Join the Work-4-Water program and create your own path in the wastewater industry.

What is Work-4-Water?

The Work-4-Water (W4W) program provides access to workforce opportunities and builds career pipelines in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector. This online training prepares participants with the foundational knowledge and skills needed to successfully enter the workforce. Students will have access to career services and additional scholarships for On-the-Job Training opportunities. Graduates of this program will be better equipped for job opportunities and career advancement in Hawaiʻi’s water and wastewater industry.

There are no fees or costs to apply for or participate in the program.

Course Details

  • Introduction to Drinking Water and Wastewater Utility — Introduces participants to the Safe drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) industry while providing opportunities for students to meet and develop connections with industry partners.

    Wastewater Treatment Design — Focuses on the unique issues related to water in Hawaiʻi and the fundamental design principles behind various types of decentralized wastewater treatment and conveyance systems.

    Support for Current Workers and New Entrants — Helps participants gain skills and transition to employment or further build their expertise by participating in a more advanced certificate, credential program, or on-the-job training career pathway.

  • This seven-week, entry-level curriculum provides a comprehensive introduction to the Hawaiʻi drinking water and wastewater utility sector, with a specific focus on decentralized wastewater systems. This course was designed and created collaboratively with an advisory board, consisting of certified industry professionals, to ensure relevancy and positive outcomes for job seekers.

    During this course, students will gain a deeper understanding of the public health and environmental impacts of wastewater, learn about different types of drinking water and wastewater systems and how they operate, and related regulations and policies.

  • Topics

    • Topic 1: Overview of the Drinking Water and Wastewater Utility Sector Workforce

    • Topic 2: Wastewater Pollution and Impacts

    • Topic 3: Wastewater Science

    • Topic 4: Hawaiʻi Wastewater Problems and Policies

    • Topic 5: Wastewater Treatment Technology

    • Topic 6: Wastewater Disposal Technology and Innovative Alternatives

  • Designed for flexible, hybrid learning, the course allows students to progress through online lessons at their own pace while engaging in live, interactive Zoom sessions that provide real-world, collaborative learning experiences.

    Commitments:

    • All classes will be held virtually via three scheduled Zoom meetings

      • Students learn at their own pace through a weekly 1.5-hour webinar and pass/fail quiz before attending interactive virtual classes. The course will have an expected workload average of 3.5 hours per week (23.5 hours total).

    Starts: May 1, 2025 for Hawaiʻi Island, Maui and Oʻahu cohorts - Kauaʻi coming Fall 2025!

    • Complete the Online Application (currently open)

    • Please read all instructions and answer the questions to the best of your ability

    • Requirements: Applicants must be US Citizens, US nationals, US Permanent Residents, or otherwise legally allowed to work in the United States. The minimum age required is 16 and there are no upper age limits.

    • Participants will gain skills to transition from unemployment to (re)employment and earn an industry-supported credential or continue in more advanced programs, and on-the-job training career pathways.

    • Stipend: A $250 stipend will be awarded to participants who complete the course.

    • On-The-Job Training Scholarships: Available to help cover expenses like stipends, subsistence allowances, travel allowances, and registration fees paid to or on behalf of participants or trainees for OJT.

    • Network: Opportunity to network and develop relationships with potential future employers.

    • Credential: Graduates will receive an industry-recognized certificate.

    • Impact: Help protect Hawaiʻi’s natural resources and make a positive impact in your community!

Questions?

Check out our frequently asked questions regarding the Work-4-Water program here!

Course Reviews

  • "This course was amazing. I have done college courses, training and just shorter classes for fun and this was such a high quality course. Not only were the presentations absolutely wonderful and engaging but there was an amazing breakdown on the topics themselves that makes everything so accessible for any kind of background. I did not get confused once during this course. The organization and clear expectations were perfectly communicated and Gabbi was just so fun and kind that kept all of the energy up. Often I have seen online courses lack that aspect so I was so impressed."

    — Cohort 1 Student, Nov 2023

  • "I canʻt begin to express my gratitude that a program like this exists. There were people from all walks of life at all levels of "formal" education. This course will greatly contribute to the growing wastewater workforce that all of Hawaiʻi desperately needs. "

    — Cohort 1 Student, Nov 2023

  • "Any background ranging from general public up to college level, this course is fantastic for adding information to the general knowledge base in a way that is engaging but understandable. I honestly am surprised just how great this course was, it was free and I found it on instagram so I kept my expectations tapered but the execution was right on point. I did not feel overworked or undervalued for my participation in this course. I feel more empowered to move into the field of wastewater management, even as someone going for the degree in microbiology this course was applicable. Others within different industries including labor, academic and even service industry all were able to collaborate and find something that this class added for them at their level."

    — Cohort 1 Student, Nov 2023

  • "I really cannot recommend this course enough, this was better than most of my college courses if I am being honest. I really wish that this could be drawn on as an example for my future courses. The structure, the syllabus, the quizzes and really those at home presentations were clean and clear. I honestly have no idea how this was a pilot course when it was this good. I really cannot think of one thing that wasn't fantastic or went wrong besides the random technical difficulty here and there which is to be expected online. I loved those last presentation slides and saved them for myself for future reference because I enjoyed them so much. Thank you to the W4W group for hosting this and allowing me to apply even when I was not in the general area that this applied to. I am forever grateful for this, seriously."

