About the Project:
In partnership with the National Park Service (NPS), Stewards Individual Placements has developed a Water Lab & Utility Shop program to train participants in water treatment and wastewater management. This program, run through the Historic Preservation Training Center (HPTC), equips participants with essential skills in maintaining NPS facilities and gives them industry-relevant skills in public health and safety. Through the program, eight members have earned their state water operator licenses and have transitioned into employment in water trades. The program serves as an example of how Corps train and guide young people into impactful and sought-after careers.
Impact on NPS:
Over the past two seasons, the Water Lab & Utility Shop program participants have served at twelve different National Park Service sites. Among those sites are Rocky Mountain National Park, Mesa Verde, and Death Valley. Participants work directly alongside NPS water operators to perform system readings, conduct laboratory tests, assist with maintenance, and support emergency repairs across park facilities. Their work helps ensure that park water systems are functioning correctly, safely, and in compliance with regulatory standards. Corpsmembers are able to have a direct impact by keeping facilities operational for the millions of annual visitors to the park sites. While the work focuses on contemporary drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, by ensuring that the systems are safe and reliable, members support visitor experiences, protect public health, and continue the American tradition of stewardship of public lands and historic sites.
Ruby Carman-Frank, who served at Mesa Verde National Park, shared about her service term:
“…there were a variety of projects that I worked on, as well as the everyday tasks that are needed to keep the water running in the park every day. Some of the big projects that I got to work on were testing backflow valves throughout the whole park to prevent leaks, switching the park’s water source from the Mancos River to Jackson Reservoir, and conducting repairs to the water treatment plant. Our goal was to maintain a successful water and wastewater system, which we did, and the service we provided impacted how successful the park could be in providing a safe and good experience for the patron.”
Impact on Corpsmembers:
Participating Corpsmembers leave the Water Lab & Utility Shop program with experience and skills in a field that many had never previously heard of or considered. New doors are opened for many, and members consistently share that they left the program with a clear career direction.
Katherine Mangione, who served at Point Reyes National Seashore, shared:
“As the National Park System strives to protect and maintain the environments it covers, my work learning to operate the water systems in these natural landscapes allows visitors to come to the parks safely and recreationally. The safety of the visitors and occupants of the park is our first priority and allows the rest of park operations to run smoothly. After this internship ends, I will be transitioning to a federal position at Point Reyes National Seashore assisting with water operations in the maintenance department! I am so grateful for this experience with Stewards allowing me to build this relationship with the NPS.”
The program has proven to serve as a direct pipeline to employment with NPS, with several members being hired by NPS after their service term. Others have used their internships to gain further certifications and connect with a nationwide network of water professionals. By the end of 2026, the current cohort of members will have served approximately 9,500 service hours and, so far this season, have collected a combined 1,200 water samples, and monitored 97 waterways across ten national park sites.
Stewards Individual Placements program directors share that, though some might assume that working in drinking water and wastewater is dirty work, members report overwhelmingly positive experiences. They note that not only are Corpsmembers satisfied by their experience, but the mentors they are working under are satisfied as well. Stewards shares that pairing members with certified water operators who can serve as mentors has helped expand Corpsmembers’ exposure to technical tasks and guided them in their professional development. Many members who began with no prior experience leave fully licensed and ready to begin their careers.
Program director Jessica Zukowski stated, “The project is a testament to the adaptable nature of Corps, even in the face of headwinds, to foster new connections and facilitate opportunities for national service.”
