Michigan Water Works School
March 23 - 26, 2027 | Lansing Community College West Campus
March 23 - 26, 2027 | Lansing Community College West Campus
Four days of drinking water training built for Michigan's water professionals. Choose one course or build a full week across four tracks, and go home with skills you can use.
Registration for Water Works School opens January 2027
[Course Catalog Coming Soon!]
What is water works school?
Today's water utility rely on professionals with a wide range of responsibilities and experience. It takes people who manage budgets, lead teams, answer customer calls, and plan for emergencies. Water Works School is MI-AWWA's bi-annual training week for all of them. Four classrooms run at the same time, so people from across your utility can attend the same week and each take training built for their role.
Every course is mapped to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Water and Wastewater Competency Model, a national framework developed by AWWA, EPA, and the Water Environment Federation that defines the skills employers in our industry value most.
Your training covers the full range of what it takes to do the job well:
Spring 2027's Water Works School covers courses in the following competencies:
- Technical skills for your system: cross-connection control, limited treatment, and asset management
- License preparation: focused exam prep for distribution and treatment certification
- Leadership and management: supervising a team, managing finances, and making ethical decisions
- Working with the public: customer service skills that build trust in your utility
- Emerging challenges: security and emergency planning for today’s threats
It's also a chance to connect with water professionals from across Michigan, trade ideas, and take home practical resources, along with continuing education credits for eligible courses.
The four learning tracks
With multiple learning tracks offered throughout the week, attendees have the flexibility to create a training experience that meets their individual needs. Pick the track that matches your work, or move between them based on your interests.
Track A: Distribution & Infrastructure
- Advanced Cross Connections
- Asset Management & Capital Planning Workshop
- Exam Prep: S-License
Suggested training for the following roles: distribution operators, field staff, engineers
Track B: Utility Management
- Principles of Water Department Finances
- Ethics for Water Professionals
- Security and Emergency Planning Workshop
Suggested training for the following roles: managers, supervisors, administrative staff
Track C: Customer Service
- A three-part customer service series -- sign up for one part or all three!
Suggested training for the following roles: anyone who works with the public, customer service and billing
Track D: Treatment & Supervision
- Management and Supervision
- Small Systems Limited Treatment 2-Day course
- Exam Prep: D & F Licenses
Suggested training for the following roles: operators pursuing certification and new supervisors
Open days in one track are a good chance to pick up a course from another!
- Distribution operator: Advanced Cross Connections (Tue), Asset Management & Capital Planning Workshop(Wed), Security & Emergency Planning Workshop (Thu), Distribution Exam Prep (Fri)
- Treatment operator: Management & Supervision or Advanced Cross Connections (Tue), Ethics (Wed) or Limited Treatment (Wed–Thu), Treatment Exam Prep (Fri)
- Manager or supervisor: Water Department Finances or Management & Supervision (Tue), Ethics (Wed), Security & Emergency Planning (Thu)
- Customer service or billing staff: Water Department Finances (Tue), Customer Service Series (Wed–Fri)
Schedule at a glance
Specifics about each course (times, lengths, and continuing education credits, etc.) will be provided on each registration page. Lunch is included with each full day registration.
Tuesday, March 23
- Track A: Distribution & Infrastructure
- Advanced Cross Connections (full day)
- Track B: Utility Management
- Principles of Water Department Finances (full day)
- Track D: Treatment & Supervision
- Management & Supervision (full day)
Wednesday, March 24
- Track A: Distribution & Infrastructure:
- Asset Management & Capital Planning Workshop (full day)
- Track B: Utility Management
- Ethics for Water Professionals (choose either morning or afternoon session)
- Track C: Customer Service
- Customer Service, Part 1 (full day)
- Track D: Treatment & Supervision
- Limited Treatment, Day 1 (full day, must attend both days)
Thursday, March 25
- Track B: Utility Management
- Security & Emergency Planning (full day)
- Track C: Customer Service
- Customer Service, Part 2 (full day)
- Track D: Treatment & Supervision
- Limited Treatment, Day 2 (full day, must attend both days)
Friday, March 26
- Track A: Distribution & Infrastructure
- Distribution License Exam Prep (full day)
- Track C: Customer Service
- Customer Service, Part 3 (full day)
- Track D: Treatment & Supervision
- Treatment License Exam Prep (full day)
[Course Catalog Coming Soon!]
Training is one of the most valuable investments a utility can make. Whether you're requesting approval to attend or deciding who to send, here's what Water Works School delivers.
Your employees return with:
- Knowledge they can apply on the job right away
- Current information on regulations and best practices
- Stronger technical and professional skills
- Solutions to real operational challenges
- New ideas and connections from peers across Michigan
Your utility gains:
- A more knowledgeable, capable workforce
- Support for regulatory compliance
- Future leaders, developed from within
- Stronger employee engagement and retention
- A culture of continuous learning
Invest in Your Team. Strengthen Your Utility.
Q: Can I register for more than one course?
Yes. Most people take one course per day across the week. You can register for as many as you would like — just avoid picking two courses that run at the same time.
Q: Can I send several people from my utility?
Absolutely! An operator, a supervisor, and an office staff member can attend the same week and each take courses that fit their role. Register everyone individually or all at once!
Q: Can I follow one track all week?
Yes. Each track runs in its own room with one course per day, so you can follow a single track Tuesday through Friday with no scheduling conflicts.
Q: Are there prerequisites for any course?
No. Every course at Michigan Water Works School 2027 is open to anyone who registers. Course descriptions note the intended audience so you can judge fit, but nothing is gated.
Q: Do I earn Continuing Education Credits or Professional Development Hours?
Yes — CECs available for courses and count toward Michigan operator license renewal are explicitly stated. Specific hour amounts will be posted once EGLE approval is confirmed. You will receive a digital certificate for each course you complete.
Q: Is lunch provided?
Yes! Lunch is provided. There is a scheduled break in the middle of each day.
Q: Why is Ethics for Water Professionals offered twice?
Ethics runs once in the morning and once in the afternoon so you can fit it around the rest of your day. The content is the same in both sessions; attend one.
Q: What does the DOL competency alignment mean for me?
Every course maps to the Water & Wastewater Industry Competency Model developed by AWWA, EPA, and WEF for the U.S. Department of Labor. Practically, it means the training you take is documented against a national standard — useful when justifying professional development to your board or building a career development plan.
Q: Do I need to be a MI-AWWA member to attend a training?
No, everyone is welcome. Members receive a discounted rate.
We're happy to help you pick the right courses for you or your team.
Hillary Caron, Director of Education & Workforce Training | hillary@mi-water.org
MI-AWWA Office | info@mi-water.org
