ReWa’s internship program receives national award
February 10, 2026
The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) awarded Renewable Water Resources (ReWa) a 2026 National Environmental Achievement Award (NEAA) for its Experience ReWa internship program.
The utility received the award during an awards ceremony on Feb. 3 at NACWA’s Winter Conference in Miami, Florida.
“Our Experience ReWa internship program succeeds because of partnerships across our community and because our employees are willing to share their expertise,” said Rebecca West, ReWa’s CEO. “We’re honored that NACWA has recognized this work. Developing the next generation of water professionals is a responsibility we take seriously, and we’re proud to share what we’ve learned with others.”
ReWa won the award in the NEAA’s workforce development category.
Experience ReWa aims to address the challenges of a shrinking talent pool and an aging workforce. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, an average of 10,700 openings are projected each year for the next 10 years for water and wastewater treatment operators.
ReWa’s internship program is for college students who work up to 29 hours a week for 10 weeks during the summer. It focuses on developing professional skills quickly through bi-weekly roundtables where interns discuss projects and build camaraderie. Interns also receive monthly performance reviews to track progress and opportunities for growth at the utility. Some of the training available to interns includes project management, professional communication and networking.
Since the launch of Experience ReWa in 2022, the program has achieved an average retention rate of 55% of its participants. Returning interns are given opportunities to propose projects for the utility’s continuous improvement program, and third-year interns participate in career readiness activities.
The program has become highly competitive, and interns are considered for departments across the utility, including operations, engineering, asset management, customer service, accounting, technology, human resources, resiliency, regulatory and environmental services and communications.
ABOUT RENEWABLE WATER RESOURCES (ReWa)
Since 1925, Renewable Water Resources (ReWa) has been committed to providing high-quality wastewater services to the Upstate of South Carolina while protecting public health, supporting environmental stewardship and sustaining our community. With nine water resource recovery facilities and more than 430 miles of pipe, ReWa serves Greenville County and portions of Anderson, Laurens, Pickens and Spartanburg counties. Each day, approximately 44 million gallons of water pass through ReWa’s system before being cleaned and safely returned to local rivers and streams.
