Reasons to Consider a Career in the Water Industry

If you’re looking for your first career or a new career, there’s a whole industry you maybe haven’t considered – The water industry! The Minnesota Section of the American Water Works Association offers several great reasons to consider a career in the water industry.

Career Variety

There are many types of career opportunities in the water industry. These jobs range from those for high school graduates to those with graduate degrees. If you’re looking for an outdoor position or a desk job, the water industry will be perfect for you.

"Right now the thing I like most about working in the water sector is working on projects that rehab or expand existing facilities. There is a huge need to improve existing water infrastructure. My favorite projects have been related to increasing treatment capacities within existing footprints using technology that wasn’t available when the facilities were first built."
– Kevin Young, MN AWWA Member

Stability

Water is important to everyone. This means that there will always be a demand for fresh, clean water – especially drinking water. Where there is a demand, there is stability in a career.

Options for Relocation

Water is needed in every community. This means that if you want to stay where you are, you can. On the flip side, if you have a strong desire to move, you can do that, too! You will have options for relocation while in the water industry.

Room for Growth

Working in the water industry leaves you is room for growth. Depending on your ambition, you will have the opportunity for further training, certifications, and growth.

Sense of Community

A great reason to work in the water industry is the sense of community you have with the customers and your coworkers.

"The most rewarding thing is knowing that the work we do has a direct positive effect on the community." - Allison Wheeler, MN AWWA Member

"The thing I find most rewarding about working in the water sector is being able to distribute safe and reliable water to our customers. They rely on me to supply safe, clean drinking water to them at all times. Our customers also rely on me to ensure that our system is adequately supplied for their safety as well. Our department takes pride in being able to accomplish both on a daily basis." - Eric Volk, MN AWWA Member

"I think the most rewarding thing about being in the water sector is that I am playing a part in providing something that really matters. I’m not just making things look pretty or getting people to buy a product, I’m helping communities provide an essential resource. I can’t think of many things that matter more." - Nicole Gaustad, MN AWWA Member

Using this information, you should now be able to make a decision for your next career. For more information and help, please contact us. We offer even more great resources for a career in the water industry.

Winter Weekend Getaways in Minnesota

By mid-February, most Minnesotan’s crave a vacation. After a snow event and frigid temps that normally follow, we all get locked  indoors for months without end. A get away from the stress of work (think frozen or broken water lines) and everyday life is sometimes just what we need. When a plane ticket to the Caribbean is not in the cards, what should you do instead?

The answer to that question is simple: take a Minnesota vacation! Below, we’ve listed 6 of our favorite places to visit on a quiet weekend in the dead of winter. These getaway spots are easy, accessible, and fun!

6. Minnesota State Parks

Minnehaha Falls is a natural winter wonderland. Sawdust_media, Flickr

Aside from lakes, Minnesota is full of state parks, each of which has something unique to offer its visitors -- no matter the season! In the wintertime, there are more than two dozen parks that offer heated cabin rentals, making it easy to explore and enjoy your favorite natural habitat no matter the temperature.

Bonus: Many state parks offer classes or events that help individuals and families learn new wintertime activities, including but not limited to ice fishing, snowshoeing, and winter birdwatching. 

Adventurers are welcome to explore Ely. Chad Hennell, Flickr

5. Grand Ely Lodge in Ely, MN

 Always a favorite in the summertime, Ely is a Minnesotan spot made for the avid type. In the wintertime, however, the options are even more endless. Downtown Ely houses many options for dining or shopping, while the great outdoor terrain offers ice fishing, snowmobiling, and cross country skiing options.

Bonus: The Grand Ely Lodge has fish house rentals available on Shagawa Lake, which sits near miles of groomed snowmobile trails. Score!

 

4. Canal Park or Spirit Mountain in Duluth, MN

Duluth, MN, is a winter haven. Canal Park, located right on Lake Superior, offers the best of dining, downtown shopping, and historic sightseeing all in one compact location. It’s the perfect destination for people who want a winter getaway but don’t necessarily want to hit the slopes.

Spirit Mtn. offers some of the best MN slopes. MarLeah Cole, Flickr

However, many Minnesotans love strapping on the skis in midst of freshly powdered hills, and there’s no better place to visit than Spirit Mountain in West Duluth. Affordable deals on skiing and snowboarding are offered by both the resort and nearby hotels, making it a great option for vacationers on a budget.

Bonus: Snowshoeing the Superior Hiking Trail, one of the most beautiful trails in Duluth, is free! Depending on the time of your stay, it is also a treat to watch the John Beargrease Sled-Dog Marathon with the kids.

Chilly family fun! Bearskin Lodge, Flickr

3. Bearskin Lodge in Gunflint Trail, MN Bearskin Lodge is an absolute winter wonderland, with something for everyone hidden somewhere in its depths. Snowshoeing is available through the woods and along Bearskin Lake on groomed trails, making it an ideal location for beginners and experts alike. Broomball, ice skating on the lake, dog sledding, skiing, and snowmobiling are also available!

