Award Program 2022

Awards Program

In memory Please join WEAT and TAWWA in remembering these water professionals who died since we last met in 2019.

Tommy O’Brien Larry Barkman Reggie Glover Chase Baromeo Robert Gooch Herbert Peake Bink Green Rao Ratnala Lionel Bland Michael Joseph Rolen Damein Brocato A. Lee Head Edgar A. Jeffrey Thomas Sanders John Carman Robert Shindler Curtis Carrigan Steven Lee Johnson Brad Castleberry Thomas Klein Gene Shull Kenneth Lattig Tommy Tabor Richard Carl Chapman Alan V. Thompson Walter Chiang David Lewis Vonda Todd Todd Longerbeam Kenneth Clark Carmon McCain Rudy Valdez Gerald Cosgrove Robert P. Van Dyke Riley Crocker Will McDonald Tony Vega Gary McNiel Rogelio Cuellar John Minahan Robert Walker Ronald F. Culp Hal Wood Allen Fair Robert Moore Melquiades “Mel” Morales Mike Gentry

Texas WaterTM Code of Conduct The Water Environment Association of Texas and Texas Section of American Water Works Association are dedicated to providing a safe, harassment-free experience for everyone during Texas WaterTM and official Texas WaterTM conference events.

WEAT and TAWWA will not tolerate harassment of conference attendees, exhibitors, speakers, volunteers, or staff. WEAT and TAWWA prohibit Texas WaterTM participants from intimidating,

Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

harassing, unwelcome, abusive, disruptive, violent or offensive conduct. Texas WaterTM participants asked to stop any such behavior must comply immediately.

Violators may be subject to expulsion without refund. Harassment should be reported to conference staff immediately.

Please refer to our full Code of Conduct at

www.txwater.org/codeofconduct_2022.cfm for more

information including contact information for reporting actions contrary to the Texas WaterTM code of conduct.

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Awards Luncheon April 5, 2022, 11:30 a.m.

Awards Celebration April 6, 2022, Noon

Convention Center, Starlight Ballrooms 3&4

Exhibit Hall, Meter Challenge Area

WEAT Emerging Leader Award................................3

WEAT Clean Water Challenge Awards............28-29

WEAT Exemplary Employer Award................4

Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers.............29

WEAT Dennis R. Laskowski Recruitment Award...........................................5

WEAT Sidney L. Allison Award...........................30

WEF Outstanding Service Award......................5-6 WEAT Workforce Development Awards............6 WEF Laboratory Analyst Excellence Award............7 WEAT Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant of the Year Award...................................................8 WEF George W. Burke Jr. Award.....................9

WEAT Innovative Technology Award.....................30 Ken Miller Water for People Founder's Award............31 Watermark Awards - Members.................................32-37

Operations Awards Ceremony April 6, 2022, 2:45 p.m.

WEAT Medal of Honor for Heroism..................10-11

Exhibit Hall, TMeter Challenge Area

WEAT Ronald B. Sieger Biosolids Management Award.....................12

WEAT Susan B. Hier Award for Excellence in Education & Licensing.............................................38

WEF William D. Hatfield Award...................13

WEAT Municipal WWTP of the Year Category 1..........................................................39

WEAT Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award.......13-15 WEAT Outstanding Public Official Award...........15 WEAT W. Walter Chiang Lifetime Achievement Award...........................16 WEAT Ernest F. Gloyna Pillars of the Profession Award........................17-18

WEAT Municipal WWTP of the Year Category 2..........................................................40 WEAT Municipal WWTP of the Year Category 3..........................................................41 WEAT Outstanding Operator of the Year.........42-44

WEF Arthur Sidney Bedell Award....................18-19 TAWWA Membership Awards...........................20 TAWWA Young Professionals Maverick Award......20 AWWA Water Conservation & Reuse Awards...21-23 AWWA Silver Water Drop Awards.........................23 AWWA Life Membership Awards......................24 TAWWA Outstanding Public Official Award.........24 AWWA George Warren Fuller Awards..........25-27

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Texas WaterTM 2022 is a registered trademark of Texas AWWA for the exclusive use for this joint conference with WEAT. All rights reserved.

Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

EMERGING LEADER AWARD ...recognizes a young WEAT member who has provided outstanding service in support of WEAT.

Heather Wootton Heather Wootton’s roots are planted in both the engineering and STEM worlds. As marketing team leader, her primary focus at Garver is supporting the water business line in Texas leading their marketing and business development efforts across the State.

Heather is passionate about promoting the importance of clean water across the State. She volunteers with the local Project Lead the Way program by providing training and mentorship to future engineers by supporting their senior design projects. Heather’s technical background combined with her formal training - allows for easy transfer of information and effective messaging to internal and external audiences.

Heather has previously served as the North Texas Section representative to the WEAT, as the section secretary, and fundraising chair. She currently serves as the section vice president and is on the path to becoming the WEAT-NTS president in 2024.

In addition to her responsibilities in these committee roles, Heather supports all of the major

events in some facet, including Sporting Clays, OPStoberfest, and the annual February Seminar.

Taking a solid lead in ensuring Sporting Clays and OPStoberfest continue to be successful each year, she facilitates the coordination meetings and recruits volunteers across the section. Heather also serves as the Event Coordinator for the WEAT Operations Challenge Committee.

The passion for water runs deep in the Wootton household. In addition to her career, she is a loving mother to her daughter and newborn twins.

Like all great leaders, she has her hands in many programs and seems to bring success to all she manages. She directs and is willing to roll up her sleeves to get the job done when required.

Her leadership and commitment have brought incredible success to WEAT’s Ops Challenge Program, the North Texas Section’s many events and programs, and WEAT’s strategic direction.

She is truly a rising leader whose passion for the water sector shines through her many successes.

Use #txwater22 when posting about the conference on social media.

Texts sent to 512-765-5398 will display on the conference’s social media feed.

Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

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WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

EXEMPLARY EMPLOYER AWARD ...recognizes Texas employers that support and facilitate employee involvement and activities within the Water Environment Association of Texas and the Water Environment Federation.

Signature Automation Established in 2012, Signature Automation provides professional engineering services specializing in electrical, instrumentation, and controls. Its primary market focus is on municipal water and wastewater utilities. In 2017, Signature Automation expanded its presence with locations in San Antonio and Phoenix.

Recently, the firm was named among the 2017 Dallas 100 fastest-growing privately held companies by the SMU Cox School of Business.

A young and growing company of 30 employees, Signature Automation places great importance on developing its team to be the best and brightest.

This includes encouragement and support for staff members to author technical articles and conference abstracts for industry-related organizations, especially WEAT. If an employee is interested in developing presentation skills but is unsure where to start, Signature Automation encourages them to discuss their ideas with management for help with refining potential presentation topics. Additionally, the marketing team offers support for writing abstracts and, if selected, developing the final presentation.

This approach to encouraging the submission of technical content has generated numerous successful presentations and articles over the years.

Several team members have presented at past Texas Water conferences and at the annual WEAT North Texas Section February Seminar. Team members have also submitted articles for WEAT’s bi-monthly magazine publication, TexasWET.

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Starting from their first day at the firm, employees are encouraged by Signature Automation and its executive leadership to join and actively engage with WEAT. Information about WEAT, including the financial assistance available from the company, is provided as part of new employee orientation documents. Financial aid includes reimbursement for membership fees, dinner meetings and other event fees, mileage to and from events, and travel costs such as meals and lodging for special conferences like the WEAT Leadership Summit and Texas Water.

Information about WEAT is a routine part of biweekly staff meeting agendas, including discussion of upcoming WEAT events, volunteer opportunities, and calls for journal and conference abstracts. Internal WEAT champions also distribute this information continuously to encourage participation.

The company also sponsors numerous WEAT events and programs throughout the year to help demonstrate support to staff and provide opportunities to participate.

Currently, almost half of all Signature Automation employees are WEAT members. Signature Automation routinely has staff participate in technical webinars, section meetings, and social events such as tournaments, Young Professionals’ happy hours, and facility tours.

Signature Automation is truly an exemplary employer and champion for WEAT and water quality in Texas.

Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

DENNIS R. LASKOWSKI RECRUITMENT AWARD ...recognizes a member of WEAT for their outstanding recruitment efforts in the past year.

Lisa Boatman, P.E. Agmed Weber Ayman Benyamin, P.E. James Bennett Special thanks to the City of Austin for becoming WEAT’s newest utility member! Lisa, Agmed, Ayman, and James were instrumental in

bringing great quality training through WEAT to Austin Water employees.

WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION

OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD ...recognizes an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the water environment profession, to the Federation and its Member Associations.

Jeff Caffey, P.E. Jeff Caffey is undoubtedly no stranger to the water industry – he has been with Plummer Associates for more than three decades, mainly focused on wastewater treatment plant design. He has been a proud member of the Water Environment Association of Texas for nearly as long.

Jeff was born and raised in Arlington, Texas, and pursued civil engineering at Texas A&M University – his father was a professor at UT Arlington. One summer during his post-secondary years, he landed a job with Plummer Associates. He really enjoyed the exciting projects that they were working on.

He saw that they were helping communities and helping the environment, and providing clean water.

After completing college with a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering, Jeff stayed with Plummer as a wastewater engineer. He has designed full plant expansions encompassing every phase of the treatment process.

His areas of expertise include process design, detailed plant design, and construction support.

His work consists of designing some of the first cloth-media and UV disinfection projects in Texas.

