Labor shortage could threaten Texas water supply
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Texas' water supply — and the state's economic growth — could be endangered by a worsening shortage of workers in water and wastewater utilities, per a new report.
Why it matters: A lack of workers helping to secure infrastructure is one more threat to Texas' water supply, which is already under stress from climate change and a growing population.
Driving the news: The Texas Water Foundation and Texas Rural Funders last month released the report compiled by Jobs for the Future, a national nonprofit. The researchers interviewed leaders from the San Antonio Water System (SAWS), among other agencies.
What they're saying: "The next failure of a water system in Texas will most likely be caused or exacerbated by a workforce issue," Sarah Schlessinger, CEO of Texas Water Foundation, said in a press release.
- "It could be a broken pipe that was not replaced in time due to a shortage of skilled labor, a backup generator not turned on due to a lack of training, or a water system running out of water or going bankrupt due to a shortage of experienced planners."
State of play: Texas' water employees are retiring just as the number of qualified replacements is shrinking, per the report.
- The industry's wages aren't competitive, and operational costs are on the rise.
- All this makes it harder to maintain aging water infrastructure.
Context: Texas loses billions of gallons of water each year due to older infrastructure and extreme heat.
By the numbers: Water and wastewater facilities across Texas will see 30% to 50% of their experienced workforce retire over the next decade, according to the Texas Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
- New workers aren't always ready to replace them — only 36% pass the operator licensure exams, exposing gaps in training systems, the report concludes.
Zoom in: The report offered a 5-year-old SAWS policy as an example of an "effective retention strategy" — employees get a raise when they obtain new certifications instead of having to wait for a vacancy for a promotion.
- Sandra Thompson, SAWS director of talent acquisition, tells Axios that while the agency faces an aging workforce, it's trying to ensure newer employees have "opportunities so that they can — and want to — stay and continue to move up."
Between the lines: The challenges facing rural communities in Texas are most severe, as talented workers leave for urban areas, the report found.
The report suggests addressing labor shortages by:
- Developing regional training programs and centers that focus on meeting industry needs.
- Integrating water careers with existing education and workforce initiatives at Texas state agencies.
- Establishing a dedicated water fund for infrastructure.
The bottom line: "We view the workforce shortage in the water sector as an unconventional, critical infrastructure threat," Michael Aspland, executive director of Sam Houston State University's Institute for Homeland Security, said in a press release.