Here is what I think is an interesting statistic: The average age of all water/wastewater workers in the USA is 56. Can you guess what might happen in just a few years when these people retire? I daresay that anyone who really wants a good job with an excellent chance of advancement would do well to check into their local waterworks or wastewater treatment plant.

BTW, a lot of folks think only of toilet water when they think of wastewater treatment. There is a broad range of types of wastewater treatment facilities. Many industries have their own wastewater treatment plants, including the manufacturers of circuit boards, paints, food products, and so on. Some hotels and some restaurants - usually those that are not connected to a city or county system - have their own wastewater treatment plants.

Water treatment is not limited to municipal water supply. Most state and national parks have their own water and wastewater treatment plants. Some schools have small water treatment systems. Not far from where I live there is a golf course that has its own water and wastewater treatment plants.

So, if you know a young person who is in need of career employment, (as opposed to just a job flipping burgers or helping WalMart to make money,) this could be a great place to start. I work in this field myself and find it very rewarding. I think of it as a "hands on" means of making improvements in the ecology.