As wastewater chief engineer for Plummer, Jeff oversees updating guideline specifications, standard details, and design tools for the company.

The company introduced Jeff to the Water Environment Association of Texas – a connection that set him on the path that ultimately led him to the presidency.

Jeff took on his first role with WEAT nearly 15 years ago as the program chair for Texas Water.

He coordinated with his counterpart at the Texas Section of the American Water Works Association and worked with chairs of different committees. It was his first taste of responsibility within WEAT, and then he started taking on some more tasks at the section level, watching other leaders retire or move on.

(Continued)

Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

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It was his time to step up and participate. Jeff moved to the state level as section representative for North Texas. It was while there, he was selected to be a nominee for vice president. He moved into the role of WEAT president in 2021 during the pandemic.

Jeff, who also has a master’s degree in environmental engineering from UT Arlington, is grateful to help his industry colleagues move forward in their careers: one of his goals as

president. The most crucial goal for Jeff as he moved through his presidency was developing WEAT’s new Strategic Plan, which spans three years.

Outside of work, Jeff keeps busy with family and church, alongside his wife of 29 years, Elizabeth, and their three children. He is also an accomplished banjo player and will play you some tunes if you bid on his band during the WFP Silent Auction at Texas Water 2022!

WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AWARD …recognizes individual(s) advancing workforce development programs in Texas that effectively attract, train and /or retain water sector workers.

Rogue Water Lab Stephanie Corso and Arianne Shipley are cofounders of two mission-driven organizations: Rogue Water, a public communications company, and Rogue Water Lab, a nonprofit organization.

partnerships that move the industry forward.

Together they amassed over 30 industry awards for their creative communication strategies and content.

Stephanie and Arianne believe water is the catalyst for community transformation and that communication is at the core of this change. They seek to empower water professionals with the skills to harness impactful communication to create resilient water futures for every community.

For over ten years, they were inspired by what’s possible when people collaborate and work together towards solving problems. Their successes are measured in stories. They hope to inspire, instruct, and incite you into action by sharing these stories.

Before “going rogue,” Stephanie and Arianne worked in their respective municipal water utilities with a focus on communication, education, marketing, public relations, and public involvement for a decade. They credit their love for the industry to the folks they worked side-by-side with in the field and at treatment plants.

Better known as the H2duO, you can also find Stephanie and Arianne hosting the Water in Real Life podcast and the Catalyst Mastermind Summit through Rogue Water Lab, which provides the water industry with resources designed to cultivate innovation in both communication and public education.

They made the entrepreneurial leap and founded Rogue Water, a public communication consulting firm dedicated to being a resource for water utilities looking to better engage the public.

They also serve as a resource to private water sector companies that want to create content that resonates with water providers to expedite

For all of their work with Rogue Water, which truly revolutionized how they communicate water, and their commitment to water workforce development, WEAT is thrilled to award Rogue Water Lab with the Workforce Development Award.

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Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION

LABORATORY ANALYST EXCELLENCE AWARD ...recognizes an individual for outstanding performance, professionalism and contributions to the water quality analysis profession.

Samantha Reeder Samantha Reeder has worked at the Cypress Environmental Laboratory for the City of Wichita Falls for almost six years. She worked as laboratory technician I from May 2016 to August 2016 and as senior laboratory technician from August 2016 to the present.

At the beginning of her time at the lab, Samantha quickly learned and mastered techniques for which she was directly responsible and ran analytical instruments, such as the automatic titrators, Hach Turbidimeters and Spectrophotometer, FlowCAM Particle Analyzer, Shimadzu TOC Analyzer, Thermo Ion Chromatograph, Thermo ICP-MS, Hidex Liquid Scintillator, Hazmat ID 360 FTIR, and Thermo GC-MS/ECDs, among others.

Samantha is responsible for running all of the lab’s analytical instrumentation and associated quality control and quality assurance measures. She has no trouble staying on top of this massive workload due to her efficiency and strong work ethic.

Samantha also coordinates with interns daily and regularly collaborates with the team on publications and conference presentations. She is a licensed Class B Water Operator and Class C Wastewater Operator by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. She is currently in pursuit of her Class A Water and Class B wastewater license, as well as the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, Certified Water Professional certificate.

Samantha is an integral part of the day-today operations of the Cypress Environmental Laboratory, especially in analytical testing (including the taste and odor monitoring program) and Indirect Potable Reuse system monitoring.

Samantha truly excels in the laboratory and is one of the top employees at the Cypress Environmental Laboratory. Wichita Falls, Texas water resources, and WEAT are all fortunate to benefit from Samantha’s commitment to clean water!

Water Environment Association of Texas Competitions • Texas Shootout (Wednesday) • Operations Challenge (Tuesday & Wednesday) • Process Control • Laboratory • Pump Maintenance

• Safety • Collection System • Electrical

The awards ceremony is at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday in the Meter Challenge/Awards Celebration area in Exhibit Hall.

Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

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WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OF THE YEAR AWARD …acknowledges an industrial waste treatment plant in Texas that has consistently exhibited outstanding performance of daily activities beyond the normal call of duty.

Bayport Facility Gulf Coast Authority The Gulf Coast Authority Bayport Facility treats one of the most complex wastewater streams in the United States. Over 70 different industries discharge to the Bayport Facility, including petrochemical facilities, oil terminals, and municipalities. Due to the incredibly diverse variety of its customers, the facility’s influent volume and characteristics can vary wildly from day to day. Still, despite these swings, the Bayport Facility excels at meeting its permit requirements.

The Bayport TPDES permit contains over 80 different parameters. Despite these extensive requirements, the Bayport Facility still earned a National Association of Clean Water Agencies Gold Water in 2020, which requires zero permit violations in a calendar year.

The Bayport Facility was designed to be a highly resilient system, and is thus able to adjust to the large swings of the influent’s composition. In addition, the Bayport Facility has a staff of highly skilled operators who detect changes in the influent, identify the process impacts, and make operational changes as needed. The maintenance department also serves a critical role in the success of the facility and includes two electricians, three instrumentation techs, and six mechanics.

Multiple monitoring points are installed within the system, beginning at the customer tie-ins,

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continuing throughout various points in the facility, and at the facility discharge. Beyond standard process conditions, several wastewater phenomena occur at Bayport for which the operations team must monitor and adjust.

The Bayport Facility is under a Title IV air permit, for which emissions are monitored and calculated to identify any potential emission sources in the facility. Pure oxygen is used in the first step of the treatment system and the off-gas is captured and discharged to a regenerative thermal oxidizer.

As a result of the Title IV air permit, the Bayport Facility must monitor: air emissions for compliance, oxygen emissions to avoid creating an unsafe environment, and potentially explosive gases being emitted from the first step basin and sent to a thermal oxidizer.

These requirements have created an intricate operational system, which in turn requires a sophisticated controls system. In addition to the manual monitoring, many online analyzers are in place with interlocks to shut down or divert gases, prior to an unsafe situation being created.

Given the complex wastewater treated, the unique operating conditions, and the strict water and air permits, the Bayport Facility is a model for how to treat industrial wastewater well.

Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION

GEORGE W. BURKE, JR. AWARD …recognizes municipal and industrial wastewater facilities for active and effective safety programs.

Duck Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant City of Garland The Duck Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant is located in Garland, Texas, and has a 40 million gallon per day permitted annual average daily flow.

The Duck Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant has been involved in multiple plant projects during the past seven years. The treatment plant is a 24/7, 365 days a year operation. During the last five years, not only did the plant staff perform exceptionally well, but they also maintained a perfect safety record even throughout this pandemic.

In 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, the Duck Creek WWTP won the Gold Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies with 100 percent compliance of all parameters. In 2018, the Duck Creek WWTP won the Platinum Award from NACWA for five years of 100 percent compliance of all parameters. In 2019, the plant won the Platinum Award from NACWA for six years of 100 percent compliance of all parameters.

In 2020, the plant won the NACWA Silver Award for one permit violation.

One major factor in maintaining an excellent safety record is a plant’s safety training. The Duck Creek WWTP safety program includes the following training: Lockout /Tagout, Confined Space Entry, Hazard Communication Program, Chlorine Safety, Trenching, Vehicle Safety and Use of Procedures, and the department’s safety manual, Risk Management Program and Emergency Action Plan review. All safety training is conducted annually.

The impact of this program has led to no lost time incidents for 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 calendar years with one lost time accident in August 2019.

Before August 14, 2019, Duck Creek had gone 1755 days since the last lost-time incident. As of December 29, 2021, the new record for the Duck Creek plant is 867 days without a lost-time incident.

Duck Creek WWTP is genuinely a model plant from compliance to safety. For this, WEAT is thrilled to award Duck Creek WWTP with the George W. Burke Jr. Award.

Women Of Water Breakfast Wednesday, April 6 7:15 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

Ticket Required

• • • •

Jelynne LeBlanc Jamison, Chairwoman, SAWS Board of Trustees Suzanne Scott, Texas State Director at The Nature Conservancy Patrice Melancon, Brigadier General US Air Force – Retired Marisa Vergara, Vice President at CP&Y, Inc.

Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

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WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

MEDAL OF HONOR FOR HEROISM AWARD … recognizes an individual (or group of individuals) from the State of Texas who has demonstrated exceptional courage and bravery in the performance of a single act of heroic behavior involving the water environment industry.

Rodney Sanders On April 10, 2021, Josh Graham and his two sons were swimming at Surfside Beach in Brazoria County when they began to struggle in the water.

