NHDES Celebrates Drinking Water Week, May 1 to 7

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) is celebrating Drinking Water Week May 1-7 and the professionals and partner organizations who ensure we have safe drinking water every day.

New Hampshire’s public water systems serve more than half of all homes, schools, businesses and public spaces in the state. Meeting that challenge takes an army of water professionals to ensure your water is clean and safe to drink. The industry boasts an impressive variety of career fields and skills. An advanced degree is not required for those entering the field as a water professional. However, technical training and continuing development programs ensure career advancement. Most importantly, water supply professionals report high job satisfaction. They enjoy the diversity of activities that each day brings and are highly rewarded with the knowledge that their job impacts the health and well-being of New Hampshire residents.

Do you enjoy being outside? Want to protect the environment? Interested in public health? Like to build things and solve problems? Want to make your community stronger and more resilient? Consider the water supply industry! NHDES’ partner New Hampshire Water Works Association-Young Professionals (NHWWA-YP) is working to let young people and individuals who are looking to switch careers, know that the water industry may be a great fit.

Sam Currier, Superintendent of Water and Sewer for the Town of Hopkinton, took the leap. He wanted better job security and benefits for his family but found so much more. Starting out in the water industry with only a high school diploma, Sam now is a water/sewer superintendent. “I get to be a part of a community; I get to work the ins and outs of day-to-day issues. I get to plan and propose new technologies, and new ideas for the future. And what's cool is that it's not just my future now, it's every person that is within my community. My [prior] construction job helped me see my future, but the career I have in water is me living it.”

Others come to the profession more directly. Sarah Jakositz with CDM Smith wanted to become an environmental engineer because, as she says, “I wanted to design solutions that would help improve public health and protect the natural environment that I love so much. I grew up as an outdoorsy person with the utmost respect for nature, but also had a desire to help improve the health and safety of communities. To me, environmental engineering is the perfect meeting place between people and planet, and a career that would let me pursue both of my passions.”

Sarah and Sam work hard every day and are motivated because they know their work makes a difference for everyone in New Hampshire. The opportunities offered to them are not unique. Their success stories can by yours too. There are a wide range of career options available for people interested in joining the ranks of professionals who manage and protect drinking water in New Hampshire.

NHDES, water organizations, water utilities and environmental advocates across the U.S. are encouraging everyone to learn more about water services, infrastructure and career opportunities. During Drinking Water Week, thank the many individuals who serve your community and keep the water flowing, #ThereWhenYouNeedIt.