Water Career Program
Overview of the Program
Grand Rapids Community College, the city of Grand Rapids, and Bay College in Escanaba are teaming up for a project that builds a pipeline to careers in the water and wastewater industry.
The program is supported by a $500,000 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant. GRCC, the city of Grand Rapids, and Bay College will use the grant award to introduce middle and high school students and adult learners from neighborhoods with high unemployment to water and wastewater careers.
To learn more about the program visit GRCC Water & Wastewater Treatment Programs.
Internship Program
The program exposed individuals to the various water and wastewater careers at the Lake Michigan Filtration Plant and Water Resource Recovery Facility.
Each cohort is made up of six individuals eager to learn about the water and wastewater industry. The individuals work 24 hours a week for 52 weeks as Utility Aide Interns in their area of interest. This can include working with the Water/Wastewater Operators or Utility Maintenance Mechanics. The hourly wage for a Utility Aide Intern is $18.066/hour.
In addition to the internship, the Utility Aide Interns are required to complete online coursework through the Bay College Water Resource Management Program.
Application period has closed until Summer 2025.
Apply for the internship program here.
Download Flyer(PDF, 2MB)
Read about Daniel Martinez, Utility Aide Intern, and his experience in the program.
Water Career Camp
For 6th - 9th Graders!
Are you interested in the environment, sustainability, or STEM?
The Water Career camp explores the Urban Water Cycle and various careers in water. Campers will follow the lifecycle of our water, including where our water comes from, how it is treated and how to measure water quality. They will see how wastewater is treated and returned to the Grand River where it then travels back to Lake Michigan where it is cleaned and delivered back to our customers.
Campers will participate in hands-on experiments, activities and tour worksites in West Michigan to see all of the careers that make up a public works system and the vital role they play in our communities.
This camp requires permission to travel to tour the Lake Michigan Filtration Plant on the lakeshore (located in West Olive) and to the Water Resource Recovery Facility in Grand Rapids. Campers will also experience what happens when a water main breaks and how it gets fixed!
Part of the tour is outside, so please dress for the weather. Campers will spend a significant amount of time moving around, digging, building, and handling projects as a team; therefore, please plan on dressing appropriately and wear closed toe shoes.
- Option 1: July 22-24, 2025
- Option 2: July 29-31, 2025
REGISTER HERE
Download Flyer(PDF, 986KB)
Water Pool-ooza
Are you interested in learning more about your drinking water journey before reaching your faucet? Join the City of Grand Rapids Water System as we explore the drinking water treatment process from toilet to tap. Water professionals at this FREE event will join us to guide students and families through the water treatment process with hands-on, interactive activities. Participants will learn more about their drinking water, explore the variety of careers in the water industry, and learn how to be a water champion!
REGISTER FOR WATER POOL-OOZA AT THE LAKESHORE (April 19)