A new collaborative summer internship program in Massachusetts could serve as inspiration to utilities looking to strengthen the pipeline of trained water professionals and build the water workforce of the future.
The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission, Veolia North America and the Massachusetts Water Works Association have partnered to create the Pipeline Program, a summer internship that is currently accepting applicants.
High school students in the community who are interested in learning more about career opportunities, gaining hands-on experience and building critical job skills are encouraged to submit an application by March 26.
The unique work-based learning opportunity will welcome 12 interns for the seven-week summer program and comes at a time when careers in the water industry are transforming, as more advanced treatment systems are integrated and new technology is adopted.
The Pipeline Program offers a unique work-based learning opportunity by exposing high school students to the wide variety of rewarding career opportunities in the water sector through a department rotational model. Previous Pipeline Program interns have gone on to pursue career pathways in water operations, water distribution, environmental science and information technology/cybersecurity.
Over the course of the Pipeline Program, the 12 interns will participate in work-based learning, enrichment activities, a water operations training course, a new water treatment plant construction, skill-building workshops, mentorship, and post-internship support and opportunities.
Springfield Water and Sewer Commission Executive Director Josh Schimmel says the organization is excited to embark on its third year of the Pipeline Program as it continues to work to build the water workforce of the future while rebuilding critical infrastructure. "In October, we broke ground on the new West Parish Water Treatment Plant, which is the start of an exciting new era for both water treatment and water careers for the region. Pipeline Program interns will have a unique opportunity to see the planning and construction that goes into generational projects of this magnitude, while also participating in other skill-building and mentorship with our experienced and dedicated staff.”
Veolia — the commission’s contracted wastewater operator that manages the Springfield Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility on Bondi’s Island — is also continuing its partnership on the Pipeline Program. Veolia will host interns at the facility as part of the internship rotation, exposing interns to the wastewater treatment process and the many rewarding careers available at their wastewater operations around the world.
"Veolia is tremendously passionate about workforce development — not just for the benefit of our organization, but for our industry as a whole and the communities we serve," says Matthew LaPointe, vice president of Veolia North America's municipal water operations in Springfield. "Seeing the continued, demonstrated success of the Pipeline Program illustrates that interests can be cultivated into passions through strong professional partnership and hands-on experience. Veolia remains proud to be such an active part of this program that develops motivated students into skilled stewards of our critical water infrastructure, watching them become active participants in the ecological transformation and tackle the ever-evolving challenges of maintaining a healthy environment."
Those with questions or seeking additional information about the Pipeline Program can visit the commission’s website waterandsewer.org/pipeline-program or contact the commission at 413-452-1300 or pipelineprogram@waterandsewer.org. Videos featuring the Pipeline Program are available on the commission’s YouTube page at youtube.com/@SpfldWaterSewer.
