Aqua Pennsylvania and Aqua Ohio recently announced they are participating in a training program with the Energy Innovation Center Institute and Infrastructure Academy.
The program will perform emissions and efficiency audits for several drinking water and wastewater plants in disadvantaged or historically underserved communities. Training programs will be developed after the audits are finished to create a strong pipeline of skilled and diverse workers.
The program also aims to address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions at drinking water and wastewater plants, including carbon and other pollutants.
In Pennsylvania and Ohio, 145 people from disadvantaged communities will be recruited, vetted, trained to conduct the audits.
“We are excited to work with this team and be a part of a project which will enhance skills through continued education and training for new workers as well as existing employees,” Aqua Pennsylvania President Marc Lucca said.
The Environmental Protection Agency awarded the initiative a $4.9 million Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Program grant.
Other municipal utility providers and training partners that are participating include The National Safety Council, the Pennsylvania Rural Water Association, Pittsburgh Water, and Pittsburgh Works Together.
Aqua Pennsylvania serves approximately 1.5 million people in 32 counties while Aqua Ohio serves approximately 474,000 people in 20 counties.