A GUIDE FOR RECRUITING AND RETAINING TALENT IN THE WATER SECTOR
💧 About the Report: A Guide for Recruiting and Retaining Talent in the Water Sector https://www.theh2otower.org/workforce/
In partnership with The Water Tower and supported by the U.S. EPA, WaterRising Institute released A Guide for Recruiting and Retaining Talent in the Water Sector—a groundbreaking white paper that addresses one of the most urgent challenges in water infrastructure: the people who power it.
This report reveals critical insights from a national survey of U.S. water utilities, highlighting barriers to workforce participation—especially for women—and offering actionable strategies to build a more inclusive, resilient, and future-ready water workforce. From targeted recruitment and mentorship to flexible workplace policies and leadership development, the guide provides a roadmap for utilities to attract and retain diverse talent.
The findings are fueling the WaterWoman Project, a global initiative activating data-driven workforce transformation across 25 cities. Together, we are investing in people to secure our water future.
🌍 Investing in People to Secure Our Water Future
In the United States alone, over $1.2 trillion is needed over the next 20 years to repair and modernize our water and wastewater infrastructure. Globally, the investment need is even more staggering, estimated to be over $5 trillion by 2030. These figures aren’t just about pipes and pumps; they’re about people, resilience, and the future of our communities.
To meet this moment, we must invest in the people who make water systems work. The water workforce is aging, under-resourced, and often invisible. We must elevate and empower this essential workforce through training, innovation, and leadership development, especially for women and girls, who remain vastly underrepresented in water careers.
The WaterRising Institute, with consultative status at the United Nations ECOSOC, is advancing a global framework that centers local leadership, inclusion, and youth empowerment in water governance. We are building a pipeline of future water leaders by integrating career pathways into education systems, supporting women in technical and executive roles, and ensuring that community voices shape infrastructure decisions.
But public funding alone will not be enough. We must unlock public-private partnerships that align capital with community needs, ensure accountability, and drive innovation. These partnerships are essential to closing the infrastructure gap and delivering on the promise of SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation for All.
💧 WaterWoman Project: Data-Driven Leadership for a Resilient Water Future
With nearly 150 volunteers and growing global momentum, the WaterWoman Project is demonstrating that inclusive leadership is not only possible, it’s powerful. In 2025, WaterRising Institute launched the findings of A Guide for Recruiting and Retaining Talent in the Water Sector, a groundbreaking report developed in partnership with The Water Tower and supported by the U.S. EPA.
Building on this research and inspired by the World Bank’s work in emerging economies, WaterWoman is activating a bold, data-driven initiative across 25 cities globally. Empowered by public, private, and philanthropic investment, this 3-year pilot benchmarks experiences in high- and middle-income economies, identifies barriers and opportunities, and advances digital transformation in the water sector.
By upskilling and employing women on the front lines of climate resilience, we’re not just protecting water, we’re restoring public trust and creating pathways to upward mobility. Through community-driven workforce development and digital innovation, essential water services will work better for everyone.
The WaterWoman Project has generated actionable insights and best practices, from education and recruitment to mentoring and workplace culture. These strategies will be piloted, scaled, and replicated through public-private partnerships, accelerating progress toward SDGs 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and 14 (Life Below Water) by 2030.
