Worth Noting - May 2026

People/Awards

• The New Glarus Wastewater Treatment Plant received a 2025 Outstanding Performance of a Facility award from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
• The City of Rockland, Maine, received the 2025 U.S. EPA Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Operation and Maintenance Excellence Award.
• The Atlantic County (New Jersey) Utilities Authority received a 2026 National Environmental Achievement Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies for its microplastics removal project, developed in partnership with PolyGone Systems.
• Patrick Beane was named director of the Des Moines (Iowa) Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority.
• Randy Smith II was named water resources director for the city of Morganton, North Carolina, succeeding Brad Boris, who retired.
• Alicia Giddens was named director of the Cobb (Georgia) Water System in Georgia, after more than 30 years with the organization, most recently as deputy director.
• Jeffrey Dorell, chief chemist at the city of Lawton (Oklahoma) Water Treatment Plant, received a True North Award from the city for exemplifying the city’s principles.
• Paul Glover, wastewater treatment operator for the Startex-Jackson-Wellford-Duncan Water District, was named 2025 Water Environment Association of South Carolina Water Treatment Operator of the Year for the Blue Ridge Foothills District.
• The City of Tuscaloosa’s Jerry Plott and Ed Love Water Treatment Plants received Area-Wide Optimization Program awards from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management and the U.S. EPA.
• The Stearns County Conservation District received the annual Ecological and Water Resources Division Appreciation Award from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
• Water industry veteran Marina West was named president of the Mojave (California) Water Agency board of directors.
• New Port Richey (Florida) public works director Robert Rivera retired after 35 years of service.
• Russel Chambers retired from his position as manager of the Leesburg (Virginia) Water Treatment Plant. He worked for the community for 30 years, including 14 as manager.
• Carlos J. Galvan Jr., general manager of the Laguna Madre (Texas) Water District, retired after nearly 40 years of service, starting on the water plant floor.
• Kristina Budak, director of the Bakersfield (California) Water Resources Department, retired.