Josh saved his children from the strong riptide, but he struggled to save himself.

shore. Rodney and others performed CPR until an ambulance arrived to transport Josh to the hospital. Sadly, Josh did not survive.

Rodney Sanders, a wastewater operator at the City of Sugar Land, was also in the area with his family. When Rodney saw Josh struggling, he took off into the water to try to save him. Rodney was just one of the people in the area who wanted to help. The current was so strong that it took several minutes for him to reach Josh.

Rodney risked his life to save another. Since the incident, Rodney has tried to bring more awareness to the risk of rip currents. He and Mike are actively working with the Rescue Tube Foundation in Hawaii to bring rescue tubes to Surfside Beach and other beaches around the country that do not have lifeguards on staff. Rodney and Mike are trying to turn the tragedy into something positive for Texans and their safety around bodies of water.

Josh was unresponsive when Rodney reached him. Another person brought a surfboard out, and they lifted Josh on it. Rodney tried to start compressions right away, but the tide’s strong current made the task very difficult. He and Mike Lampson, another person trying to help save Josh, decided to link up arms and get Josh to the

Both Rodney and Mike received training in survival swimming in the military. Thank you, Rodney, for your heroic efforts that day and your continued focus on awareness of rip currents and actively bringing rescue tubes to beaches. You are truly deserving of the WEAT Medal of Honor for Heroism Award.

Texas Section American Water Works Association Competitions • • • • • •

Junior Meter Challenge (Tuesday) Meter Challenge (Tuesday) Pipe Tapping (Wednesday) Top Ops (Wednesday) Best Tasting Drinking Water (Wednesday) Hydrant Hysteria (Wednesday)

The above awards are presented at the competition location following each competition.

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Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

MEDAL OF HONOR FOR HEROISM AWARD … recognizes an individual (or group of individuals) from the State of Texas who has demonstrated exceptional courage and bravery in the performance of a single act of heroic behavior involving the water environment industry.

Darrell Poore On June 29, 2021 around 11:15 a.m., a May Day call was dispatched on the radio at the Dallas Water Utilities’ Central Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Two young subcontractors were installing new electrical switchgear at the plant when they were electrocuted with high voltage electricity. The tool placed in the energized cabinet by one of the workers as a part of troubleshooting activities had come into direct contact with the energized phase of the breaker, causing a direct ground and arc flash event.

As a result of this arc flash, both workers sustained third-degree burns and suffered other severe burns on their upper bodies, faces, and hands. They also inhaled smoke from the accident.

None of the workers were wearing the required PPE for working within the vicinity of an energized switchgear, which includes arc flash suits or flame-retardant coveralls with a face shield.

Both workers sustained first- and second-degree burns from the electrocution.

Their injuries required immediate medical treatment. The entire Central Wastewater Treatment Plant lost power because of the arc flash explosion.

Staff within the vicinity of the damaged switchgear heard the explosion and used the radio to

communicate the incident and the need for immediate aid.

Darrell Poore and his team were first on the scene to respond. Darrell protected both workers from further harm and ensured they were still breathing.

Darrell’s team member immediately contacted 911, sought prompt medical attention for the workers, terminated the fire, and secured the incident scene.

Darrell played a decisive role in this situation by leading his team members with clear and calm directions. His team extracted and transferred the injured workers to an open air space and evacuated all others working in the immediate risk area.

Darrell checked the wounded workers for associated trauma, bleeding, fractures, head injury, and respiratory distress. Both workers were rushed to the Parkland Hospital in Dallas by ambulance with severe burns and related injuries.

Darrell promotes and maintains workplace safety by emphasizing safety as the critical priority, enforcing and monitoring sound risk management conventions, ensuring that all safety rules, regulations, protocols, and procedures are followed, and integrating the city’s 4E steps (Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, and Equity) at the beginning of each workday or daily assignment.

Water for People Silent Auction Use the app to bid.

Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

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WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

RONALD B. SIEGER BIOSOLIDS MANAGEMENT AWARD ...recognizes a WEAT member(s), an engineering firm, a specific project, a municipality, or a

specific municipal or industrial facility that has made significant accomplishments in the field of biosolids technology and management practices within the boundaries of the State of Texas.

Tika Gautam, P. E. Tika Gautam received his diploma in civil engineering from The Tribhuvan University, Nepal in 1994 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from the same university in 1998. He received a Master of Science degree in civil engineering from Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas, in 2008.

Tika began his career as a civil engineer with engineering consulting firms in the western part of Nepal. His project involvement included reviewing technical specifications and bid documents; preparing cost estimates, analysis, and design of residential structures; performing a pre-feasibility study, engineering survey, detailed design, rate analysis, cost estimate, quantity take-offs, and construction inspection for several water supply and road construction projects; calculating drainage area boundaries, performing discharge calculations, analyses and design of stormwater drainage systems; and feasibility study, detailed survey, design and cost estimate for several suspension bridges for Suspension Bridge Division, Ministry of Local Development, Nepal.

Tika also served as an engineering instructor teaching courses at the Tribhuvan University in Nepal. There, he was also involved in the university’s research, training and consultancy service unit, conducting vocational training, mentoring students, and providing social services.

Immediately after moving to the United States in 2003, Tika worked as a manager in a convenience store, interacting with customers, vendors and the public.

When Tika entered the municipal wastewater

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industry over 13 years ago, he immediately became involved with sludge and biosolids management and managing service contracts to transport and apply the Houston Water produced biosolids loads to ranches for beneficial reuse, primarily for pasture and hay production. Tika has made significant advancements in cost-effective, environmentally safe, and publicly acceptable biosolids management practices in the Houston region. Over the last decade, Tika has played a crucial role in helping to transform Houston Water’s Biosolids Management Program into an exemplary part of its wastewater utility.

Over the course of his career, Tika has prioritized his role of mentoring students and engineersin-training. From his years at the Tribhuvan University to his current position with the City of Houston, Tika has mentored dozens of students and young engineers.

Tika continues to learn and expand his knowledge in the wastewater field. He completed TCEQapproved classes for a wastewater plant operator license and registered to take Class C Wastewater Operator testing in the coming months.

Tika is a current member of the WEAT Biosolids Committee. He has actively participated in several committee meetings and provided valuable input for the committee to formulate official opinions and recommendations on the topics related to the beneficial reuse of biosolids. Tika has made significant accomplishments in the field of solids/ biosolids technology and management practices within Houston Water’s wastewater utility and the boundaries of the State of Texas.

Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION

WILLIAM D. HATFIELD AWARD ...recognizes an operator of wastewater treatment plants for outstanding performance and professionalism.

LaTia Jutan Since 2019, LaTia Jutan has served as the superintendent of wastewater treatment for the City of Baytown. She is an innovative and forward thinker who brings great ideas and structure to the city’s wastewater division.

LaTia began her career in wastewater in 2009 with the City of Houston as a trainee wastewater operator. While working at the City of Houston, LaTia obtained her bachelor’s degree in business management and her master’s degree in public administration - all while serving full-time in the wastewater operations division.

During her time as superintendent, LaTia has been able to bring the City of Baytown’s Northeast Wastewater Treatment Plant back into TCEQ compliance. LaTia established a maintenance team to respond to equipment failures directly and engage in preventative maintenance at all of the city’s wastewater treatment facilities.

LaTia is a dedicated professional committed to sustainable growth in terms of programs and staffing. Recently, LaTia developed a competency model to ensure consistency in knowledge among her staff.

When asked why she chose to pursue her master’s degree in public administration, LaTia responded that she wanted to bring new and innovative ideas to the wastewater field and promote positive and upward change.

She is also currently working to build an in-house training program that allows the City of Baytown better to manage the operations and maintenance of the wastewater plants and lift stations through instructional videos and written SOPs.

LaTia managed her education and career while also managing her role as mother to her five children.

In a short time, LaTia has brought forth great ideas to the City of Baytown.

WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION AWARD ...recognizes the people and organizations behind DEI approaches in the water sector in Texas.

Aisha Niang, P.E. Aisha started her career in the water industry as a process engineer for DCWater at their Blue Plains facility. She became an operations consultant in New York City for a $4 billion expansion project.

Aisha obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Howard University and her Master of Science degree in civil engineering from

Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

Catholic University. Additionally, she is a licensed professional engineer in Texas and holds dual water and wastewater operator licensure.

Aisha Niang currently serves as the acting senior assistant director for wastewater operations in Houston Water. In this capacity, Aisha manages the day-to-day operations of the 39 plants that (Continued) 13

collect and treat wastewater for approximately 2.2 million customers. She is responsible for a staff of 150 team members who assist in managing plant optimization, odor control, biosolids, residuals handling, process control, and service contacts.

Under her direction, Houston Water was recognized by the Water Environment Federation as a ‘Water Resource Utility of the Future Today’ for its beneficial biosolids reuse program.

In 2021, Aisha was named a WEF Fellow, a distinguished honor reflective of her commitment to water quality, WEF, WEAT and the Diversity,

Equity, and Inclusion programs proposed and implemented by WEF. Aisha is the co-chair of the WEAT Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee. She has served as either chair or co-chair since 2019.

Recognizing her commitment and efforts at the WEF level, WEAT tapped her to lead a revived committee, which she has done with great passion and leadership along with Co-chair Ana PeñaTijerina, and Vice-chair Tanya Miro.

WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION AWARD ...recognizes the people and organizations behind DEI approaches in the water sector in Texas.

