Access to clean drinking water and proper wastewater
treatment is a fundamental human right and essential for public
health, environmental protection, housing access, and economic
development. However, Vermont’s rural communities face an
ongoing workforce shortage, and combined with limited local
resources, this is threatening the ability to provide adequate
water and wastewater services.

The Water Resources Institute and the Vermont Rural Water
Association (VRWA), supported by a capacity partnership grant
from UVM’s Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships, are working
to implement targeted workforce development initiatives,
aiming to train, diversify, and inspire the next generation of
water leaders.

During UVM’s 2025 calendar year, four courses participated in this
partnership: Cheryl Morse’s Restoration Cultures, Laura Webb’s
Earth Materials, Kennedy Brown and Arne Bomblies’ Hydraulics, and
Matt Scarborough’s Special Topics - Design of Wastewater
Treatment Facilities participated.

The students gained a better understanding of water operation
careers through a trip to Hinesburg's water treatment facility, the
Burlington Wastewater Facility, and through a lecture with Geologist
Jonathan Kim from the Vermont Geological Survey (VGS).
The students were introduced to essential services provided by
drinking water and wastewater professionals and learned how their
interests are transferable to water workforce opportunities. They
were able to witness textbook concepts in action at these plants,
as they learned about the treatment process, fluid dynamics,
aeration, and more. In the classroom, Dr. Kim’s presentation
highlighted a multi-year project that investigated the PFAS
contamination of groundwater in bedrock aquifer, underscoring the
importance of a comprehensive geoscience curriculum for realworld
applications and careers.

By focusing on rural water, the students are being introduced to
essential services provided by drinking water and wastewater
professionals, revealing the intersection with public health and
environmental resources.