Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Best Practices for the Water Sector Workforce

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) is a critical and growing need in the water sector. Utilities are taking a hard look internally at the health and well-being of their organizations and workforce. They are simultaneously rethinking how they engage with communities they serve and the suppliers with whom they do business. At present, there is little guidance to assist water sector organizations through the completion of DE&I assessments and integration of DE&I considerations into many facets of their organization – including recruiting, hiring practices, career progression, project prioritization, community outreach, and training.

The research team believes this project will benefit the water sector by:

- Evaluating DE&I approaches through a water utility lens

- Identifying best practices that are scalable and flexible

- Integrating internal and external facing DE&I efforts

The primary objective of this research is to elevate and amplify best practices for advancing DE&I in water utilities with the voice and understanding of the unique needs of the water sector.