Texas' Water & Wastewater Industry Needs YOU to Stop the Silver Tsunami

For 34 years, growing up as a 4th generation operator in the water and wastewater industry, I heard warnings about the "Silver Tsunami"- a wave of retiring operators that would leave our field short-handed. Now, it's here. Up to half of our skilled professionals in Texas could retire within the next decade, lots already have, and with booming population growth and rising demand for clean water and safe wastewater treatment, our critical infrastructure is at risk. These systems are the backbone of our communities, ensuring public health and supporting growth, but without enough operators, we face serious challenges. 

As Senior Operations Manager at Inframark, I've spent over 11 years in this industry, working with incredible people to grow our Texas operations teams from small groups to robust workforces managing dozens of contracts. While I have my feet planted throughout the far reaches of Texas, I can only make a difference where I stand. The broader industry struggles with recruiting new talent, training inexperienced staff, and preventing burnout, threatening our ability to keep water flowing and wastewater managed safely. 

This post is a rallying cry. We need passionate people to join this vital field and innovative ideas to tackle the workforce shortage. Operator in Training programs and Texas' provisional certifications for students are a start, but we need the social media community to amplify this message. 

If you or someone you know is interested in a rewarding career in water and wastewater management, or if you have solutions to address this crisis, please reach out!

Michael Gonzales Jr.

Senior Operations Manager at Inframark

Connect with me here at: https://twua.org/member/HQH2O