The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission (Commission) is pleased to announce that applications for the Pipeline Program for summer 2024 are now being accepted. Launched in 2023 in partnership with Springfield Public Schools, Veolia North America, and the Massachusetts Water Works Association, the Commission’s Pipeline Program is a work-based learning paid summer internship program for 12 high school students in Springfield.
The aim of the Pipeline Program, now in its second year, is to help build the next generation of water professionals by exposing high school students to rewarding water sector career opportunities and to provide a paid opportunity for area youth to gain critical job skills while serving their local community.
Pipeline Program 2024
To fill the limited available positions in the Pipeline Program the Commission is seeking motivated, hard-working high school students from Springfield looking to explore career options, gain experience, and learn more about the daily operations at the region’s largest water utility.
As part of the program interns explore various career opportunities within the water sector and rotate through different Commission departments at its seven facilities including Cobble Mountain Reservoir in Blandford/Granville, West Parish Filters Water Treatment Plant in Westfield, the Field Operations Center in Springfield, and the Springfield Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility (SRWTF) on Bondi’s Island in Agawam.
This exploratory program provides Pipeline Interns with the opportunity to experience different water-sector careers by working in departments like water and wastewater operations, laboratory services, water quality, watershed and environmental protection, engineering, and information technology and cybersecurity. Commission employees from these departments serve as mentors to the interns and offer guidance on career pathways.
In addition to the departmental rotations Pipeline Interns participate in enrichment activities including visits to other area water utilities to learn more about career opportunities, mentorship meetings, and team building. Interns will also take an introductory to water operations course through the Massachusetts Water Works Association (MWWA). This course prepares students for further drinking water treatment courses, training, and the drinking water treatment state licensing process.
Building the Water Workforce of the Future
Water professionals are in high demand due to a wave of retirements and to meet the needs of modern drinking water and wastewater systems. The water sector offers enduring, non-outsourceable careers that provide dynamic opportunities, competitive pay and robust benefits.
Learn more and apply: https://waterandsewer.org/pipeline-program/
Read our full press release here: https://bit.ly/42huT7R
More Information
Those with questions or seeking additional information about the Pipeline Program can contact the Commission at 413-452-1300 or pipelineprogram@waterandsewer.org.
Springfield Public School students can also reach out to their Career Readiness Coordinators at their respective schools for support with the Pipeline Program application and candidate interview process.
