The Water Environment Federation has announced the 2016 WEF Award recipients. The water awards program recognizes individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the water environment profession, WEF and its member associations.

Recipients are nominated by their peers and recognized each year for various achievements within the following categories: education; published papers; individual service and contribution; organization and association recognition; and operational and design excellence.

“It is WEF’s great honor to recognize these outstanding water professionals who represent the diversity and depth of our water sector expertise and experience,” says WEF Executive Director Eileen O’Neill. “This year’s winners have joined a distinguished group of award-winning water professionals who have provided exceptional contributions to the water sector that help support and advance sustainable, smart water management.” 

The 2016 WEF Award recipients will be recognized during a ceremony at WEFTEC 2016, WEF’s annual technical exhibition and conference, next month in New Orleans.

The award recipients:

2016 WEF Awards Recipients Camp Applied Research Award
Kartik Chandran, New York Water Environment Association

Collection Systems Award
Phillip Hubbard, Virginia Water Environment Association

Eddy Wastewater Principles/Processes Medal
“EBPR Using Crude Glycerol: Assessing Process Resiliency and Exploring Metabolic Anomalies”, Erik R. Coats, Zachary T. Dobroth, and Cynthia K. Brinkman, WER, January 2015, v. 87, no. 1, pp. 68-79

Emerson Distinguished Service Medal
C. Dale Jacobson, Nebraska Water Environment Association

Fair Distinguished Engineering Educator Medal
Peter Fox, Arizona State University

Gascoigne Wastewater Treatment Plant Operational Improvement Medal
“Add it Up”, Chris Maher and Peter LeMontagne Water Environment & Technology April 2015, v. 27, no. 4, p. 59

Industrial Water Quality Achievement Award
ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Refinery

Innovative Technology Award
ODC system, Arvia Technology Ltd.

Media and Public Education Medal
Tom Horton Salisbury, Maryland 

Member Association Achievement Award
Kentucky-Tennessee Water Environment Association

Outstanding Member Association Award
New York Water Environment Association

Outstanding Young Water Environment Professional Award
Lauren Zuravnsky Virginia Water Environment Association

Public Communication and Outreach Program Awards

• Kenneth W. Burgener, Water Environment Association of Utah — Individual Category
• Hawaii Water Environment Association WEF — Member Association Category
• Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority — Other Category

Public Officials Award
George S. Hawkins, General Manager and CEO District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority

Rudolfs Industrial Waste Management Medal
“Effect of High Temperature Operations on Wastewater Treatment: Reviewing the Resilience of High Temperature Industrial Wastewater Treatment Systems Using Microbiological Population Studies and Kinetic Dynamics”, Malcolm Fabiyi and Asun Larrea, Proceedings of WEFTEC 2015

Schroepfer Innovative Facility Design Medal
Randall A. Wirtz, Strand Associates, Inc.

W. Wesley Eckenfelder Industrial Water Quality Lifetime Achievement Award
Kenneth N. Wood, Chesapeake Water Environment Association

Water for People Robert W. Hite Outstanding Leadership Award
Matt and Marlo Berg

Water Heroes Award
City of Columbia, South Carolina, Metro Wastewater Treatment Plant staff – James Foust, Ashley Dove, Adrian Martin and Brandon Wilcox

WEF Canham Graduate Studies Scholarship
Christine M. Dykstra, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Association of Water Professionals

WEF Project Excellence Award
Gresham, Oregon, Cogeneration Expansion Project

• Owner: City of Gresham
• Designer: Carollo Engineers
• Contractor: JRT Mechanical, Inc.

Groundwater Replenishment System Initial Expansion

• Owners: Orange County Water District and Orange County Sanitation District
• Designer: Black & Veatch Corporation
• Contractor: McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. Construction Manager: Parsons Corporation

WaterHub at Emory University

• Owner/Developer: Sustainable Water
• Sponsor: Emory University

WEF Safety Award
Glenbard Wastewater Authority, Glen Ellyn, Illinois

About WEF
The Water Environment Federation is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization of 33,000 individual members and 75 affiliated member associations representing water quality professionals around the world. Since 1928, WEF and its members have protected public health and the environment. As a global water sector leader, our mission is to connect water professionals; enrich the expertise of water professionals; increase the awareness of the impact and value of water; and provide a platform for water sector innovation. To learn more, visit www.wef.org.