Ana Peña-Tijerina, Ph.D., P.E. A wastewater leader and strategic visionary, Dr. Ana Peña-Tijerina recently joined Plummer Associates Inc. as wastewater practice leader.

Ana has over 20 years of experience serving in wastewater engineering roles in the academic, public, and private sectors.

Her expansive list of expertise includes designing wastewater improvement projects, leading crossfunctional teams, overseeing more than 50 projects at a large water reclamation facility, directing the development of capital improvement plans and implementing asset management programs.

She is an active member of WEAT and participates in several committees, including Municipal Resource Recovery and Design Committee and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, of which she is the current co-chair.

Ana’s passion for working in the wastewater field is evident through her many accomplishments. She

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is a licensed professional engineer and received her Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering and Master of Science in environmental engineering from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education in Monterrey, Mexico.

She obtained her doctorate in environmental engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington, where her dissertation focused on biological nutrient removal.

Ana authored and co-authored several technical papers and has presented more than 50 papers in local and national conferences and workshops, including WEFTEC, Texas Water, WEAT Eckenfelder Lecture Series and WEAT Webinars.

Along with authoring and presenting numerous technical papers, Ana is a contributing author to several WEF Manuals of Practice, including No. 31 - An Introduction to Process Modeling for Designers, No. 8 - Design of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants, 5th Edition, and (Continued) Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

No. 11 - Operation of Water Resource Recovery Facilities, 7th Edition.

She received recognition for her contributions to the art and science of wastewater treatment and water pollution control by winning the Winfield S. Mahlie award in 2016 presented by WEAT and has won multiple other awards for her involvement in industry research and development.

Her professional organization affiliations include the Water Environment Association of Texas, the

Water Environment Federation, the International Water Association and the Texas Association of Clean Water Agencies.

Ana is an active member of WEF and WEAT and participates in several committees, such as the Municipal Resource Recovery Design Committee and the WEF/WERF Leaders Innovation Forum for Technology. She is the chair of the LIFT Digestion Enhancement group and MRRDC Leading Edge Outreach Subcommittee.

WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

OUTSTANDING PUBLIC OFFICIAL AWARD …recognizes an elected official or regulator who actively promotes sound science in policy and regulations.

Earl Lott Earl Lott began his career with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in 1995 as an engineering specialist in the Petroleum Storage Tank Division.

Since that time, he has served in several key management roles within the agency, including: team leader of the Agriculture Team in the Water Quality Division, manager of the Water Utilities and Districts Section, and assistant deputy in the Office of Permitting, Registration, and Remediation. He served as director of the Waste Permits Division for over 12 years.

Some of his core accomplishments with the agency include: successfully representing the agency on several critical bills before the legislature, leading the implementation of the federal standards for coal combustion residuals in Texas, spearheading efforts to streamline permit processing time frames, and successfully negotiating options with the Environmental Protection Agency to allow the reuse of tires as fuel in cement kilns.

Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

Earl holds a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture business from Texas State University.

He grew up as part of a fourth-generation ranching family, through which he learned the meaning of hard work and gained a sincere love and appreciation for natural resources.

Earl is the current director of the Office of Water at the TCEQ. In his current role, he has implemented several programs encouraging efficiencies in TPDES permitting, including holding a series of stakeholder meetings to discuss and incorporate WEAT and water quality feedback on proposed changes.

In the short time since Earl took the helm in the Office of Water, he has been imminently accessible and always available to provide feedback input and participate in webinars and meetings. He personifies leadership in public service. WEAT is honored to work alongside him to protect and enhance the water quality of Texas and award him with the Outstanding Public Official Award.

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WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

W. WALTER CHIANG LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD ...recognizes a current or past WEAT member who has demonstrated continual and tireless contributions toward the improvement of the water environment throughout a long, distinguished career in the wastewater treatment industry and in WEAT/WEF.

Patricia Cleveland For more than 45 years, Patricia (Patty) Cleveland has served as a steward of the water environment in many roles for Trinity River Authority of Texas.

Currently, she is responsible for managing TRA’s six regional operating projects in the upper Trinity River Basin and five non-operating projects that serve more than 1.3 million people in over 40 North Texas cities.

Patty has been responsible for directing the operation, maintenance, and expansion of TRA’s regional water and wastewater systems and developing new projects. She has been instrumental in TRA meeting wastewater discharge standards that have resulted in improvements in water quality in the upper Trinity River and its tributaries. She has directed the planning, design, and procurement of funding for water and wastewater treatment plants and conveyance systems.

Patty advocates for creating partnerships among regional customer cities based on trust and cooperation and guides the development of regulatory requirements to meet water quality requirements.

Patty has published numerous technical papers, co-chaired management planning for the National Water Sector, and has participated in various technical conferences and committees. She serves as a board member of the WaterISAC, a member of the Water Environment Federation, and represents TRA with the National Association of Clean Water Agencies.

She has served as Chair of the National Water Sector Security Coordinating Council and on the 16

NACWA Board and various committees. Patty has also fulfilled many leadership roles in WEAT and WEF during her 45-year career. Patty served as president of WEAT and the Texas Association of Clean Water Agencies, among the many leadership positions.

Patty’s unending support of WEAT and WEF and their joint mission has resulted in TRA and its employees supporting WEAT in numerous ways for many years. Specifically, Patty’s support of operations teams in the WEAT and WEF Operations Challenge programs has yielded the development of TRA teams that routinely reach the national ranks at WEF. Those same TRA teams Patty supported and offered time to help develop their skills and knowledge continue to pay it forward. TRA teams have regularly provided support and guidance to other Utilities, Authorities, and Districts on how to develop their own teams.

Patty’s emphasis on placing the operator role at the forefront has been essential to WEAT and WEF, and highlighting the critical role which operators play in every utility organization has helped shape both the WEAT and WEF organizations.

While Patty’s previous and current work in support of the WEAT mission is visible in multiple ways, it is her unending dedication to the WEAT mission of clean water for all, her role in mentoring, and her dedication to the WEAT organization and the water industry that makes her so deserving of the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

EARNEST F. GLOYNA PILLARS OF THE PROFESSION AWARD ...recognizes an individual with a long and distinguished career in the wastewater treatment or water quality industry who has demonstrated meaningful and substantial contributions toward the improvement of the water environment and who has a positive impact on the success and growth of WEAT.

John D’Antoni, Ph.D. John D’Antoni grew up in New Orleans and attended Tulane University for multiple highereducation degrees. At Tulane University, John received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, a master’s in environmental health, and a doctorate in environmental engineering.

He met his wife, Cassandra, at Tulane. They have been married for 49 years and have four children.

John is a career environmental engineer with over 47 years of consulting engineering experience in the water and wastewater field. Serving the water industry has been a vocation for John, with a solid dedication to protecting public health and preserving the environment.

John has worked with both public and private sector clients to plan, design, and implement solutions to the water industry’s complex challenges.

John has been an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Underground Construction Technology Association, the Water Environment Association of Texas, the Water Environment Federation and the American Water Works Association. John is a recognized leader in the industry and has authored over 75 presentations, technical papers, and articles. John has been a licensed professional engineer in Texas since 1985.

John began his career as an entry-level engineer at NUS Corporation and progressed to their process engineering group manager in Houston.

At NUS, John focused on industrial water and wastewater treatment process design, emphasizing the steam electric power generation industry.

During this period, John was an active member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, presenting several times at their national conference.

John joined Bernard Johnson Inc. in Houston as their environmental engineering group manager.

John’s focus at BJI shifted to municipal water and wastewater facility planning and design. He managed the design of Houston’s Keegans Bayou WWTP and the WCID 111 WTP. John also supported the construction and initial year of operation of the 17 MGD Keegans Bayou WWTP grassroots facility.

John joined Brown and Root as their chief environmental engineer serving as the technical lead on many industrial wastewater improvement projects in the refining and petrochemical industry.

He then served as manager of the environmental and water department, emphasizing water and wastewater facility planning and design in Texas, Mexico and Central America. John led B&R’s team on the five-year Greater Houston Wastewater Program in a partnership with MWH Inc. John moved to MWH to help complete the GHWP and develop a series of follow-on collection system programs for Houston focused on neighborhoods and maintenance-related SSOs. John was very active with WEF’s Collection Systems Committee and WEAT’s board during this period.

(Continued)

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John joined Alan Plummer Associates Inc. in 2006 to help open the firm’s Houston office. He shared his asset management experience through a string of eight presentations at Texas Water. He began his current series of asset management presentations at WEAT’s Annual CMOM conference in Austin.

John published an article in AWWA’s Opflow Magazine on the Odessa Asset Management Project, which won the best article award in 2103.

John joined Black & Veatch’s growing water practice in Houston, focusing on wastewater planning and asset management projects, including an Asset Management Plan for the City of Denton and the Tulsa Asset Management Program.

He continued sharing his asset management experience at CMOM, Texas Water and other seminars around the state.

WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION

ARTHUR SIDNEY BEDELL AWARD ...to acknowledge extraordinary personal service to the Water Environment Association of Texas.

Rick Hidalgo, P.E. Rick Hidalgo is the President and co-founder of Signature Automation LLC in Addison, Texas. He is a licensed control systems engineer and holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Rick began his career in 1988, working for the Systems, Engineering, and Construction Division of Johnson Controls Inc. JCI had a proprietary distributed control system marketed primarily to the water/wastewater industry.

