Waters has a bachelor of science in biology, and a master of science and PhD degrees in entomology from Washington State University (WSU). Since 2006, he has been a faculty member in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Unit of WSU Extension as well as an affiliate faculty member in the Entomology and Horticulture Departments of WSU. Waters works with commercial vegetable producers in the Columbia Basin where he focuses on integrated pest management issues on crops including: potato, onion, carrot, sweet corn, watermelon, beans, peanut, sweet potato, pepper, peas, beets, cabbage, and hybrid poplar. He conducts applied research in numerous disciplines including entomology, weed science, plant pathology, soil and foliar fertility, cultivar evaluations, and irrigation management to address industry needs.