The Challenge
With approximately 1200 water-related positions opening in the Northern Georgia region over the next 5 years, action is needed to recruit, train, and diversify our future water workforce to best serve and represent their communities.
The Water Tower's training programs focuses on getting trainees out of the classroom through hands-on experience in real-world conditions in a controlled environment to set every trainee up for success, whether they're new to the industry or looking to advance in their career.
Entry Level Training and Upskilling (CE's) Opportunities
The Water Tower is committed to assisting utilities in meeting their personnel and training needs to ensure that essential water, wastewater and stormwater services continued to be delivered. Our workforce initiatives range from recruitment to training to placement to upskilling with programming covering a variety of topics, over multiple platforms. Our focus is to get students out of the classroom and into the field to experience real-life situations in a controlled manner and we have designed our campus to allow for these hands on experiences.
Water Training and Recruitment (WTR) Hub
Building off of the success of our workforce pilot program, Water Workforce for Resilient Communities, the WTR Hub, established as part of a nearly $2 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will expand TWT's reach beyond Georgia into multiple states across the U.S.
The WTR Hub is a unique national utility, academic, and nonprofit network focused on expanding internships and post-secondary bridge programs that will result in an increase in the number of certified water operators in drinking water, wastewater, water reuse, and stormwater fields.
💧 WATER NEEDS YOU 💧
Start your career in the water industry in as little as four months. If you train as part of our Water Workforce Training and Recruitment Hub (WTR Hub), you can train at no cost to you!
Cohort Schedules
📅 Summer Cohorts: Wastewater Operator and Water Laboratory Analyst
📅 Fall Cohorts: Operator and Laboratory Analyst pathways available - more details coming soon!
Please use the Course Comparison Sheet to help you compare the career pathways which are currently being offered at no cost trainees.
Career Navigation Tools
Student Opportunities
An 8-month work study program is available for High School Seniors. Complete the program during your senior year and start working your water career as soon as you graduate and pass the state certification exam.
No College Degree Required
Get certified and start working in as little as four weeks with a GED or High School Diploma.
Classroom and Hands-on Training
Course participants should plan to spend a minimum of 12 hours on coursework (in-person and virtual) and 8 hours of on-the-job training each week.
Water Sector Careers
- Upon completion of the program, TWT offers job placement assistance with utilities in your community. We have several utility partners who have expressed interest in hiring trainees from our programs.
- Say goodbye to the typical 9-5 work schedule and work four-day work weeks (operators).
- Clear paths for career advancement offer mobility to grow including paid college courses once you are working at a utility.
- Entry level skilled trade careers in the water industry offer some of the highest starting salaries PLUS overtime pay to help you reach your financial goals.
Get Started Today
- Complete the training program application - APPLY TODAY!
- Check your email with more information about the offered programs and to schedule a visit to The Water Tower and to F. Wayne Hill Water Resources Center.
- Finalize enrollment, declare your course pathway, and attend orientation for your future water career.
- Complete in-person, online, and hands-on workforce training at TWT, with support from Georgia Center for Opportunity and Corner's Outreach to set you up for success.
- Work with TWT's job placement assistance program to start working at a utility in your community as soon as you are certified.
Questions? For more information, contact Courtney Lee, Director of Workforce Training (courtney@theh2otower.org, 470-822-0507).
Training Collaboration
The Water Tower partners with training providers to bring key training courses to TWT's campus for the benefit of utilities, our partners, and the broader water community.
Prime Power leverages its more than 30 years as a leading emergency power provider to train and certify technicians in the emergency power supply systems (EPSS) and related industries including the water and wastewater industry. Taught by some of the most respected and knowledgeable experts in the emergency power world, our programs combine classroom work, both in person and eLearning, with hands-on practice.