While there, he worked on several projects for utilities throughout the United States, where his roles consisted of various facets of systems integration, inclusive of graphics development, controls programming, system commissioning, operator training, and ongoing support.

in other sectors such as automotive, HVAC, energy management, semiconductor, and power monitoring.

In 1997, Rick transitioned from the contractor to the design side of the business by accepting a position with a national consulting firm. In this capacity, he worked with clients throughout the United States focused on the water/wastewater industry.

He continued his love of programming by leading the programming efforts of several projects, first as a lead control engineer, then a project manager, and later as a regional group leader overseeing both the design and programming aspects of his firm’s automation group.

As the use of non-proprietary systems utilizing custom off-the-shelf human machine interface and programmable logic controller packages became more prevalent in the industry, Rick expanded his knowledge of industrial control systems beyond the proprietary JCI offering.

In recent years, as more emphasis has been placed on protecting our nation’s critical infrastructure, inclusive of the water sector, Rick has gained an interest in seeking cyber security solutions for the water sector control systems. He has provided numerous technical papers and presentations on this topic.

Although most of the projects throughout his career have focused on the water/wastewater industry, he also has had the opportunity to work

Through his active involvement in these efforts, former WEAT presidents John Bennett and Curtis Smalley asked him to take on the role of co-chair (Continued)

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Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

of the WEAT Safety & Security Committee, which he willingly accepted in 2014.

Power of Two Management Mentor Program.

Rick served as the WEAT President from 2020 Since 2014, the committee has proactively sought to 2021 and is the current Past President and Nominations Committee Chair. Rick is also the to inform and educate the industry on this topic chair of the new WEAT Section Engagement by holding bi-monthly webinars on various issues related to cyber security. And in 2022, Rick was Committee. Previously, he has also volunteered instrumental in pushing WEAT to officially change his time to help develop the initial Principles the committee’s name to reflect today’s safety and Practices of Engineering exam in software engineering that is now offered by Texas and many concerns better. The Safety Security Committee other states as a member of the IEEE Software thus became the Safety, Cyber, and Infrastructure Security Committee.

Engineering Licensure Examination Development Committee.

In addition to his role with the Safety, Cyber, and Infrastructure Security Committee, Rick Rick exemplifies the Arthur Sidney Bedell Award.

His leadership, empathy, and diplomacy have enjoys volunteering his time as a member of the allowed WEAT to grow in members, influence, WEAT Electrical, Instrumentation, & Controls and strategic direction. WEAT is fortunate to Committee. Plus, he volunteers as a mentor for benefit from Rick’s continued leadership! graduate and undergraduate students at his alma mater as part of the University of Texas at Dallas’

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WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS ARTHUR SIDNEY BEDELL AWARD WINNERS Victor Marcus Ehlers 1980 S. A. Garza 2002 Betty Carol Mayo Winfield S. Mahlie 1981 Robert L. Nichols 2003 Mary Evans J. H. Sorrels 1982 P. D. Parks 2004 Cathy Henderson Roger Moehlman 1983 Dick Whittington 2005 Raymond R. Longoria C. H. Connell 1984 Joseph F. Malins, Jr. 2006 Jim Taafe A. C. Bryan 1985 Marshall L. Haney 2007 Carolyn Ahrens Wieland David F. Smallhorst 1986 Sharon D’Orsie 2008 Richard Eason David G. Chase 1987 Bert H. Bates, Jr. 2009 Carol Batterton John P. Wold 1988 William Goloby 2010 Brad Castleberry Albert H. Ullrich 1989 Rhonda Harris 2011 John Bennett G. R. Herzik, Jr. 1990 Earnest F. Gloyna 2012 Ronald Dale Carlson Pearl Goodwin 1991 Stephen M. Jenkins 2013 Jody Zabolio Jack E. Huppert 1992 Robert T. McMillon 2014 Dawn Anderson Sam L. Warrington 1993 Ron L. Mayo 2015 David Briggs Clayton H. Billings 1994 Paul Roach 2016 Julie Nahrgang Joe Driskell 1995 Joe King II 2017 Jenna Covington Joe P. Teller 1996 Patricia M. Cleveland 2018 Jeffrey L. Sober J. L. Robinson 1997 Foster Crowell 2019 Steve Coonan John B. Scott 1998 Raj Bhattarai 2020 David Jackson A. E. Holcomb 1999 Alan Plummer 2021 Leigh Thomas Ernest F. Cross 2000 Ron Sieger W. S. Sam Hutton 2001 Betty Jordon

Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

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TEXAS SECTION - AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION

MEMBERSHIP AWARDS The Texas Section AWWA recognizes two members for their outstanding recruitment efforts that help maintain the Texas Section’s leadership as the largest single state Section of AWWA’s forty-three sections with over 4,000 members. Even during the Pandemic, the section’s continued growth is a testimony to our meeting the needs of water professionals statewide. And, its our volunteers who recruit new members are the reason the Texas Section AWWA remains the most influential water organization in the state.

This year we recognize the following for their outstanding recruitment efforts this past year.

Steve Walden

3 Individual Members

Mary Gugliuzza City of Fort Worth 6 New Members

Texas State Chapter 3 Student Members

Texas A&M Water Network Chapter 14 Student Members

TEXAS SECTION - AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS MAVERICK AWARD ...recognizes an individual member age 35 or younger who exemplifies exceptional qualities in the areas of volunteerism, community involvement, leadership, and outstanding service in the science of water supply, treatment, operations, and quality.

Michael McBee Michael A. McBee is active in the North Central Texas Chapter of Texas Section AWWA, serving as the co-chair of the YP Committee and on the executive committee.

Outstanding Young Professionals Award. He was selected as a presenter at both the 2018 ASCE Pipelines Conference and the 2019 AWWA Texas Water Conference.

Michael is a project manager in Freese and Nichols, Inc.’s water/wastewater transmission and utilities group in Fort Worth.

In the chapter, Michael helps lead a committee of young professionals that plan social and service events plus fundraisers for the chapter young professionals.

He is a past nominee for the AWWA 5 under 35

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Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

TEXAS SECTION - AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION

WATER CONSERVATION AND REUSE AWARDS Each year, the Texas Section AWWA Conservation and Reuse Division recognizes those who have demonstrated excellence in Water Conservation and Reuse Practices.

Small Utility Direct Fort Bend County MUD No. 118 Reclaimed Water System Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District No. 118 recently completed new facility improvements at their wastewater treatment plant to accommodate a reclaimed water system. The project reduces the dependency of purchased surface water from North Fort Bend Water Authority while minimizing groundwater withdrawals from irrigation demands. By using Type 1 reclaimed water, the district was able to irrigate a portion of the community while promoting water conservation. The Board of Directors were the initial pioneers of the program by advocating the need for a reclaimed water system to the community. The district was able to finance the project through a series of bonds and general operating funds without raising O&M taxes and water/sewer rates.

The initial planning phase involved a feasibility study to determine the capacity and limitations for the system. The design team consulted with the TCEQ early in the planning phase to confirm the design approach and discuss unique project challenges. The design phase laid out the framework for the 0.375 MGD (260-gpm) capacity reclaimed water system. Construction broke ground in 2018 and was completed in Summer 2019.

The overall project duration covered 5-years from the initial planning phase, through design, and construction. The board was extremely involved throughout the design process; challenging the team to find cost effective solutions to complete the project while meeting the project objectives.

The system is widely accepted by the community and the district has successfully converted 3,750,000 gallons of irrigation demand to the reclaimed water system since 2019.

Small Utility Indirect City of Round Rock DIY Water Saving Toolkit The DIY Water Saving Toolkit is a physical toolbox that Round Rock Public Library patrons can check out and take home for up to two weeks.

The toolkit’s purpose is to educate residents about where their water comes from, how water is used in their home, how to read their water meter and bill, and make simple changes around their homes to reduce water use.

The DIY Toolkit contains many water-saving plumbing fixtures, as well as the tools needed to perform simple plumbing repairs that the resident can keep and use (and ideally install!), free of charge. The intended audience is residents living in homes built before 2006 and/or residents in homes with a small leak (such as a leaking flapper), to give them the means to repair the leak themselves.

Large Utility Direct Houston Public Works Smart Utility Checkup Program In January 2021, Houston Public Works launched its inaugural Smart Utility Checkup Program in partnership with Imperial Utilities and Sustainability Inc. Aimed at promoting water conservation in Houston’s commercial sector, this program (Continued)

Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

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provided one year of free professional water, electricity, and gas utility assessments to fourteen commercial buildings throughout the 2021 calendar year. Each assessment included data analysis on water, energy, and gas consumption, along with a monthly break-down of cost and consumption patterns.

These assessments identified inefficiencies within each participating building and provided recommendations on the most cost-effective projects to improve overall efficacy. The program included additional assistance in identifying and providing rebates and identifying other areas to reduce monthly costs.

The free utility assessments provided by this program not only increased knowledge of current water and energy consumption for each building but provided actionable solutions to reduce water and energy demand, including costbenefit analyses for these solutions. As a result of quantifying the value of overhead cost reductions, this program yielded actual capital investments towards improved efficiency. These included two chiller replacements, a HVAC efficiency project, and a Central Plant Optimization project.

Through the 2021 program, participating buildings collectively saved an estimated 4,739,679 gallons of annual water from capital improvements and infrastructure updates. The program also resulted in an estimated $56,580 in direct dollar savings from rebates and credits. These include rebates from CenterPoint Energy, evaporation credits and sales tax rebates.

