Definitions

What is Water and Wastewater Mentoring?

The Program is designed to assist water and wastewater public utilities as well as private entities meet regulatory requirements and address technical issues to ensure that the public health and environment are protected while instilling a high level of public confidence in the State's utilities.  Water and Wastewater Mentoring is the use of utility experts to help other individuals/entities improve their management and operational performance. The basic goal is to assist communities and private entities (mentees) improve their treatment processes, compliance issues and water quality standards-related issues.

Such help can range from being highly technical to simply increasing awareness of different options. The mentor facilitates learning through instructing, coaching, modeling and advising.

Why Be a Mentor?

Mentoring is a way of bringing a mentor and a mentee together in a non-threatening setting at low risk, low cost and effective means. Mentors get to share their technical and management expertise with individuals and facilities that do not have the resources to get the needed training or experience. The goal is to achieve improved drinking water and water quality statewide as well as protecting Colorado's public health and environment.

Benefits of Mentoring for the Mentee

The mentee receives technical and managerial expertise from an experienced individual or facility without having to learn by trial and error resulting in lower risk and lower cost. The mentee also has a source to turn to for advice and suggestions that can frequently save his or her facility money.

Benefits of Mentoring for the Mentor

The benefits to a mentor or facility are: they become recognized as a leader by the public and regulators, and they become more proficient in finding ways to improve their own facility. Mentoring can also improve employee morale and satisfaction (required for the State of Colorado's Leadership Awards Program).

Water Mentor

A water mentor is an expert in the field of water treatment and distribution.

Wastewater Mentor

A wastewater mentor is an expert in the field of water treatment and collection systems.

Why Be a Mentee?

There is a wealth of expertise in Colorado utilities.  Why not use it?  It's free!  At the same time, there are issues and problems that need to be solved.  As a mentee you can get the help in a confidential way.  Mentees receive technical and managerial expertise from experts (mentors) without having to learn by trial and error, resulting in lower risk and lower cost.