    — Cohort 1 Student, Nov 2023

  • "My takeaway: wastewater is a huge industry in Hawaii with lots of different ways to plug in. There are many business and career opportunities associated with cesspool conversion."

    — Cohort 1 Student, Nov 2023

  • "I believe the biggest take away for me would be the awareness and knowledge that is needed to be spread on the islands. It amazes me how passive this issue seems to be and not on the forefront of people's agendas. Also the many roles that are available within the industry that need to be filled."

    — Cohort 1 Student, Nov 2023

  • "I would suggest others to take this course as a " Start here" type of class to see if they would be interested in learning and if it would really be something they want to do."

    — Cohort 1 Student, Nov 2023

  • "I really enjoyed the format and pace of the class. I work full time and have various other obligations and the class made it possible to do classwork and learning on my own schedule."

    — Cohort 1 Student, Nov 2023

  • "The combination of the webinar introducing and explaining the topic in great detail in combination with the zoom class to clarify and answer any questions that came up during the webinar was the most helpful to me."

    — Cohort 1 Student, Nov 2023

  • "Great course for anyone interested in working directly in the wastewater industry or any related fields."

    — Cohort 1 Student, Nov 2023

  • "This course provides a great overview and explains the urgent need for wastewater workforce, the basic industrial concepts in the field and orientates the participants towards careers in wastewater management."

    — Cohort 2 Student, Mar 2024

  • "This course was honestly so informative and engaging, but also not time-consuming. It was such great exposure for myself and a great introduction for my high school students into the wastewater industry. Would highly recommend for all ages and backgrounds."

    — Cohort 2 Student, Mar 2024

  • "I'd recommend this course to anyone involved in the wastewater industry, especially younger people who may still be undecided about specific career options."

    — Cohort 2 Student, Mar 2024

  • "The resources provided are outstanding and comprehensive. The course sequentially covers the wastewater treatment with many opportunities for discussion with peers."

    — Cohort 2 Student, Mar 2024

  • "This is a great course for anyone and everyone that wants to be in the wastewater field, or is already in the wastewater field. This course gives you an understanding of some of the problems and solutions that affect our water, land, life and ocean. And even if you are in the wastewater feld, it gives you a new perspective on other parts of wastewater."

    — Cohort 2 Student, Mar 2024

  • "This course has been so inspirational and educational and motivating. I feel all residents should take this opportunity to educate themself. Having the knowledge would make every aware how much they're hurting the environment. When you can see the line of travel And learn how the environment is affected? You can consciously make a decision. Either you want to be part of the Solution or a part of the problem."

    — Cohort 2 Student, Mar 2024

  • "I took this class because I needed to upgrade my cesspool in order to get the permits necessary to rebuild my cottage which burnt down. Due to budget constraints, I decided not to hire a contractor to the upgrade and septic installation. Instead, I hired an engineer to design the system for me and would install it on my own. I have no experience of this process and relied on speaking with others in the field and watching many youtube videos. Still many unanswered questions remained. This class was heaven sent and has been extremely helpful in addressing many of the unanswered questions and installation challenges I've run into. Also having the ability to ask Gabby questions has been a huge benefit to me and has provided much needed confidence during the installation process (probably about 80% complete with the install now). Even if I wasn't installing the tank on my own, the knowledge gained through the course would be very beneficial to me if I was to hire someone to do the work. Highly recommended to any homeowner going through this process."

    — Cohort 2 Student, Mar 2024

  • "The class delivery and curriculum were put together in a masterful way. I am impressed with the google classroom system and how the instructors designed the curriculum to work well and be intuitive from the student's perspective. Having used the UH Laulima (Sakai) LMS system in the past, I can say without a doubt that less is more when it comes to online course management. The google classroom embodies the simple interface approach and a pleasure to use. Module end testing was not easy and forced me to comprehend what I learned throughout the module. I felt this approach led to me having a better understanding of the course material and helped to make the important bits stick. It shows that the curriculum designers really understood pedagogy and were able to maximize the remote learning experience."

    — Cohort 2 Student, Mar 2024

  • "I'd prefer this course design and delivery any day over in person learning. In closing I want to give props to Gabby. I can't express how much of an asset she is to your project. I work at a college and work with many talented educators. She is definitely amongst the top educators I have ever worked with. Her charisma and enthusiasm are infectious and creates such an engaging environment during the webinars. She is attentive to the smallest details and fully vested in helping students succeed in class. If there was something she didn't know, she stated that and independently researched or asked her contacts for help and would get back to the class with what she learned. Another amazing skill I witnessed was her ability to sense student uncertainty or hesitation for a given topic (whether it be about wastewater technology or the learning management system) and worked to create a safe and supportive discussion space to address whatever it was during class. This creates a thriving learning environment and maximizes student confidence and understanding. Bravo Gabby, keep up the great work! You and the others at WAI are making a positive difference in this world"

    — Cohort 2 Student, Mar 2024

Mahalo to our committed collaborators!

Funding for this project comes from the Department Of Labor Employment and Training Administration.