Large Utility Indirect North Texas Municipal Water District Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Analysis In an effort to better understand customer water use the North Texas Municipal Water District

undertook a project to take a closer look at how different sectors of business and industry use water across member cities.

The tasks were to (1) establish a baseline of historical and current water use; (2) categorize water use data as industrial, commercial, institutional, or multifamily; (3) analyze the data for outliers and for areas where conservation efforts might be concentrated, and (4) develop conservation programs based on the results of that analysis.

Once armed with NAICS codes, customer accounts can then be geo-coded and grouped.

This allowed NTMWD and its member cities to begin to benchmark and analyze sector-specific norms. Benchmarking provided an understanding water use, established metrics to rank water use performance against other similar businesses, and formed a baseline of a water management plan.

Metrics chosen for benchmarking when using NAICS coding steers away from the traditional approach using gallons per square foot of a building and instead uses business/industry specific metrics. In this way, benchmarking with business specific metrics will allow NTMWD and its member cities to develop targeted incentives and programs for promoting water efficiency as an alternative to a traditional voluntary approach for water consumption improvement.

Bob Derrington Reclamation Award City of Rosenburg Seabourne Creek Park Reclaimed Water System The Bob Derrington Reuse Award is named after the visionary and innovative Odessa Texas Utility Manager who, in the 1980s, expanded Odessa’s existing water reuse program. As a strong advocate for reuse long before it was popular, Bob Derrington understood that the beneficial use of treated effluent and water conservation would not only increase water (Continued)

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Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

supplies for Odessa but help develop the expansion of reuse in Texas.

The City of Rosenberg recently completed its fifth and sixth projects in a series of reclaimed water facility and pipeline infrastructure improvements that it has undergone over the last 10 years.

The Seabourne Creek Reclaimed Water System uses over 40,000 linear feet of 4-inch to 10inch pipelines, tertiary wastewater treatment, a 500,000-gallon earthen storage pond, cloth media filter units and a four-pump skid to treat and distribute up to 280,000 gallon per day of reclaimed water. The system currently serves an annual average of 170,000 gallons per day of reclaimed water to sports ball fields, high school fields, parks and trails, a duck pond, and even helps sustain an artificially created wetlands and native prairie attraction.

The Seabourne Creek Park uses reuse water as sprinkled irrigation in addition to drop structures for filling ponds and an artificial wetlands. Also, over 25,000 linear feet of 6-inch to 10-inch reclaimed water distribution piping has been extended out of the park limits to serve these commercial customers.

Using reuse water is a major component of the city’s overall strategy to reduce their reliability on groundwater in accordance with the Fort Bend Subsidence District groundwater reduction mandates and to achieve the city’s plans of overall water conservancy and sustainability.

The city has invested over $3.5 million to construct, operate, and maintain this reclaimed water system over the last 10 years. This effort has proven that treated wastewater can be used for a variety of sustainable ecological, amenity, and practical uses.

AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION

SILVER WATER DROP AWARDS The AWWA Silver Water Drop Awards are given to those members who have achieved 25 years of service to the water community and AWWA.

Carolyn Ahrens Wieland Cliff Avery Kathy W. Berek Robert Boswell Mark Bowsher Joe Buchanan Joel R. Cantwell Ronald C. Emmons Fekade S. Girma George A. Gilspin Mary Gugliuzza

David B. Hawkins Jonathon B. Howard Dan V. Jackson Jeff James Harold R. Kidder Sunil N. Kommineni David W. Lundquist Macario Marquez Jr. Thomas E. McDonald James Naylor Curt W. Rabbe

Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

Madelene Rafalko Eric S. Rauschuber Todd W. Reck Pat Riley Donald R. Ripley Brian J. Syzdek Michael A. Vanderbosch Becky Weems Mark W. Woodward Guang Zhu

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AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION

LIFE MEMBERSHIP AWARDS The AWWA Life Membership Awards are given to those members who previously achieved Silver Water Drop Award status and are now at least 65 years old.

Sam A. Arnaout Barbara D. Crumbie Bruce P. Curtis Alicia C. Diehl Rhonda E. Harris Mike Howe

Timothy E. Lackey Danny J. Masella Owen V. Matherne Nancy O. Matthews David W. Mueller Kyle Reed

Dave Reed Coy M. Veach Jay P. Wagner George O. Westhoff

TEXAS SECTION - AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION

OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVANT AWARD ...to honor those who have made outstanding contributions in public service or government in support of the water community.

Rep. Lyle Larson Rep. Lyle Larson serves as past chair of the House committee that oversees water policy in the Texas Legislature. Rep. Larson’s commitment to securing Texas’s water future and advancing the state’s role in water planning and project implementation is unmatched.

the fastest growing state in the country. He has traveled internationally to Israel and Australia to observe the technology, environmental mitigation, and funding strategies for their desalination programs.

He has passed numerous pieces of legislation to advance the development of innovative water strategies in Texas, including brackish groundwater desalination, seawater desalination, and aquifer storage and recovery projects.

Larson also serves as co-chair of the Southwestern States Water Commission and has worked with the International Boundary and Water Commission on compliance issues with the 1944 Water Treaty with Mexico, as well as possible water deals with neighboring state.

Since 2011, Larson has visited more than 65 groundwater conservation districts, 12 river authorities, all large public utilities, industrial users, agricultural interests, and numerous municipalities and water districts in an effort to learn how to best meet the water needs of

A lifelong resident of the San Antonio area, Larson served as San Antonio City Councilman, District 10 for two terms and as Bexar County Commissioner, Pct. 3 from 1997-2008. In 2010, Larson was elected state representative for District 122.

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AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION

GEORGE WARREN FULLER AWARD One of the most prestigious awards in the water

profession is the George Warren Fuller Award for distinguished service to the water supply field in “commemoration of the sound engineering skill, the brilliant diplomatic talent and the constructive leadership, which characterized the life of George Warren Fuller.”

Because of the Texas Section’s growth, AWWA granted it an additional director to represent the section on the AWWA board. This means the section is able to award two Fuller Awards each year, should more than one suitable candidate meet the high standards of the award.

This year’s award recipients are selected by previous Fuller Award winners, and kept a tightly guarded

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secret until the Texas Water Luncheon. In a unique ceremonial process, all Fuller Award Winners in attendance are called to assemble in the front of the room. The group then begins searching the room for the person known only to the committee members as this year’s Fuller awardee.

Slowly, as a brief highlight of this year’s awardee is read, the group converges on this year’s winner’s location in the room. As the group converges, the detail in the awardee’s career highlights will become more and more specific.

See if you realize at the last moment who the awardees are for the Texas Section American Water Works Association 2022 Fuller Awards.

TEXAS SECTION – AWWA GEORGE WARREN FULLER AWARD WINNERS Robert P. Van Dyke* 1991 W. T. “Doc” Ballard* 2011 Mary L. Gugliuzza Haskell R. Street* 1992 Lee. C. Bradley, Jr. 2012 Richard Talley Richard G. Toler* 1994 F. Warren Norris 2013 Daniel Nix David R. Smallhorst* 1995 Katie McCain 2014 Donna Howe John H. Stacha* 1996 Jack A. Renfro 2015 Ron Tamada J. L. Robinson* 1997 Randy J. Goss 2016 Dave Scholler John T. Hickerson* 1998 Ronny Hyde 2017 Christianne Castleberry Otis Goldman* 1999 Steve Walden 2018 Jennifer Elms George O. Muller 2000 Carole Baker 2019 Shay Roalston Charles K. Foster* 2001 Mark Lowry 2020 Brent Locke Glen Doty* 2002 Bill Riley 2020 Wayne Owen John Kubala* 2003 Gary Smith 2021 Bruce Curtis Phil Kosub* 2004 Jeannie Wiginton 2021 Elston Johnson James H. Bailey* 2005 Charles Anderson Thomas D. Tiner 2006 Glenda Dunn Michael K. Tubbs 2007 Bill Smith Michael Meadows 2008 Dean Sharp Kay Kutchins* 2009 Mike Howe Dennis L. Allen 2010 Charles Maddox * Deceased

For a complete description on the career of George Warren Fuller, read the following pages.

Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

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AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION

GEORGE WARREN FULLER AWARD “Little can be said about George Warren Fuller without recalling a thousand and one connections which he has had with sanitary engineering practice in this country and abroad. Amazingly active mentally, he always catalyzed those individuals who were fortunate enough to work with him. An enthusiasm tempered by seasoned judgment and reinforced by a remarkable technical knowledge, accounting for the fact that his name is identified with almost every important sanitary advance in this country in the last four decades. Many, however, are born at the right time who are either ill equipped or are lacking in sufficient vision to make the most of that good fortune. In Mr. Fuller’s case, heredity and environmental influence, coupled with remarkable energy, all contributed to the development of a practitioner of outstanding stature. He will be remembered long in the future, as much for his distinctive personal characteristics as for his long list of contributions to sanitary science and practice.” So wrote Abel Wolman editorially in Municipal Sanitation after Fuller’s death on June 15, 1934.

