Water Career Day Introduces Students to Essential Careers in Water and Wastewater

Olivenhain Municipal Water District, San Elijo Joint Powers Authority, and Leucadia Wastewater District hosted their second annual Water Career Day at the SEJPA campus on October 22.

The mission of Water Career Day is to introduce students and veterans to the different career paths in the water and wastewater industry. The event was attended by students from Mission Hills High School, Mira Costa College, Mira Costa College Technology Career Institute, and Palomar College, as well as military veterans interested in post-service careers.

Each participating agency hosted interactive stations providing insight into the many career options in the water industry, ranging from engineering to water treatment. Water and wastewater industry professionals gave students the opportunity to work on real-world infrastructure.

Attendees also made valuable connections with water agency recruitment professionals and learned about the region’s community college water workforce training programs.

Award Winning Career Outreach Program

The WateReuse Association of California recently named the first Water Career Day in 2024 as its 2025 Outreach and Education Program of the Year award recipient.

“After the overwhelming success of our first Water Career Day, we’re thrilled to see even greater enthusiasm this year. The growing interest from local students shows how valuable these events are in connecting young people to rewarding careers in the water and wastewater industry,” said Leucadia Water District director Elaine Sullivan.

“San Elijo Joint Powers Authority is proud to once again host Water Career Day at our Water Campus,” said Kristi Becker, board chair of the San Elijo Joint Powers Authority.

“This event highlights the essential role water professionals play in protecting public health and the environment, while inspiring the next generation to explore meaningful careers in the water industry. By investing in our local students and veterans, we’re strengthening our community and ensuring a bright future for clean water.”

“Every day, we depend on water and wastewater professionals to deliver safe, high-quality water at our taps, and to responsibly manage what goes down the drain,” said Olivenhain Municipal Water District board president Matthew R. Hahn.

“This event showcases these essential roles and inspires the next generation with the tools and resources needed to pursue a fulfilling career in public water service.”

Career Opportunities In Water and Wastewater Industry

With hundreds of highly skilled employees retiring from the region’s water and wastewater industry each year, the industry provides vast opportunities for exciting careers that directly support the well-being of communities across San Diego County.

The water industry offers a career path with competitive pay and excellent benefits. Many operational positions require technical skills that may be obtained through on-the-job training and industry-specific certifications, with education available at the region’s community colleges, including Mira Costa College, Palomar College, and Cuyamaca College.

In addition to operational jobs, there are several other career opportunities that play critical roles in engineering, finance, public affairs, human resources, administration, and information technology.