Prince William Water and Prince William County Government Receive Water Equity Network Certificate of Achievement

WOODBRIDGE, VA, August 18, 2026 — Prince William Water and its community partners within Prince William County Government recently received a Certificate of Achievement from the U.S. Water Alliance’s Water Equity Network for an innovative new Pre-Apprenticeship Program that advances workforce development in Prince William County.

The award recognizes Prince William Water and its partners: the Gang Response Intervention Team (GRIT), Prince William-Manassas Adult Detention Center and the Prince William County Office of Community Safety, for their collaborative efforts to create the program.

The Pre-Apprenticeship Program prepared participants for careers in the water and wastewater industry through a comprehensive nine-week training experience. Participants received classroom training, Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) certification, and on-the-job training across multiple departments at Prince William Water.

The training included courses taught by the Maryland College of Environmental Technology and Prince William Water staff. The Pre-Apprenticeship Program was designed to increase equitable access to stable, skilled careers in the water sector and support individuals who may not pursue a four-year degree or are seeking re-entry into the workforce. It provided paid, hands-on opportunities for community members to learn more about the water and wastewater industry in preparation for entering the workforce. All partner organizations played critical roles in co-developing the program, which wrapped up on August 14.

“This was a true partnership in every sense,” said Shailaja Poluru, Director of People and Talent at Prince William Water. “Everyone contributed—from program development and outreach to candidate support. The recognition belongs to all of us.”

"Community safety is about more than responding to challenges. It's about creating opportunities that help people build stable, successful futures," said Dr. Tauheeda Yasin, Director of the Prince William County Office of Community Safety. "This program opens the door to meaningful careers while strengthening our community and our workforce. We're proud to partner with Prince William Water, GRIT and the Prince William-Manassas Adult Detention Center to help participants take that next step."

The program took approximately two years to develop and implement. In 2024, Prince William Water joined the Water Equity Network’s Workforce Development Task Force, which has water and wastewater utility membership from across the country and encourages members to create workforce development programs. After weighing options, Prince William Water officially partnered with GRIT, the Prince William-Manassas Adult Detention Center and Prince William County Office of Community Safety. 

Prince William Water developed the program’s curriculum, while the Office of Community Safety and GRIT helped recruit participants, conduct outreach and support the selection process. The partners are exploring expanding the program in future years to include additional training and certifications.

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Prince William Water has been providing drinking water and water reclamation services for Prince William County since 1983.