George Warren Fuller was born in Franklin, Massachusetts, December 21, 1868, on the farm which was part of the land acquired by the family during the Revolutionary period. Three or four Fullers came to Massachusetts from England before the middle of the Seventeenth Century. The one with whom we are concerned was Ensign Thomas Fuller, who, in 1642, by vote of the people of Dedham, was “admitted” - a prerequisite to citizenship at that time - to the purchase of Martin Phillips’ lot. He seems to have been a capable and versatile man. He was a surveyor for several years after 1660 and selectman for fourteen years; he repeatedly represented the community at the general court, was co-trustee of money bequeathed for the establishment of a Latin school and laid out the road to Cambridge as well as many minor ones. He kept the town’s ammunition, for which he was paid ten shillings a year, but had considerable trouble in collecting the fee, and at one time remitted part of it in order to obtain settlement. In the succeeding line, down through Grandfather Asa Fuller, who was a Minute Man, there continues to be activity of a civic nature—service as selectmen, court representatives, and the like.

George Warren Fuller was at the head of his class when he attended the Dedham schools. His scholarship was,

of course, a source of great satisfaction to his mother.

At sixteen he passed the examination for entrance at MIT but, his father having died a few weeks before, it was thought best for him to have a fourth year in high school, after which he was graduated at the head of his class and with the highest marks given up to that time.

At MIT he met and came under the influence of such people as William T. Sedgwich, Ellen H. Richards, and Hiram F. Mills, all enthusiastically interested in the new science of public health.

Their influence was felt throughout his life. Following his graduation, he spent a year at the University of Berlin and in the office of Piefke, engineer of the Berlin water works. On his return to Massachusetts, the state board of health employed him for some five years, during the latter part of the period being in charge of the Lawrence Experiment Station where he extended the experimental work and studies started by another famous chemist and engineer, Allen Hazen. The Lawrence Experiment Station was then recognized as leading in research on the purification of water supplies and treatment of sewage in this country. Fuller’s brilliant achievements in this field attracted such attention to his ability that he was selected in 1895 to take charge of the experiments at Louisville, Kentucky, in the use of rapid filtration. Immediately after he had accomplished this work, he was offered a similar engagement in Cincinnati, Ohio. These experiments served to remove the questions, which had been raised about the adequacy of rapid filtration compared with slow sand filtration for these municipalities, and, at the same time, established the value of mechanical filtration where conditions were such as to warrant its use.

During his 34 years of practice as a consulting engineer, following the opening of his New York office and, later, the opening of branch offices in Kansas City, Missouri; Toledo, Ohio; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Fuller advised more than 150 cities, commissions, and corporations on their water supply and sewerage problems. The outstanding engagements, including among others: Washington, D.C.; New Orleans, Louisiana; St. Louis, Missouri; Indianapolis, Indiana; Kansas City, Missouri; Memphis, Tennessee; Wilmington, Delaware; New Haven, Connecticut; Lexington, Kentucky; Minneapolis and St. Paul,

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Minnesota; Montreal, Quebec; the Shanghai, China, Water Company; the International Joint Commission (Canada and United States boundary waters); the New Jersey Water Policy Commission; the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission; the Hackensack Valley Sewerage Commission; and the Metropolitan Sewerage Commission of Rhode Island. For many of these engagements, his service included full control over all engineering work involved in the preparation of plans and contracts, as well as the actual construction.

Notwithstanding a busy life in active practice, Fuller gave freely of his time and energy to the advancement of his chosen profession through participation in the activities of technical societies, through contributions to the engineering press, and through educational activities. His record in this respect is outstanding. He was a member of the American Water Works Association (president); the American Public Health ­Association (president); the Engineering Foundation (chair); the American Society of Civil Engineers (vice-president); the American Institute of Consulting Engineers; the American Society of Mechanical Engineers; the Institution of Civil Engineers of Great Britain; the American Chemical Society; the American Society of Bacteriologists; the Engineering Institute of Canada; the Vereines Duetscher Ingenieure; the Association Generale des Hygienistes et Techniciens Municipaux of France; and the Franklin Institute.

Perhaps the most significant of Fuller’s characteristics was his belief in organization and his devotion to standardization.

In 1920, at the Montreal Convention of the AWWA, Fuller negotiated the organization of a committee to codify and standardize water works practice. The Association before that time had developed a few specification Documents, but its relation to the preparation of those Documents was that of cooperative participation rather than leadership. The group under his leadership and chairmanship was first called the Standardization Council, later the Committee on Water Works Practice. He continued to be a dominant influence in the AWWA during the time its constitution and bylaws were being substantially revised.

At the New York Convention of the AWWA early in June 1934 (only a week before his death), Fuller was in constant attendance, participating in the sessions and continuing even then his stimulation of the activities of the association and its elected leaders.

With the AWWA, APHA, ASCE and FSWA alone, Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

more than 45,000 professional and technical men in North America are indebted to Fuller for the guidance of their organizational readjustments in the 1920-30 period, which made possible the standing that these associations have today.

George Warren Fuller was first of all a capable engineer, equipped with a mind that never closed a channel to new ideas. He was an inventive technician—first in the laboratory field, later in engineering and design. He was a skilled negotiator; a public relations counsel who never called himself one, but who by such skill persuaded reluctant city officials that they were very wise and right to authorize sanitary improvements. He was a loyal citizen who found himself able and willing to render service to his country during World War I. He was uncannily able to give ear to the ideas and aspirations of younger men in the field and to inspire in them some measure of the spirit of leadership that he possessed. He believed in the organization and assembly of technical and professional men and devoted himself fully to the advancement of their associations and societies to the end that they serve better through planned action and cooperation.

Fitting indeed were the words of M. N. Baker, in his editorial tribute in the Engineering News Record: History will be better able than we are to appraise the contributions of George W. Fuller to the art of water purification, but history will not be so well able to appraise Mr. Fuller’s personal qualities of understanding, kindliness, sound judgment and tact as are we who have been fortunate enough to have frequent contact with him in our daily work. Here also should be recorded an acknowledgment of the debt the profession owes to Mr. Fuller, especially his chosen branch of the profession, for his liberal contributions of time and energy to its professional societies. It can be said without fear of contradiction that it was chiefly through his efforts that the American Water Works Association has been raised from the level of a social group to its present high standing as a technical organization. Mr. Fuller’s passing also serves to reemphasize the youthfulness of sanitary engineering and the fundamental nature of the contributions made by a generation of notable men, now largely departed— work that centered around the Lawrence experiments and laid the foundation for present design methods and practices of water filtration. Fuller’s achievements and those of others of his generation are a legacy to be used by the present generation to carry the art forward to greater perfection.

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Awards Celebration April 6, 2022, noon Exhibit Hall, Meter Challenge Area

WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

CLEAN SHORES CHALLENGE AWARDS Clean Shores Trashiest Section Award … recognizes the WEAT Section with the highest count of trash bags collected during the Clean Shores Challenge.

Clean Shores Most Interesting Trash Award … recognizes the WEAT Section that collected the most diverse and interesting trash during the Clean Shores Challenge.

WEAT North Texas Section The North Texas Section hosted two cleanup events in 2021. For the first event, they partnered with Tarrant Regional Water District to clean up the riverbank and a low water crossing near Beach St. Cobb Park and collected 10 bags of trash!

The volunteers did an amazing job scouring the riverbanks and pulling trash entangled in the tree line. For the second event, they partnered with GroundWork Dallas to clean up an area of Fraiser Dam, a 15-acre recreational area. 25 volunteers

collected a whopping 40 bags of trash around the trail system and from the water with kayaks.

Volunteers also got free t-shirts and a meal for their cleanup efforts during a pandemic. The award for “Trashiest Section” went to the WEAT North Texas Section for collecting 50 bags of trash. They also received the award for the “Most Interesting Trash” for finding a mannequin, fire extinguisher, and a voodoo doll!

Professional Ethics Workshop For Engineers Wednesday, April 6, 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

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Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

CLEAN SHORES CHALLENGE AWARDS Clean Shores Most Spirited Section Award … recognizes the most enthusiastic WEAT Section during the Clean Shores Challenge.

Clean Shores Most Creative Section Award … recognizes the WEAT Section that conducts the cleanup in the most creative manner during the Clean Shores Challenge.

WEAT Central Texas Section The Central Texas Section partnered with Rowing Dock for their fifth annual Lady Bird Lake Kayak Cleanup. The planning team promoted the event in October’s newsletter with a rallying cry: “Spooky Season is near! Start your Saturday off right by collecting trash along the river, chowing down on some breakfast tacos, and meeting some groovy boos and ghouls.” Pairing the event with Halloween encouraged participants to be truly ‘spirited’. Large, custom-designed stickers emblazoned with a jack-o-lantern and the event name were handed out to volunteers, serving

as badges to keep track of the volunteers across Lady Bird Lake. After returning to shore with trash collected, the group gathered for a costume voting contest (a Halloween pageant) with a prize ceremony for best costume and most trash collected. The award for the “Most Spirited Section” went to the WEAT Central Texas Section for their Halloween-themed pageant after a lot of hard work in removing trash. They also received the award for the “Most Creative Section” for their Halloween-themed ‘Monster Trash Bash’ prizes and volunteer badges.

WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

SELECT SOCIETY OF SANITARY SLUDGE SHOVELERS The Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers was founded by the Arizona Member Association in 1940. It originated to encourage members to get involved. You cannot join the society – you must be “selected” on the basis of merit. Within WEAT, induction into the prestigious society is based on “outstanding, meritorious service above and beyond the call of duty by recruiting at least five new members.” Shovels may also be awarded for exceptional service as established by the WEAT Board.

Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

• • • • • • • • • •

Phillip Goodwin Lisa Boatman James Bennett Ayman Benyamin Trinity O’Neal Agmed Weber Taylor Huynh David Garza Carlos Gonzalez Jeff Masek 29

WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

SIDNEY L. ALLISON AWARD ...recognizes a person (or entity) who has made significant contributions to the engineering, science, and/or operation and maintenance of wastewater collection and pumping stations with the mission to transport wastewater to a treatment plant.

