Water Sector Jobs for Veterans

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have announced a plan to connect veterans with disabilities to career opportunities in the water and wastewater sectors—such as at wastewater plants and drinking water facilities—as part of EPA’s Water Sector Workforce Initiative. EPA and the VA will work with water utilities, states and local VA counselors to promote water sector careers and resources for finding water jobs for veterans as well as educational programs to help veterans transition into careers in water industries. More than one-third of all current water operators are eligible to retire within seven years and, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment for water and wastewater operators is expected to grow by 20% between 2008 and 2018, faster than the national average for all other occupations.