People/Awards 

Belinda Sturm, Ph.D., a professor in the University of Kansas Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, received the 2022 Paul L. Busch Award from the Water Research Foundation. With this $100,000 research prize, she will assess how the physical, chemical and biological properties of aerobic granular sludge affect the removal of pathogens and microplastics from wastewater.

Plymouth Village Water and Sewer District received the 2022 Asset Management Award from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. The award encourages communities to adopt holistic, cost-effective approaches to manage total infrastructure systems over the life cycle of assets.

For the 18th consecutive year, the Fremont Wastewater Treatment Plant received the Scott Wilbur Award for outstanding operation and maintenance from the Nebraska Water Environment Association.

The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission’s Seneca Water Resource Recovery Facility received the Project Excellence Award from the Water Environment Federation and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies. 

Seattle’s Shape Our Water Community Vision received a 2022 WEF Public Communication and Outreach Program Award. 

The Idaho Rural Water Association earned the 2022 State Association of the Year Award from the National Rural Water Association. 

Seattle Public Utilities received a 2022 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence from the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies.

Oliver Grievson of Z-Tech Control Systems received the Outstanding Contribution Award at the WWEM Water, Wastewater and Environmental Monitoring Conference and Exhibition.

Prairielands Groundwater Conservation District in Cleburne received the Texas Rain Catcher Award in the government category from the Texas Water Development Board.

Emporia was honored for best-tasting water by the Kansas Water Environment Association and Kansas Section AWWA. 

The Ricky L. Miller Water Treatment Plant in the Town of Boone received a Gold Star honor for the North Carolina Area Wide Optimization Award from the North Carolina Division of Water Resources. 

The Falmouth Water Department received the 2022 Massachusetts Water Works Association Community Award.

Sandy O’Neill, a chemist at the Rock Island (Iowa) Water Treatment Plant, retired after 34 years of service.

Mark Soucy, water/wastewater director for Fort Kent, Maine, retired after 25 years of service.     

Events

Feb. 1

AWWA How to Use the Effective Utility Management Framework to Improve Your Utility webinar. Visit www.awwa.org.  

Feb. 6-8

New York Water Environment Association Annual Meeting, NYC Marriott Marquis. Visit www.nywea.org.  

Feb. 7-9

Hawaii Water Environment Association 2023 Pacific Water Conference, Hawaii Convention Center. Visit www.hwea.org.  

Feb. 14-16

Evergreen Rural Water of Washington 2023 Annual Conference and Trade Show, Hilton Vancouver Washington. Visit www.erwow.org.  

Feb. 15

AWWA Water Sector Compensation, Retirement and Benefits Trends webinar. Visit www.awwa.org.  

Feb. 20-22

Iowa Rural Water Association Annual Conference, Veterans Memorial Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center, Des Moines. Visit www.iowaruralwater.org.  

Feb. 20-23

AWWA Membrane Technology Conference 2023, Knoxville (Tennessee) Convention Center. Visit www.awwa.org.  

Feb. 27 - March 3

Rural Water Association of Utah Annual Conference, The Dixie Center, St. George. Visit www.rwau.net.