One of the many challenges facing today’s water and wastewater utilities is replenishing a workforce that is retiring at an accelerated rate. With a median age of 48, the water workforce could lose a third of its talent over the next decade. It’s a concern that consistently ranks in the top 10 of the American Water Works Association’s (AWWA) annual State of the Water Industry report.
“It’s a serious issue,” acknowledged Ian MacLeod, Master Meter’s VP of Sales for the Northeast region, “but I’m an optimist, so I see it as a great opportunity.”
During the AWWA annual conference in Anaheim, California, Ian spoke with Water Online for an upcoming episode of the recurring video interview series, Water Talk. He shared his passionate views on the water industry’s ongoing struggle with its workforce.
“It’s true that there will be a certain amount of ‘brain drain’ and loss of procedural knowledge,” he noted, “but the reality is that some loss of knowledge is okay to a degree because the industry is evolving. Technology is moving this industry forward.”
Some of the processes and procedures that water utility personnel have been following for decades are inherently changing, Ian explained. “I think people leaving is going to present an opportunity for younger people to come in with new vision or new ways of thinking, and also a new excitement for the technology that is now part of this industry,” he said.
Ian has personally witnessed the growth of technology over the course of his own career in the water industry. “When I look at the kind of water meters we sold 25 years ago, there was not a lot of technology. Today, when I look at our portfolio of products, there is so much; there’s so much more data generated — and so much we can do with that data,” he said.
Despite the increasing adoption of technology, there will surely be some knowledge gaps to bridge as the water industry workforce transitions to the next generation, Ian admitted — but he’s not worried. “Utilities across the United States have begun that diligent process of making sure there is a transfer of that knowledge,” he said. “People aren’t just upping and leaving at a moment’s notice.”
That level of dedication is a reflection of the people who make up the water industry, he suggested. “People are in this industry because they care,” he said. “I think there is this incredible public-service-minded attitude…and because they care, they’re not going to just leave without properly documenting and creating some knowledge transfer. Every day they’re working to mitigate the impact as they prepare to leave.”
The other side of the workforce coin is attracting new talent, and to some extent, it may be even more of a challenge than the departures. “There are misconceptions about the jobs that are available,” Ian said. “One is that it’s boring… But I think when people see the underlying technology and things like machine learning, artificial intelligence, and what that’s bringing to the industry…they’re going to be like, ‘Wow, that’s kind of cool!'”
In the coming weeks, stay tuned for the full Water Talk interview with Ian MacLeod and hear more of his insights into the water workforce.
