PR Newswire·Oct 28, 2026, 5:54 PM ET

Five Years of Water UP! Builds Pathways to Water Utility Careers

New Jersey American Water celebrated the fifth graduating class of its Water UP! workforce development program on October 28, 2026, at its Camden headquarters.
The 2026 cohort consisted of 10 graduates, bringing the total number of Water UP! graduates to 61 since the program launched in 2021.
The 10-week curriculum provided participants with classroom instruction, professional development, field experiences, \& hands-on training covering financial literacy, customer service, leadership, OSHA training, \& utility operations.
Hopeworks partnered with New Jersey American Water to support recruitment \& workforce readiness for the 2026 cohort, continuing a collaboration established in 2021.
Several graduates in the 2026 class are Camden residents, highlighting the program's focus on creating local career opportunities.
Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen praised the partnership between the city, the utility, \& community partners for supporting young adults in the region.
Graduate Mia Morales stated that the program equipped her with skills to enter the utility field, including water meter installation, water main repair, resume building, \& networking.
American Water is the largest regulated water utility in the US with 140 years of history in 2026, serving approximately 14 million people across 14 states.
New Jersey American Water is the state's largest regulated utility, employing approximately 875 people to serve about 3 million residents.