Water UP! (Water Utility Pipeline Program)

Creating Career Pathways in the Water Industry 

Are you ready to take the next step toward a rewarding career in the water utility field? The WATER UP! program is designed to empower qualified individuals from underserved communities within our service areas by helping them discover and pursue career opportunities that align with their interests and skills. Our next training session will run from September 29 to December 3, 2025, hosted at Essex County College in Newark, NJ, in partnership with our Short Hills Operations Center.

What You’ll Gain:

This immersive experience combines hands-on training, classroom instruction, and real-world exposure to prepare participants for entry-level roles such as:

  • Operations Specialist
  • Utility Mechanic
  • Water Quality and Environmental Compliance Technician
  • Customer Service Representative


Program Highlights:

  • Water Systems, Treatment & Distribution
  • Field Safety & OSHA 30 Certification
  • Tours of New Jersey American Water facilities
  • On-the-job utility training and observation
  • Customer Service skills
  • Microsoft Office tools
  • Teamwork & Leadership development
  • Financial Literacy & Trade Math
  • Resume Writing, Business Etiquette & Interview Prep
  • Diversity, Inclusion & Ethics


Participants may be eligible for a stipend, and upon successful completion, will earn six technical elective college credits from Essex County College. The program concludes with a Career Fair, featuring recruiters and hiring managers from American Water and invited partners across the utility industry—including contractors and suppliers.

The Water UP! Story

First launched September 20, 2021, the goal of New Jersey American Water’s Water UP! (Water Utility Pipeline) program is to create a career path for qualified individuals from underserved communities in the company’s service areas by helping them identify and pursue utility career opportunities that fit their interests and skills.

The first cohort was held in partnership with Hopeworks and Apex Solutions in 2021. A total of eight participants from the City of Camden learned about various career paths with the potential of career placement (through the regular interview process) after graduating the program. A second cohort took place in 2022, with 13 participants local to the company’s Plainfield Operating Center.

The 2023 Water UP! Program took place in partnership with Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ) with 9 participants local to the company’s new Lawnside Operations Center. The 2024 program, also with RCSJ, is taking place in the company's Egg Harbor City facility with 10 local participants from March through May 2024. This program is being funded by the NJ Governor’s Office of Climate Action, the Green Economy & the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s the Building our Resilient, Inclusive and Diverse Green Economy (BRIDGE) Initiative.

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During the program, the participants learn water utility and other essential business training to equip them with the skills needed to successfully enter the industry upon graduation as an Operations Specialist, Utility Mechanic, or another entry-level position.

The curriculum includes:

  • Water Systems, Water Treatment and Distribution
  • Safety in the field and OSHA 30 Certification
  • Touring New Jersey American Water treatment plants and operations centers
  • On the job utility training/observation
  • Customer Service
  • Microsoft office tools
  • Teamwork and Leadership
  • Financial Literacy and Trade Mathematics
  • Resume Writing, Business Etiquette, and Interview Preparation
  • Diversity & Inclusion and Ethics

 

Participants earn a weekly stipend, and they are awarded six college technical elective credits from RCSJ after completing the program. They will also attend a Career Fair with American Water recruiters and hiring managers, as well as invited business partners from other utility companies, contractors and suppliers.