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First eight interns graduate from water/wastewater program

The interns who spent time at the Fallbrook Public Utility District and the Rainbow Municipal Water District over the past several months graduated from the 33-week program and were honored at a ceremony May 24 during the San Diego County Water Authority board meeting.

Marcus Barard, Eric Dorris, LaMont Foster, Michael Holcomb, Cindy Seegrist, Steven Simmons, Thomas Swafford, and Shawna Whitaker completed the 2006-07 internship program which involved the San Diego County Water Authority, Palomar College, Cuyamaca College, 17 CWA member water agencies, treatment plant designer CH2M Hill, and treatment plant operator OMI. The internship program involved working for 20 to 30 hours at $10 per hour during the 33 weeks while attending evening classes.

The graduation completes the first year of the program, which was designed to address the demand for treatment plant positions. An estimated 35 percent of utility workers are expected to retire within the next ten years, and demand among CWA member agencies is estimated at 15 distribution operators and five treatment plant operators each year.

The interns rotated among various participating agencies in four experience areas: system maintenance, system operations, wastewater treatment, and water treatment. They were enrolled in the Regional Water/Wastewater Internship Program elective at Palomar College along with a qualifying water/wastewater technology course at Palomar College or Cuyamaca College. Most of the interns had already completed certification exams by the time of their graduation and were ready for entry-level positions at water or wastewater agencies.

 

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