The American Water Works Association estimates that half of all utility operators could retire in the next 10 years. With an insufficient number of replacements entering the field, utilities are poised to see a dangerous operator shortage. Growing certification requirements and increasingly sophisticated and technology-driven processes and systems are making it tough for water and wastewater utilities to staff treatment plants with qualified personnel. Even with a shrinking workforce, public utilities can successfully hire and retain the plant operations staff they require by turning to contract operations firms-also called operations and management firms-or by adopting these firms' techniques.
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