Each year, CWEA asks its members to share their perspectives through the annual Membership Survey. This is an opportunity for operators, engineers, lab analysts, pretreatment specialists, and countless others to shape the future of their professional association. This year, 1,178 members completed the survey, marking our third consecutive year of achieving a response rate above 10%. The consistency of participation provides a solid foundation for understanding how the association is evolving and where it is delivering the greatest value.
Members have consistently told us that CWEA is a strong, stable, and continuously improving association with deep roots in the profession and an expanding pipeline of new voices joining the field. Six years of trend data show a community that is learning, adapting, and preparing for the future…together.
One of the most encouraging long-term trends is the steady influx of new professionals into CWEA. In 2021–2023, only about 10% of survey respondents had been members for fewer than two years. Today, that number has more than doubled to 21%. At the same time, the share of long‑term members (10+ years) has gradually decreased from roughly 50% in early survey cycles to 38% this year.
This shift mirrors what many leaders have observed in their agencies, a wave of retirements is reshaping the workforce. Yet the data also show that new operators, technicians, and emerging leaders are stepping in, using CWEA as an early source of training, connection, and confidence.
Across all six years, the professions represented in the survey have remained remarkably stable. Collection systems (26%), plant operations (12%), laboratory work (11%), and engineering (11%) continue to anchor the association’s professional identity. This consistency helps CWEA tailor programming to a core set of technical needs while supporting emerging fields through new training and certification pathways.
Members have been remarkably consistent about what they value most from CWEA. At the top of the list every year is training and education. Whether through webinars, conferences, workshops, or certifications, professional development continues to be a central reason members maintain their affiliation.
This year, 69% of members participated in a CWEA educational program or webinar; the most common form of engagement for six years running. Attendance at local section meetings, tours, and workshops remains steady as well.
These multi-year trends reinforce what members often tell us directly: CWEA is their primary source for staying current with regulations, technology, and best practices.
Across six years of survey data, member satisfaction has been remarkably stable:
These numbers have held steady across regulatory changes, retirements, shifting budgets, and increased workplace demands. That kind of consistency signals an association delivering reliable, predictable, high‑quality value year after year.
Certification remains one of CWEA’s most trusted professional offerings. About 65% of this year’s respondents hold at least one CWEA certification, a pattern that has held for several years. Even more striking, 71% of those certificate holders rate their certification as “extremely” or “very” valuable, a two‑year recovery from a dip in perception seen in 2023.
Interest in pursuing new certifications is also strong, with 28% of respondents currently working toward their next milestone. Collection Systems continues to lead the way as the most commonly pursued certification, with members also indicating interest in lab analysis, E&I, pretreatment, and water sector certifications.
Employer support remains robust:
The long-term consistency of these trends demonstrates that CWEA certification is not just a credential—it is a recognized, employer-supported standard across the industry.
While a majority of members (73%) have not yet volunteered with CWEA, interest in getting involved is growing. This year, 30% of non‑volunteers said they would be interested in volunteering—a promising sign for future leadership pipelines.
Just as important, among those who have volunteered, 79% report satisfaction with their volunteer experience. Many members reported volunteering as event speakers, moderators, facilitators, committee members, or local section board members.
This enthusiasm highlights the value of community-building and mentorship within CWEA, core qualities that help sustain professional excellence statewide.
Across six years of survey results, members consistently raise similar concerns about the profession:
While these concerns reflect the realities of the broader sector, they also underscore the importance of CWEA’s mission. Members look to the association to offer training, create networking opportunities, support workforce development pathways, and help the profession stay ahead of emerging regulatory and technological changes.
Six years of membership survey data reveal a powerful story: CWEA is delivering consistent value while evolving to meet the needs of a changing workforce. The association is attracting new professionals, supporting long-term members, and providing widely recognized, widely used training and certification programs throughout the state.
Members trust CWEA, participate actively, and rely on the association to support their learning, growth, and professional identity. Even during periods of transition in the water and wastewater fields, CWEA’s stability and responsiveness remain defining strengths.
As one member put it in this year’s survey comments:
“CWEA helps us stay connected—to each other, to new ideas, and to the future of our profession.”
That is the story these six years of data tell as well. CWEA is not just an association. It is a community…growing, learning, and leading together.
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