Cheryl K. Davis Chair, Workforce Development Task Force Bay Area Forum. Goal of Workforce Development Task Force.
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Preparing Students to Help Make a Difference:Careers in the Water Industry UC Santa Cruz Symposium January 29, 2008 Cheryl K. Davis Chair, Workforce Development Task Force Bay Area Forum
Goal of Workforce Development Task Force To find opportunities to increase the cost-effectiveness of workforce development investments through regional collaboration
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 the Future of Water Utilities Water Research Foundation, 2006
80M 76M 75M 46M Baby Boomer (44 - 62) Traditional (over 62) Gen Y (under 26) Gen X (27 – 43) 1946 1964 1982 A Reduced Labor Pool Can Be, At Best, Delayed But Not Avoided
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Mission-Critical Functions at Risk
West Coast Water Utility WorkshopMay 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
Workforce Development Task Force established subcommittees to focuson two priorities: • Expansion of the Labor Force in 5 Mission-Critical Job Categories • Increased Use of Technology to Support Workforce Development Activities
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
San Francisco Public Utilities CommissionEntry Level Annual Salary for Engineers
Environmental Stewardship ofWatershed Lands Docent-Led Tours Biological Monitoring Field Training for Staff on Vegetation Species
Implementability Life Cycle Cost Environmental Impacts Operation & Maintenance Issues Alternatives Analysis & Evaluation Criteria Hydraulics ROW Geotechnical Route & Alignment Project Coordination Environmental O&M Philosophy Schedule Cost GIS
Salt Marsh Mouse California Clapper Rail Endangered Species in Environmentally Sensitive Areas
Fish Protection & Restoration Pulgas Outfall Channel Crystal 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. Davis Manager, Workforce Development Initiative San Francisco Public Utilities Commission ckd@sfwater.org (415) 554-1875