The Portland Water Department in Portland, Connecticut, is no different than many utilities nationwide that are contending with the so-called silver tsunami — a rising tidal wave of retirements exacerbated by a shrinking labor pool of qualified replacements.
But the department differs from many others in that it’s actively taking steps to educate high school students about the many career opportunities available in the water- and sewer-management industries. In fact, 67 high school seniors have taken a specially developed course called Water and People, says Dave Kuzminski, technology coordinator for the town of Portland.
“It gives them a good idea of
