Watering the Black Roses in Your Garden: A Workforce Development Initiative

The water industry is at a crossroads, facing an aging workforce, a lack of diversity, and challenges in attracting and retaining young talent. Without deliberate efforts to address these gaps, the industry risks further disparities in leadership, representation, and workforce sustainability. "Watering the Black Roses in Your Garden" is a workforce development initiative designed to showcase the experiences, challenges, and successes of Black professionals in the water industry through mentorship, sponsorship, and storytelling.

This project aims to highlight the career trajectories of Black water professionals, explore the impact of mentorship and sponsorship, and provide actionable strategies to improve workforce diversity and inclusion. Through interviews, data analysis, and personal narratives, the initiative will elevate voices that have historically been underrepresented while providing tools for organizations to invest in a more inclusive future.


The Problem: Lack of Diversity & Workforce Challenges in the Water Industry

A 2018 Brookings Report underscores the urgent need for greater racial and gender diversity in the water workforce, citing an aging employee base and barriers to entry for underrepresented communities. The report highlights:

  • Thousands of water professionals will retire in the coming years, creating a critical workforce gap.

  • Black and Asian workers make up only 11.5% of the workforce, with even fewer in leadership roles.

  • Only 14.9% of water industry employees are women, signaling a need for broader inclusivity efforts.

While workforce development efforts exist, many fail to account for the unique challenges faced by Black professionals, particularly regarding access to mentorship and sponsorship opportunities. This project seeks to amplify their voices and uncover solutions that ensure career growth and equitable opportunities.

Survey Results

The following section presents the key findings from our survey, which captures the experiences, challenges, and opportunities of Black professionals in the water industry. These insights highlight the impact of mentorship, sponsorship, career advancement barriers, and workforce representation within the sector.

📊 Each data point is visualized below, providing a clearer picture of the current landscape and areas for improvement.

🔹 Scroll down to explore the full survey results and data-driven insights! ⬇️

Racial Identity

100% of respondents identified as Black, African American, or of African descent.
This confirms that the survey reflects the experiences and insights of Black professionals in the industry, ensuring culturally relevant findings.

Careel Level Distrubution

This data shows that most respondents (69%) are in leadership or management roles, highlighting the presence of experienced professionals in the field.

Education level

A highly educated workforce, with 83% holding at least a bachelor’s degree, demonstrates strong academic preparation among respondents.

Age Distribution

The majority (63%) are between 36-55 years old, indicating that the surveyed workforce is largely mid-career professionals with significant industry experience.

Income Levels

A significant portion (81%) earn more than $70,000 annually, reinforcing that the surveyed professionals have established careers with competitive salaries.

Mentorship Experience

79% of respondents have had at least one mentor in their careers.
💡 Mentorship is a widely utilized tool for career development among Black professionals, with only 19% never having had a mentor.

Importance of Mentorship

96% believe mentorship is very important for Black professionals.
💡 There is near-universal agreement on the value of mentorship, emphasizing the need for structured mentorship programs in the industry.

Impact of Mentorship

The majority found mentorship beneficial, but some mixed or neutral experiences indicate room for improvement in mentorship quality and effectiveness.

Barriers to Mentorship

41% of respondents found mentorship difficult to access.
💡 Despite recognizing mentorship’s value, many face barriers in securing mentors, highlighting a need for more accessible mentorship opportunities.

Importance of Sponsorship

70% believe sponsorship is very important for Black professionals.
💡 While slightly lower than mentorship, sponsorship is still seen as a critical factor for career advancement

Impact of Sponsorship

💡 Unlike mentorship, sponsorship had less impact, with half of respondents stating it had no effect on their career advancement.

Barriers to Sponsorship

52% of respondents struggled to secure sponsorship.
💡 This suggests that while sponsorship is recognized as valuable, access to sponsors remains a major challenge for Black professionals in the field.

Mentorship & Sponsorship as a Combined Success Factor

67% believe both mentorship and sponsorship are essential for Black professionals.
💡 This data underscores the importance of structured career support systems that include both mentorship and sponsorship opportunities.