With the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and DC Water’s announcement that 46 individuals completed a new job programme that provides training and certification in construction, inspection, and maintenance of green infrastructure, more than a hundred individuals from Baltimore, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C., have now completed the training and earned certifications under the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP) in 2017.
The NGCIP, developed by WEF, DC Water, and a group of municipal partners from across the United States (U.S.) over the past year, is a fast-growing approach to reduce stormwater pollution, is an approach to stormwater management that mimics the natural water cycle and can include green roofs, pervious pavement, rain gardens, rain barrels, and other approaches.
Designed to meet international best practice standards, the certification will promote a skilled green workforce, help streamline the process of connecting qualified talent to in-demand jobs, support community-based job creation in U.S. cities, as well as establish national standards for professionals seeking to work on green infrastructure projects.
“The overwhelming interest in the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program has confirmed the need to train people to work in this growing segment of the water sector,” WEF Executive Director, Eileen O’Neill, said. “Through the program we have a tremendous opportunity to promote the implementation of green infrastructure projects and develop a skilled workforce for the betterment of our communities, economy, and environment.”
The NGICP is intended to verify that all trainees have a standard set of skills and abilities, which will make those workers more valuable and marketable if they choose to work in other parts of the nation. Additional pilot NGICP training will be held in the fall of 2017, with exams in November, and the programme is projected to roll out nationally in 2018.
“We are preparing a workforce for the jobs we know are coming to support green infrastructure projects here in the District of Columbia and across the nation,” George Hawkins, CEO and General Manager of DC Water, added. “Armed with the training and skills this program provides, these certificants will blaze a trail that many more will follow.”