Bonus: 1.5 km of Bearskin Lodge’s trails are lighted, so if you head over to Gunflint Trail, we strongly recommend trying your hand (or foot) at night skiing.

2. Thumper Pond Resort in Ottertail, MN

Thumper Pond offers fun for the whole family, indoors or out. Thumperpond.com

Craving some open water instead of the frozen stuff this winter? Head to Thumper Pond Resort. Boasting a 12,000 square foot indoor waterpark, the venue is rustically themed and equipped to leave each family member having fun no matter their age. Activities included in the waterpark include slides, geysers, pools, lazy rivers and a multi-capacity whirlpool.

Bonus: Want the best of both worlds? To get your outside fix, utilize the more than 500-miles of snowmobile-friendly trails in the area. If riding’s not your style, cross country skiing and ice fishing at also available.

1. Lutsen Mountains in Lutsen, MN

Voted one of the top spots to downhill ski in our great state, the North Shore’s Lutsen Mountains are a must-see for anyone craving a bit of extreme outdoor activity. Inside its four hills and 1,000 acres, Lutsen offers 92 runs on some of the highest slopes in the region. Despite its extreme statistics, the area is also known for its family-friendly activities, lakeside dining room, and pool-sauna experiences.

Bonus: Want to take the region’s only gondola ride? It’s offered here exclusively. 

Beautiful slopes and intense terrain collide at Lutsen. John Warren, Flickr

 

We know we missed at least one? Comment below and let us know your favorite Minnesotan places to stay and enjoy the winter season. The opportunities are endless the beautiful state of Minnesota!

The People Behind The Water

Holidays are all about spending time with family and friends -- whether it's Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter or other holidays. It often doesn't reveal the work on unsung staff working quietly without fanfare to make sure that water arrives without interruption to your house. While families gather together for holiday festivities, the person making sure that there is water in the nearby water tank is alone in the pumping room, overseeing the pumps that ensure water pressure and water availability to hundreds of thousands of people. In the cold and snowy mornings of winter, a water main breaks, threatening to leave a block of homes without water for the day. Water crews leave the warmth of their family homes to go tend to the break and repair it with haste to allow other families to continue on with their day, uninterrupted.

         

Without these men and women, the simple act of turning on the faucet to pour water over the potatoes to help make a holiday meal would never happen. The dishes would go unwashed, the toilets wouldn't flush and the holiday for many would be ruined without their hard work.

How many other people do you know working on during the holidays? Probably a lot, and most of the general public probably doesn’t realize it. We are a 24/7 operation so there are always three Water Treatment and three Distribution employees on duty to operate the treatment plant and to respond to any reported field events that may occur.  This is not unique to a certain holiday season but actually occurs on every federal holiday.  These employees put their chosen profession ahead of other interests as 417,000 people are relying on them to ensure that water service is uninterrupted and any field needs are responded to in a timely manner. We can’t thank all of our employees enough for all of their work, to name a few positions:

Water Treatment Operator

Many water treatment facilities are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. A Water Treatment Operator will monitor the water quality throughout the treatment processes and make changes to ensure both quality and quantity meets the expectations of the community.

Water Analyst/Chemist

Incoming water quality changes, process equipment changes and Safe Drinking Water Act testing requirements don’t take weekends and Holidays off. Water Analysts ensure regulatory compliance is met at all times.

Utility Service Operator
Water must reach our homes, restaurants, industries and businesses for use. Maintenance and operation of the water distribution system (water mains, hydrants, water pumping stations, water towers) is required to make sure water leaving the water treatment facility reaches the customer safely and reliably.

Utilities Maintenance Mechanic

Effective preventative maintenance ensures that water systems perform effectively. When equipment is in need of emergency repair or scheduling becomes an issue, a Utilities Maintenance Mechanic role is to make sure water is available around the clock.

Customer Service Employees

Have a problem with the water entering your home? Chances are a call to your local utility will be answered by a customer service employee. Customer service is unique and important to each utility. The Water System Never Sleeps.

 

There are many times where our employees have stopped their holiday celebrations with family to help keep your special day going. Steve Schneider, General Manager of St. Paul Regional Water Services, remembers a time when he worked during Christmas:

I personally remember a broken water main in the City of Oakdale that occurred right outside the main driveway to the church I was attending. The work to repair the main was commenced after the completion of the 10:30 PM service on Christmas Eve and was completed in time for the 7:00 AM service on Christmas morning. I am sure there were some of our employees that were inexplicably tired during the day on that December 25th

We can’t begin to thank everyone of our employees enough for all of their work and contributions throughout the years. So the next time you turn on your water faucet think of the men and women, often working alone or in the cold on holidays, who make your water possible. Remember all the professions working so you can have what you have; there are more than you know!