The AZ Water Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization founded in 1928 with a membership of nearly 3,000 water professionals dedicated to preserving and enhancing Arizona’s water environment.
The organization is the Arizona section of the American Water Works Association and the state’s Water Environment Federation member association.
Its diverse membership includes water utilities, government agencies, academia, consultants and industry stakeholders who promote collaboration, innovation and excellence in water management to ensure a sustainable future for Arizona's communities and ecosystems.
For more information, visit azwater.org
By Jeanne M. Jensen, PE | RMCI
Arizona is defined by its relationship with water. As a native Arizonan, licensed engineer and operator, I’ve spent my career in the trenches of one of the most vital and challenging sectors in our state: water.
From the landmark canals carved into the landscape by the Indigenous peoples of the Phoenix Valley to rural facilities at the edges of our state, water professionals work behind the scenes — around the clock — to ensure every drop counts.
Arizona weathers drought and growth thanks in part to historic guiding principles and the stewards of its water. Arizona’s water challenges are opportunities for continued innovation including long-term collaboration for the Colorado River, responsible groundwater management, workforce development and replacing aging infrastructure.
As growth flourishes across Arizona, the pressure on infrastructure and limited resources of all kinds brings out the best in the professionals who build, finance, design, operate and replace it — they are poised to tackle each challenge through grit, commitment and ingenuity.
You may not see us, but we are always there — troubleshooting at 2 a.m., responding to main breaks in triple-digit heat or pushing forward with new treatment technologies to remove contaminants like PFAS.
One of the most pressing topics right now is water resource development. With surface supplies increasingly constrained, the state must continue to diversify where and how we get water. Desalination, reuse and advanced treatment technologies are all on the table — and all require skilled professionals to design, build, permit, operate and maintain them.
Arizona isn’t waiting for a silver bullet; we’re doing the work, project by project, to build long-term resilience.
The next generation needs to be prepared to take on the mantle of water stewardship. Water and wastewater are a 24/7 industry, and it doesn’t run itself. The skilled workforce that operates treatment plants, repairs pumps, analyzes samples and engineers new systems is aging. Recruiting and training the next generation is not just an HR concern — it’s a matter of public health and sustainability.
AZ Water Association stepped up, creating pathways to enter the field and thrive including 2024’s launch of an online, self-paced learning platform — AZ Water WELL: Workforce Education & Lifelong Learning.
However, there is reason for optimism, and I see it every day.
I see it in small towns investing in modern treatment systems that protect aquifers for generations to come. I see it in operators who innovate in real time during emergencies, keeping water safe when every second counts. I see it in engineering students eager to design the next leap forward in water efficiency. I see it in contractors coordinating massive capital projects without disrupting service for a single customer.
Arizona’s water professionals embody the spirit of hard work and service. We don’t just talk about resilience — we build it. We don’t just plan for the future by solving the problems of yesterday — we keep our eyes on the horizon to be ready for the next opportunity to serve.
Water connects us all, and it takes a community of dedicated professionals to manage it well. From city utilities to rural cooperatives, from field operators to lab technicians, from regulators to consultants — our water workforce is a quiet force of problem-solvers, innovators and protectors. And they do it with pride, tenacity and hope.
Arizona’s water professionals gather annually at the Phoenix Convention Center to exchange knowledge, celebrate those who go above and beyond, and to put our heads together on how to be ready for what comes next.
Registration for this year’s AZ Water Association Annual Conference, scheduled for April 15 to 17, is now open. For more information and to secure a spot, visit the conference website so we can keep building a water-resilient Arizona together.
Editor’s note: Arizona native Jeanne M. Jensen, PE of RMCI Industrial in Phoenix is a licensed engineer and 4x4 operator. She is past president of the AZ Water Association. Please send your comments to [email protected]. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
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Keywords
water, AZ Water Association, AZ Water Association Annual Conference, Colorado River, groundwater, sustainability, AZ Water WELL