Expanding the Crew: Why Groundwater’s Future Depends on Welcoming Women

It starts with simple, deliberate actions by company leadership.

By Katy Anderson

Ask almost any contractor, manufacturer, or supplier in the groundwater industry today what keeps them up at night, and the answer is rarely equipment failure or material costs. It’s labor.

Every week, shops and field operations face the same harsh reality: Seasoned drillers and master pump installers are reaching retirement, taking decades of irreplaceable field knowledge with them. Meanwhile, service trucks sit idle and rig schedules stretch months into the backlog simply because there aren’t enough hands to do the work.

We constantly ask where the next generation of workers will come from, yet our industry often searches for talent within the exact same narrow demographics it has relied upon for the last half-century.

If we are serious about sustaining our trade, we must confront an undeniable truth: Groundwater can no longer afford to be a male-only space. In an era marked by critical workforce shortages, overlooking half of the potential talent pool isn’t just an outdated habit, it is a costly business mistake.

Today’s Required Skillset for Groundwater Professionals

For decades, the perception of groundwater work was defined by pure physical grit.

While field operations will always demand toughness and resilience, modern drilling and water systems work has evolved dramatically.

Today’s jobsites have evolved to more advanced hydraulics, automated rod-handling, digital diagnostics, and hydrogeologic modeling. Modern success in the field hinges on mechanical aptitude, precision, safety awareness, problem-solving, and client communication just as much as muscle.

Women are not only capable of mastering these roles, but they are also already doing so. Across the country, women are operating rigs, diagnosing pump controls, managing field crews, running environmental remediation projects, and directing multi-million-dollar supply and contracting firms.

Their presence is not an anomaly; it is proof of what is possible when barriers are removed.

Broadening our recruitment efforts to include women also delivers tangible operational benefits. Diverse teams bring varied approaches to problem-solving, risk management, and workplace safety. In an industry where one careless move can lead to severe injury, a team culture that prioritizes clear communication and disciplined protocol over bravado directly protects the bottom line.

Attracting more women to our trade does not require reinventing how we drill water wells or install infrastructure. It starts with simple, deliberate actions by company leadership:

• Rethinking Job Postings: Evaluate your recruitment language. Focus on problem-solving, mechanical interest, and trainability rather than assumptions about who typically applies.
• Basic Jobsite Practicalities: Provide properly fitting PPE, gloves, and safety vests rather than handing out oversized men’s gear. See to it jobsites have access to private, clean sanitation facilities—a fundamental standard that benefits every member of the crew.
• Cultivating Active Mentorship: When women enter the trades, isolation can be their greatest challenge. Pairing new hires with seasoned mentors fosters long-term retention and confidence.

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We cannot afford to wait around passively for female candidates to stumble into our industry by accident. As business owners, superintendents, and industry advocates—we must actively open the door!

Groundwater provides vital, life-sustaining infrastructure to communities across the globe. It offers honorable, well-paying careers with lifelong stability.

It is time to make sure our recruitment strategies match the modern demands of our trade. Let us build crews that reflect the strength, the ingenuity, and the future of our entire workforce.

Katy Anderson is vice president of commercial operations at Drilling Equipment Resources. Anderson is co-chair of NGWA’s Advancing Women in Groundwater leadership team and 2026 recipient of the Association’s Special Recognition Award. She serves as executive director of the Oklahoma Ground Water Association and can be reached at katy@drillingequipmentresources.com.