People/Awards

The Water Environment Federation announced its 2017 WEF Fellows recipients:

• Eleanor Allen, Water For People, Denver.
• Rajendra Bhattarai, Austin (Texas) Water Utility.
• James Clark, Black & Veatch, Los Angeles.
• Paul Dombrowski, Woodard & Curran, Holyoke, Massachusetts.
• Al Goodman, CDM Smith, Pekin, Indiana.
• April Gu, Northeastern University, Boston.
• Ed McCormick, McCormick Strategic Water Management, Oakland, California.
• Sandra Ralston, Consensus LLC, Isle of Palms, South Carolina.
• Thomas Sigmund, Green Bay (Wisconsin) Metro Sewerage District.
• James E. Smith Jr., retired emeritus chair, Cincinnati.
• Daniel Zitomer, Marquette University, Milwaukee.

 
The Laughlin (Nevada) Water Resource Center received a Peak Performance Gold Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies.

For the seventh straight year, the town of Coupeville, Washington, received an Outstanding Wastewater Treatment Plant Award from the Washington Department of Ecology.

Dean Grant was hired as public works director for the city of Bowie, Texas.

Marie Prezioso was named executive director of the West Virginia Water Development Authority, which finances construction of local wastewater and water facilities.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York state leaders renamed Riverbank State Park in Harlem after retiring Assemblyman Herman “Denny” Farrell. The park sits atop a wastewater treatment facility; Farrell played a critical role in ensuring that the park was built.

The city of Williston, North Dakota, dedicated its $105 million wastewater treatment plant, which can handle a population of 60,000 and can be expanded if necessary.

The Forest Park Water Treatment Plant in Chalfont, Pennsylvania, received a five-year Presidents Award from the Partnership for Safe Water.

The State College Borough Water Authority received its 10th consecutive 2016 Area-Wide Optimization Award at the Water Works Operators’ Association of Pennsylvania conference.

The Mankato, Minnesota, Water Treatment Backwash Reclamation Project was named Project of the Year by the American Public Works Association. The project converted holding water tanks used in the water treatment process to reusable tanks.

The city of Valdosta, Georgia, named Walter “Darryl” Muse director of utilities. He brings nearly 25 years’ experience in water and wastewater system operation and management.

Water Treatment Plant 4 in Austin, Texas, was named the Berl Handcox Sr. Water Treatment Plant. The award is named for a former council member and the first African-American to serve on the dais.

Ronald Anderson passed his Rhode Island Grade 1 Wastewater Operator Exam, and he is currently an operator in training at the Cranston Water Pollution Control Facility.

The city of Norman topped eight other cities in the Oklahoma Water Pollution Control Association (OWPCA) annual Water Tasting Contest. The city advances to the next level of competition during the 2018 AWWA conference.

Norman also received several individual OWPCA awards:

• Robert Travis, Wastewater Collection System Technician of the year
• Veon Richmond, Darcey Award (Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator of the Year)
• Kellie Seeds, Wastewater Administrative Technician of the Year
• Dustin Cozard, Wastewater Operator Newcomer of the Year
• Scott Lewis, Water Plant Maintenance Technician of the Year
• Andy Bruehl, Water Plant Maintenance Supervisor of the Year
• Rachel Croft, Water Plant Lab Manager of the Year
• Tommy Martin, Water Distribution System Maintenance Technician of the Year
• Bennie Gilmore, Large Water Well System Operator of the Year
• Greg Apperson, Large Water Well System Maintenance Technician of the Year
• Clayton Herron, Stapley Award (Water Plant Operator of the Year)
• Mary Wray, Water System Administrative Technician of the Year

Events

Dec. 1 Waste-to-Energy Workshop: Improving the Feasibility of Small-Scale Digesters and CHP, West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Content will focus on small-scale organic waste-to-energy systems for farms, campuses, food processors, breweries and wastewater treatment plants. Visit www.wcuwastetoenergy.eventbrite.com.

Dec. 3-5 North American Water Loss Conference, Paradise Point Resort, San Diego. Visit www.northamericanwaterloss.org.

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