Clackamas Water Environment Services will mark Oregon's first Water Professionals Appreciation Week starting Saturday, Oct. 3. The nine-day observance honors the operators, technicians, engineers and lab analysts who keep wastewater and stormwater systems running across the county, including communities in the Lake Oswego, West Linn and Oregon City areas.
The week is a first for the state.
It exists because of House Bill 4005 (HB 4005), which the Oregon Legislature passed and Gov. Tina Kotek signed into law March 5. The bill designates the first Saturday of October through the following Sunday each year as the official recognition period for water, wastewater and stormwater workers statewide. The observance runs through Sunday, Oct. 11.
For residents served by Clackamas County's Water Environment Services, known as WES, the week puts a spotlight on a workforce that operates largely out of sight. The agency's announcement described water utilities as essential infrastructure supporting hospitals, fire departments, businesses and homes.
The workers behind the tap
WES employs wastewater plant operators who hold Oregon Wastewater Treatment Certification and keep treatment facilities running around the clock. Field technicians clean, inspect and maintain the pipes that carry wastewater to those plants. Lab analysts run roughly 30,000 sample analyses per year to monitor water quality during treatment. Civil engineers plan, design and build sewer and stormwater infrastructure, and environmental specialists issue industrial wastewater permits and monitor discharges.
The agency said the recognition week is also meant to draw young people toward careers in public water and wastewater management. WES partners with Clackamas Community College's Water and Environmental Technology program and offers internships each year. Residents interested in career opportunities can visit the WES careers page.
No public ceremonies tied to the appreciation week have been announced in Clackamas County as of Wednesday, Sept. 30.
Upcoming community dates
- Oct. 11 — Water Professionals Appreciation Week ends
- Oct. 21–22 — Clackamas County hearings on data center moratorium
- Oct. 31 — Deadline for Oregon City park accessibility input
