Did you know the muddy Missouri River helps provide drinking water to nearly 10 million people? Imagine having a career where you help protect the water people use every single day to drink, cook, shower, swim, boat, and explore the outdoors. What if your future job combined science, environmental protection, field investigations, problem-solving, and real-world impact — all while helping protect rivers, wildlife, and entire communities?
Traci Lichtenberg, Water Quality & Environmental Compliance Manager at Missouri American Water, shares how a love for science and environmental issues led her into a career she never originally planned for — and now can’t imagine leaving. From testing drinking water quality and monitoring wastewater treatment systems to protecting aquatic ecosystems and responding to environmental emergencies, Traci explains how careers in water combine biology, chemistry, environmental science, policy, and teamwork to keep communities safe and healthy. She also shares how ongoing scientific research helps shape environmental laws and how her work helps protect fish, rivers, and wildlife from pollution every day.
Traci gives a behind-the-scenes look at the many sides of working in water and environmental compliance, from working in laboratories and exploring streams to presenting at conferences, using GIS mapping technology, collaborating with engineers and scientists, and solving environmental problems in the field. She also explains why communication, leadership, organization, and networking are some of the most important skills in the industry. Whether you enjoy science, environmental protection, hands-on fieldwork, problem-solving, or making a real difference in people’s lives, this presentation offers an exciting look into a career field that protects one of the most important resources on Earth: water.