Water professional careers
The Water Quality Control Division (division) thanks Colorado water professionals for their role in providing high-quality drinking water. Their talents and skills are essential for public health and protecting our environment.
The number of water professionals is dwindling nationwide. Many people working in the industry are close to retirement, and there are not enough younger workers to replace them.
All in a day’s work
Meet some of Colorado’s dedicated water professionals and learn why they chose these careers.
Growing up in Southern California, Andrew Canchola saw the value of water early in life. That part of the country faces water challenges due to its dry climate and population demands. During high school, he often discussed future careers with his dad.
Now, 24 years old and a graduate of Colorado State University, Andrew works as a class A operator at the Bellvue Water Treatment Plant in northern Colorado, located just west of Fort Collins. The plant treats and delivers drinking water to the city of Greeley.
“There is always going to be a need for drinking water, so there is job security in this industry, especially as we are seeing populations increase with this finite resource,” Andrew said. “Managing every drop of water is becoming more and more important."
One of the things that Andrew enjoys most about his job is the variety. On a given day, he might work on plant maintenance, test water samples, or problem-solve an issue. He noted that the days usually go by “really fast.”
Andrew encourages younger people to explore the profession by applying for open positions, even if they are just seasonal or weekend roles.
“Work hard, ask questions, and make industry connections. If you are self-motivated and a hard worker, people will notice and give you a chance to make a name for yourself,” he suggested.
Andrew takes pride in his job and is extremely satisfied, knowing he contributes to supplying a vital resource.
“Providing safe and reliable water to 100,000 people is a pretty cool thing to do for a living,” he concluded.
The Aurora Water Binnery Water Purification Facility is a 70-acre facility that can treat up to 50 million gallons of water daily. The city is the largest suburb of Denver. Kevin Linder, the plant’s advanced water treatment superintendent, oversees it all.
His favorite part of the job is solving the science puzzles.
“I love it and feel blessed to do this job and make a good living while using my degree,” said Kevin.
He graduated with an environmental science degree in 1985. Straight out of college, he worked as a biologist at a fish farm, his dream job. However, he ironically felt like a fish out of water when the farm went out of business.
He needed to pivot. Kevin put his water and biology knowledge to the test, signing up to work at the water treatment plant in Lafette, CO. He remained there for three years before working for the City of Louisville for four years and then joining Aurora Water in 1999.
You don’t have to be a scientist to work in water, he points out.
“There are so many places for someone to plug in their skills; for example, we need people who can do maintenance, instrumentation, electronics, as well as administrative duties, Kevin said. “400,000 people rely on what we do as a team at Aurora Water. It is such a tremendous public service to protect public health.”
Robert Ludwig is a water professional with 29 years of experience as a certified water operator. He has worked in La Plata, Bayfield, and Durango in Western Colorado.
Robert is currently with Edgemont Ranch Metro District in Durango.
With a background in chemistry, Robert found that being a water operator is a perfect fit. He feels an internal sense of well-being when he proactively manages drinking water.
“Knowing that I have done my work to provide my communities with the best water possible is a good feeling,” he said.
Robert advises future water operators to focus on their training and teamwork. “We are only as strong as our weakest link. No one can run a water system by themselves. The team truly completes any water operations,” he commented.
When Jan Nelson started working in the water industry 23 years ago, she applied to be a bookkeeper at a sanitary district in Camp Verde, AZ. After only a few days on the job, Jan knew she needed to add water knowledge to her love of numbers. “I was the only one who worked in the office. When contractors came to me asking wastewater questions, I thought they were speaking a foreign language,” Jan recalled. She started studying the wastewater manual and became a certified wastewater operator.
For the last eight years, she has managed the Cortez Sanitation District in Southwest Colorado.
She regularly discusses the benefits of working in the water industry. In her experience, it’s not all dirty work; layoffs are almost nonexistent, the pay is good, and the industry is family-oriented.
“I really enjoy that we are cleaning water. The water discharged from our plant is cleaner than the receiving stream,” she said.
Over the years, she has seen more women enter the industry, but feels there is room for improvement when recruiting females to work in the water.
The World Bank estimates that only 18% of water utility workers worldwide are women. Two reasons might be social norms and a lack of role models.
Jan is working to change that. She hosts regular tours for kids in her plant.
“When the little girls come through, they think it is pretty cool to see a female in charge,” she proudly said.
Colorado water facts
- Colorado has 5,749 certified operators (drinking and wastewater); 2,903 are drinking water-certified operators.
- Number of public drinking water systems in Colorado: 2,187
- For customers that receive their water from a public drinking water system, 89% are served by surface water sources and 11% by groundwater wells.
- Denver Water treats and supplies water for over 1.7 million people daily across six counties.
Interested in becoming a water operator?
Contact us
If you have questions, please contact us at cdphe.commentswqcd@state.co.us.