CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Corpus Christi Water is looking to attract a younger generation of workers to the water industry through a new pilot program that began in Pflugerville, Texas.
The Science Engineering Technology and Health (SETH) program aims to help high school seniors get their water operation license through the Texas Department of Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
Corpus Christi Water COO Drew Molly said that it's an opportunity that can give high schoolers a jumpstart to their career.
"They can use that as an opportunity to try to be hired for a private sector water company," he said.
Molly said that from the select pool of students who began the pilot program, they're already hearing success stories.
"Of the seven folks that did this pilot in Pflugerville, one of them decided that they wanted to pursue a career in the water industry," he said. "They are actually a hired water operator today as we speak."
Class of 2024 graduate Noah Roman said the program has already given him a head start. He said that as he is working toward his degree, he likes knowing he'll have a decent salary to start off before even walking across the stage for undergraduate school.
"The base pay for water operators is about $46k," Roman said.
All these incentives are something Molly said he hopes will attract Coastal Bend high school seniors, especially as Corpus Christi officials continue to work toward their plans for seawater desalination.
"We're going to be looking for some smart, young, bright kids that'll hopefully come in and help us maintain that plant," he said.