LCA Internship Program Helps Students Dive Into Fulfilling Careers

(Above, LCA’s 2025 interns pose for a photo at the Allentown Water Filtration Plant. Back, from left: Grace Trautwein, Caitlin Kirk. Front, from left: Max Moser, Nick Rivera, Aidan Brown, and Logan Statler.)

When Caitlin Kirk joined Lehigh County Authority’s internship program, she had no idea how much interdisciplinary knowledge the day-to-day processes of water and wastewater treatment requires. “I was surprised by how much chemistry, biology, and environmental science played a role in designing and operating these systems,” she says.  

Kirk, a junior at King’s College in Wilkes Barre, is one of six students selected for LCA’s internship program, now in its second year. “It’s been incredibly valuable to see how the water and wastewater world operates, opening my eyes to a potential future career,” she says.

Lead by Director of Plant Operations Andrew Moore, the 2-year-old program was “developed to raise awareness about the water and wastewater industry and to attract individuals who may not have otherwise considered it as a career path,” Moore says. “As an industry, we’re facing a significant workforce transition, with an expected turnover of nearly 30% in the coming years. Recognizing this challenge, LCA created the program to help build a pipeline of future water professionals.” 

A Focus on the Environment

Most interns are from surrounding colleges and universities, or live near LCA facilities, Moore says. The program begins each  year in June, and focuses on candidates pursuing degrees in chemistry, biology, and engineering, he says, but the pool also includes “anyone willing to learn more, who is interested in public health and the environment.” Interns are typically juniors or seniors, but recent graduates have also been accepted into the program. Last year the program hosted five interns; this year it has six.

“Overall, we make selections based off exposure to laboratory experience or engineering/mechanical interest.  The industry has a lot to offer, so we do not strictly limit the selections based off skills or degrees,” he says. 

Most interns work in the laboratory, operations, and engineering departments at both the water and wastewater plants. “The laboratories always seem to be the most exciting for the interns, but it is really dependent upon the individual,” Moore says.  

It’s been incredibly valuable to see how the water and wastewater world operates, opening my eyes to a potential future career.

Asset Management Intern Max Moser, who’s transferring in the fall from Northampton Community College to Penn State University Berks, says his favorite component of the intern experience “has been gaining full exposure to the plants. I’ve really enjoyed observing the various systems and processes, learning how they function individually, and understanding how they all work together to support the facility … I can absolutely see myself pursuing a career in the water and wastewater industry. I’d love to work as a mechanical engineer, contributing to the design, maintenance, and optimization of treatment systems and infrastructure.”

Interns are thrown into the daily work mix of employees, and each intern is also assigned a project or projects to work on throughout the summer. Projects may include process optimization, regulatory data gathering, and asset management.  Each intern is assigned to a direct manager, whom they work with on a routine basis.  “The manager will provide feedback and guidance on daily work, projects, and general career advice,” Moore says. “If there are openings with LCA that they are qualified for, the goal is to have them apply and bring them on board.”  

Dream Jobs Just Ahead

Intern Logan Statler,  a senior at Pennsylvania College of Technology, says  the program has  provided valuable insights into the role cybersecurity plays at treatment plants. “I could 100% see myself working in the water/wastewater industry as part of the IT team, specifically a systems administrator or even a network administrator,” he says. 

Kutztown University senior Nick Rivera praised the support that interns receive. “Every person here sees me as an important piece to improving our operations, which in turn allows me to put my full effort into my work every day,” he says.

“There’s such a rich variety of people involved at every step, from operators to lab techs to engineers, and learning about how each person plays a key role in achieving the goals we have here has been beyond interesting … With my background in environmental science and geology, my dream job would be something in the realm of environmental compliance or a groundwater specialist,” he says. 

If you know a college student  who might be interested in learning firsthand about the water and wastewater industries, watch for the 2026 program announcement on our website and the Handshake app.

“We have a phenomenal group of interns this summer,” says LCA CEO Liesel Gross. “It has been incredible to share this experience with them, as they learn about all the opportunities to work in the water industry, and we learn from them about their interests and career goals. I hope we’ll see all of them back at LCA after they finish their studies!”