People/Awards

Scott Gilbertson was hired as executive director of the Alexandria Lake Area Sanitary District in Minnesota. He replaces Bruce Nelson, who retired.

The Butman Township Wastewater Department received the Health and Safety Award (Small Facility category) from the Michigan Water Environment Association. Operated by SUEZ, the department has had no injuries or accidents since 2000.

The Pine Bluff (Arkansas) Wastewater Utility Boyd Point Treatment Facility received a Platinum Peak Performance Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies for nine straight years of 100 percent permit compliance.

Mat Braun was hired as the water/wastewater superintendent for the City of Gregory, South Dakota.

Josh Goodridge was hired as Trumbull County (Ohio) wastewater collection superintendent.

Robert Powelson was named chief executive of the National Association of Water Companies. In August 2017, Powelson was confirmed by the U.S. Senate for a seat on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The Oroville wastewater treatment plant was deemed outstanding for the fifth consecutive year by the Washington State Department of Ecology.

SouthWest Water Company’s Riverview plant was named Best Operated Wastewater Plant by the Alabama Water and Pollution Control Association (mechanical plant, 2.6 to 4.0 mgd). Certificates of Recognition went to the North Shelby facility (same category) and the Double Oak facility, now Shelby Ridge Utility Systems, (mechanical plant, less than 2.5 mgd).

Randy Koehn, water production manager, was chosen as public works employee of the quarter by the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico.

The Alderwood Water and Wastewater District of Lynnwood, Washington, won the 13th annual Best of the Best Tap Water Taste Test at the American Water Works Association Annual Conference and Exposition.

Illinois American Water’s Alton, Cairo and East St. Louis water treatment plants and their water-quality teams earned the Directors Award of Recognition from the Partnership for Safe Water for maintaining Phase III certification for 15 years.

The Cedar City (Utah) Employee Advisory Committee selected wastewater operator Jaden Benson as employee of the month for August. Benson oversees the plant’s dewatering and biosolids processes.

The Advancing Green Infrastructure Program in New Haven, Connecticut, received the 2018 Roy Family Award for Environmental Partnership from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. The public-private partnership has built hundreds of bioswales across the city to reduce pollution and flooding from stormwater runoff.

Bruce Hauk, Illinois American Water president, received the Corporate Leadership Award from the Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce.

Buckeye Water District No. 50 received the 2018 Water System of the Year North award for outstanding operation and maintenance from the Louisiana Rural Water Association.

Mike Kyle, executive director of the Lancaster Area Sewer Authority, received the 2018 Utility Leadership Excellence Award from the Pennsylvania Water Environment Association.

Del Rae Williams, mayor of Moorhead, Minnesota, received the Jack Murray Award from the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities. Williams led the coalition’s environmental efforts for the past several years by advocating increased state funding for municipal water treatment facilities and water-quality regulatory reform.

Diane Taniguchi-Dennis will succeed Bill Gaffi as the general manager of Clean Water Services, which covers the urban areas of Washington County, Oregon.

The Missouri American Water treatment plant in St. Joseph was named the Bernie F. Meyer Groundwater Treatment Plant in honor of former plant supervisor Bernard F. Meyer, who retired in June after serving for 37 years.

Events

Oct. 29-Nov. 1

Alaska Rural Water Association Training Conference, Sheraton Hotel & Spa, Anchorage, Alaska. Visit www.arwa.org.

Nov. 1

Missouri Water Environment Association Fall Technical Conference, Stoney Creek Inn, Columbia, Missouri. Visit www.mwea.org.

Nov. 4-7

AWWA-North Carolina Section Annual Conference, Raleigh Convention Center. Visit www.ncsafewater.org.

Nov. 5-9

Mexico Section AWWA Annual Conference, San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Visit www.awwa.org.

Nov. 7-8

Nebraska Section AWWA Annual Conference, Kearney, Nebraska. Visit www.awwaneb.org.

Nov. 7-9

Nebraska Water Environment Association and AWWA-Nebraska Section Joint Fall Conference, Younes Convention Center, Kearney, Nebraska. Visit www.nebwea.org.

Nov. 11-15

Water Quality Technology Conference and Exposition, Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel. Visit www.awwa.org.

Nov. 13-14

Kentucky-Tennessee Water Environment Association Wastewater Technology Conference, WKU Knicely Conference Center, Bowling Green, Kentucky. Visit www.kytnwea.org.

Nov. 15

New York Water Environment Association Asset Management Conference, Downtown Hilton, Albany, New York. Visit www.nywea.org.

Nov. 25-29

Florida Section AWWA Annual Conference, Omni Resort at Championsgate. Visit www.fsawwa.org.

Nov. 26-27

Canadian Stormwater Institute Conference, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Calgary, Alberta. Visit www.csic.wcwea.org.

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