The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is committed to promoting and bringing out the very best in the water sector. It is, literally, our reason for being. We seek to celebrate the best practices that our water sector leaders have implemented, and to disseminate them for replication and adaption across the state. Perhaps no aspect of water and wastewater treatment is more important than the workforce that performs the day-to-day work needed to provide safe drinking water, return used water safely to the environment, create stormwater solutions, and to protect our public waterways.

The Workforce Development Committee is focused on lessening the Illinois water industry's talent shortage by boosting community awareness, creating career pathways for students, and providing soft skills training to attract and keep a skilled, diverse workforce, aligning with national efforts by WEF and the EPA to build a strong, resilient water sector for the future.

Consider becoming a member of the committee. Contribute your ideas to help address the water industry's workforce shortage, increase community awareness, create skill building tools and training, and foster/make outreach connections.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION on Workforce Development check out:
WEF's Compendium of Successful Water Workforce Practices
https://www.wef.org/publications/news/wef-waterblog/workforce-development-compendium-provides-a-menu-of-best-practices/
USEPA's Water Infrastructure Sector Workforce
https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-water-infrastructure/water-infrastructure-sector-workforce
WEF's What Every Operator Needs to Know About Workforce Development
https://www.wef.org/globalassets/assets-wef/2-pubs--news/magazines/wet/operator-essentials/operatoressentials_workforce-development_may24.pdf

The Workforce Development Committee aligns with WEF's Strategic Plan
- Strategic Goal #1 - Attract and develop a diverse and passionate water workforce WEF Water Workforce
- Strategic Goal #2 - Cultivate a purpose-driven community to sustainably solve water challenges for all
- Strategic Goal #3 - Lead the transformation to the Circular Water Economy

For more information visit: https://www.wef.org/about/Governance/wef-water-future/

RESOURCES

Student Outreach /Student Education
o WEF Building Public Outreach https://www.wef.org/membership--community/membership-center/wef-member-associations/building-public-outreach-programs/
o Metro Water Reclamation District Education: https://www.mwrd.org/education
o Water Geek: https://watergeek.ca/
o EPA STEM: https://www.epa.gov/sciencematters/empowering-tomorrows-stem-leaders-epas-community-engagement-stem-education-program
o USGS Teacher's Resources for Water Education: https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/teachers-resources-water-education

STEM
o EPA Water Technical Assistance - https://www.epa.gov/water-infrastructure/water-technical-assistance-waterta
o EPA Water Workforce - https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-water-infrastructure/water-infrastructure-sector-workforce
o City of Chicago Water Management - https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/water/supp_info/education.html
o Work for Water -https://www.workforwater.org/
o Water STEM Activity: Design a Water Pipeline! - https://www.vivifystem.com/blog/2024/water-pipeline-stem
o Water Geek - https://watergeek.ca/
o Environmental Finance Center Network (Lesson Plans available) - https://efcnetwork.org/
o Wichita State Work in Water - https://www.wichita.edu/academics/fairmount_las/hugowall/efc/Project_Pages/Work_in_Water_materials/the-work-in-water-experience.php
o EnviroAtlas Interactive Map (great tool) - https://www.epa.gov/enviroatlas/enviroatlas-interactive-map

SOFT SKILLS training (on the way!)

2026 Workforce Development Committee meeting links:

January 6 @ 1pm CST Meeting (Zoom) - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/6154695374?pwd=n8IlSeHlhXdswxUcRBD14rSenUvEst.1&omn=87363435811
March 31 @ 1pm CST Meeting (IWPC in person and via Zoom) - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89606540713?pwd=0FzbIH2YH7dO1txmwV21DvX1dWawLy.1
May 5 @ 1pm CST Meeting (Zoom) - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84117379932?pwd=xHaUe5rjXrmntBrebi7L0vQcDBEWCh.1
July 7 @ 1pm CST Meeting (Zoom) - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83845874777?pwd=f1GBlPrLmp65tPNgbvP1SR3inCCo8d.1
September 1 @ 1pm CST Meeting (Zoom) - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86383658566?pwd=dWzOP7M6e8BaUXaeautCUKbXM7Ggam.1
November 3 @ 1pm CST Meeting (Zoom) - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82786871669?pwd=7BtxxDIILyrPjNq1k3dD8WELSGufie.1

ALL PASSCODES: 1234

GUEST SPEAKER Requests - please email:
* Suggest a guest speaker for the Conference or a Speaker Series.
* Be a guest speaker to engage with Students, speak on a Panel or Speaker Series
* Request a guest speaker for water-related topics.