Newport News Citizen Water Academy Launches This Fall
Inaugural six-week program offers public a rare look inside regional water system
A new opportunity is flowing to residents this fall as Newport News Waterworks launches its first-ever Citizen Water Academy—a free, six-week program designed to give the public a behind-the-scenes understanding of the region’s drinking water system.
Set to begin in October, the academy will meet on Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, culminating in a graduation ceremony in mid-November. It is open to residents 18 years and older living in the Waterworks service area, which includes Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson, York County, and the Lightfoot section of James City County. Space is limited to just 20 participants, and applications open August 1.
The academy will take participants on a journey through every stage of water delivery, from protected watershed lands to treatment plants, underground infrastructure, and customer service centers. Through expert-led tours and hands-on activities, participants will learn how raw water is transformed into safe, clean drinking water and delivered through more than 17,000 miles of pipe to over 410,000 residents. They’ll also explore the science of water treatment, emergency repair procedures, infrastructure logistics, and the financial and strategic planning that ensures uninterrupted service.
One session will take participants into the forests and protected lands that serve as the source of the region’s water, providing insight into how Waterworks manages 12,000 acres of land to balance conservation, recreation, and reforestation. Another will focus on treatment methods, including coagulation, filtration, and ozone disinfection, all of which are part of the complex process at facilities like the Lee Hall Water Treatment Plant.
Attendees will also witness live demonstrations of emergency response efforts and repair operations, hear from customer service and billing teams, and gain a deeper understanding of how the utility maintains its vast distribution network and adapts to future challenges. In the final session, Waterworks leadership will share future goals and engage participants in a discussion about the importance of public involvement and long-term planning.
Newport News Waterworks, the public utility behind the academy, provides drinking water to over 410,000 people across the Peninsula. Owned and operated by the City of Newport News, the department has a longstanding mission to support public health, safety, and environmental sustainability. Its director, Dr. Yann A. Le Gouellec, emphasizes that “informed citizens make the best advocates,” underscoring the academy’s role in building community understanding and trust.
According to the utility’s Summer 2025 newsletter, Waterworks continues to make major investments in its aging infrastructure, with a nearly $280 million Capital Improvement Plan currently underway. Projects include dam safety enhancements, treatment upgrades, and improvements to distribution systems—all funded without increasing customer rates, which have remained unchanged since 2017. The department is also updating its strategic plan and working to improve customer support, including through partnerships like the one recently formed with PromisePay to assist households facing financial difficulty.
With this new initiative, Newport News Waterworks invites the public to take a closer look at the people and processes behind the tap—and to walk away not only informed, but inspired. Residents interested in learning more about the Citizen Water Academy are encouraged to apply online beginning August 1.
A Newport News Daily contributor produced this post using AI tools and these primary sources:
Citizen Water Academy
Video - Citizen Water Academy
Waterworks Department website
STRAIGHT from the TAP Newsletter