Lianette Leon WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY AWARD ..recognizes individuals or companies that have developed or deployed innovative technologies to solve water challenges.

Lianette Leon Lianette Leon is currently the asset manager for the City of Baytown. She holds a bachelor’s degree in public accounting and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in cyber security. Lianette moved to the City of Baytown in 2018 after Hurricane Maria displaced her from her home in Puerto Rico. After the hurricane, Lianette and her family decided to come to Texas for a fresh start.

During her time in Puerto Rico, Lianette served as finance director for 13 years at local municipalities (City of Ponce and City of Patillas). Although she had no previous experience in asset management, Lianette was interested in making a career change and had some interest in the specialty, so she applied for the position at the City of Baytown.

At this time, the role of asset manager was new to the City of Baytown. Lianette came in and built the program from the ground up! She used both innovative and time-tested technologies to do so.

Not only did she create all of her work processes, but she also implemented software that the City of Baytown had never used before.

For her outstanding efforts in building an asset

management program, an asset management team, and incorporating new and innovative technologies, Lianette has been selected to receive two WEAT Awards: the Sidney L. Allison Award and the Innovative Technology Award.

Lianette is a dedicated professional committed to developing and growing her skillset. She is currently strategically building a program that allows the City of Baytown to better track the maintenance of assets and the lifecycle of those assets. She has created life cycle analysis reports which track the life cycles of lift stations, water lines, sewer lines, and drainage ditches.

She also created the Emergency Operations Dashboard for use in emergency events. This dashboard displays current incidents and assets to allow for a shared understanding of an event, arguably the most crucial part of managing an incident.

Because of Lianette’s contributions, the City of Baytown has made great strides in long-term planning and optimization.

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Texas Water TM 2022 Awards Program

WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS & TEXAS SECTION - AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION

KEN MILLER WATER FOR PEOPLE FOUNDER’S AWARD The Kenneth J. Miller Founder’s Award was established in 2001 by the board of directors of Water For People to honor outstanding volunteer service to this international humanitarian effort.

Water For People was conceived as a North American response to the water, sanitation and health needs of millions living in the developing world.

cause by contributing their financial assistance, organizational skills and professional expertise. As the organization grew and began accomplishing its vision, it became evident that extraordinary volunteer efforts were being made at the local level that should be publicly acknowledged and honored.

The Ken Miller Water for People Founder’s Award was established to do this.

From its beginnings, Water For People was envisioned to be a volunteer effort of the North American water community. The American Water Works Association leaders who organized Water For People believed that water professionals would recognize the urgent necessity to support such a

This award is given jointly by the Texas Section AWWA and WEAT. The winner is kept secret until announced. Also, the recipient is recognized by Water for People at the AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition.

Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

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WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS & TEXAS SECTION - AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION

WATERMARK AWARDS FOR COMMUNICATION EXCELLENCE MEMBER AWARDS The Watermark Award for communications excellence recognizes Texas Section AWWA and WEAT members who have produced top quality communications. Effective internal and external communication is essential to a member’s ability to provide excellent service. Today’s water resource professionals must communicate with a variety of audiences to achieve success. Through these awards, Texas Section AWWA and WEAT hope to heighten awareness among all water resource professionals about the importance of effective communication.

Category I: Communications programs: internal campaigns, external campaigns, crisis communications Large Utility City of Corpus Christi Crisis Communication: Corpus Christi’s Christmas Complication City of Corpus Christi Water Utilities communication regarding a Christmas night water pipe break and boil water notice used internal and external messaging to keep work crews safe and over 31,000 affected residents informed. The abundance of information and speed at which communication was provided to residents earned the city praise from residents. Additionally, the haste at which crews arrived and began working to repair the break, even on Christmas night, helped ensure residents that city crews were dedicated to repairing the issue and getting water back into the homes of those affected.

River Authorities or Districts: North Texas Municipal Water District Tarrant Regional Water District City of Dallas “Water is Awesome” Regional Water Conservation Public Awareness Campaign 32

City of Dallas, North Texas Municipal Water District and Tarrant Regional Water District have worked together since 2019 on the regional water conservation public awareness campaign, “Water is Awesome”. The goal is to increase the adoption of water saving behaviors, reduce water waste and promote the importance and value water provides in our communities.

After a change in creative direction in spring 2021, the new “Tall Tales from the Towers of Texas” theme made the “water tower” the star of the campaign. Four character “shorts” combined to create two 30-second commercials and their images were used for digital, print and outdoor advertisements in English and Spanish. A customer city “toolkit” provided campaign material promotion and customization with city logos. A series of four virtual webinars was provided for regional promotion and use on YouTube. Digital brochures and video shorts provided additional regional education resources.

With a Texas-sized media buy budget, the campaign had over 85 million TV and radio impressions, 10 million digital video views and close to 500,000 clicks to the webpage.

Texas Water

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2022 Awards Program

Honorable Mentions:

City of Fort Worth MyH2O Behind the Scenes

Fort Worth Water has worked for some years to bring advanced meter reading to the utility and a portal to its customers. The work is still ongoing, but in a effort to showcase many of the employees working behind the scenes on MyH2O, the utility published a series of stories about them in an internal newsletter. The stories focused on their work and offered a glimpse into the person.

The series effectively honored these employees.

They are proud of their work, as they should be, and we were proud to share their stories with several hundred of their colleagues.

San Jacinto River Authority SJRA Wide Viewer One of the San Jacinto River Authority’s goals identified in the 2019 Strategic Plan was effective stakeholder communications. As part of that goal, the public communications team continuously strives to inform internal and external stakeholders about the various projects our talented employees are working on.

One way in which the public communications department accomplishes this is by hosting a SJRAWide Viewer on the public facing website (www. sjra.net). The viewer is a dynamic address viewer built by our in-house geographic information systems department in Esri ArcGIS. To successfully meet the effective stakeholder communications goal, the public communications team made sure to include construction projects, studies, and repairs to be able to show representation from all five operational divisions. Providing a ”onestop shop” for construction projects, studies, and repairs allows all stakeholders to easily access vital information.

Garver Behind the Scenes Operators - A Recognition Initiative Too often, the crucial efforts of the water and wastewater operators throughout our communities go unnoticed. While many consumers don’t stop to consider what it takes to bring clean water to our faucets, these operators work tirelessly behind the scenes to bring our most precious resource to our homes – even amid a global pandemic and recordbreaking weather.

Category II: Publications: annual reports, water quality reports, brochures, postcards, etc.

Small Utility McAllen Public Utility Annual Yearbook

Large Utility City of Fort Worth Annual Water Quality Report

There are many friendly faces within the 13 departments of McAllen Public Utility, but recognizing over 200 people can sometimes be a challenge. The MPU Editorial Committee created an annual yearbook as a way to commemorate staff and highlight MPU’s goals and accomplishments.

Fort Worth’s production of the Annual Water Quality Report is a team effort that involves lab, conservation and communication staff.

The challenge every year is to take the complex information and make it easily understandable for the public. It is also to make the report interesting by adding stories about efforts the utility is (Continued)

Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

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taking to maintain water quality and improve its operations. Fort Worth Water wants its customers to know its staff works around the clock to do water right every time.

River Authorities or Districts: Upper Trinity Regional Water District Lake Ralph Hall Publications Last June, Upper Trinity Regional Water District broke ground on Lake Ralph Hall in Northeast Texas, near the City of Ladonia. As construction began, UTRWD faced the challenge of providing regular project updates ,as well as additional in-depth information about specific aspects of the project. The UTRWD team developed and disseminated a variety of both regular, ongoing and one-time publications to ensure key info could be accessed online or in-person.

UTRWD created branded bi-monthly reports and eNewsletters to provide information on project progress and milestones for its board and the public. In addition, four key factsheets were developed for anyone who wanted more detailed information on key aspects of the project. These

publications proved highly successful at reaching and informing key audiences. The factsheets were printed and distributed widely, and the reports printed regularly for board meetings as well as shared online. Similarly, the Lake Ralph Hall eNewsletter now reaches an audience of over 1,250 self-subscribed viewers and has a consistent open rate of over 42 percent.

Honorable Mention: City of Corpus Christi Annual Water Quality Report The City of Corpus Christi ensures Annual Water Quality Reports are creative and fresh so that residents will take an interest in the quality of their water. The 2020 report displayed all required language and data, as well as reminded residents the importance of water conservation and source water protection. The goal was to ensure residents and businesses were confident in the city’s ability to provide safe and great tasting drinking water.

This report was mailed to all residents, placed on the City of Corpus Christi website, and meetings were hosted to allow residents the opportunity to ask questions and gain more information.

Category III: Digital Content: websites, social media, infographics, logos, etc.

Large Utility City of Georgetown Water Utility Let Your Lawn Relax: City of Georgetown After years of relying on organic reach for our conservation messaging, the City of Georgetown put $50,000 toward the communications campaign, and we put it to good use. The Georgetown team read through academic

articles about changing people’s behavior and brainstormed messaging to create Let Your Lawn Relax. The campaign challenges the social norm that lawns must be green all summer, using quirky commercials, bright ads, and consistent social media messaging to get the point across. By the end of the summer, the City managed to avoid enacting our drought contingency plan. The campaign was so well received, Georgetown will be using it again this year.

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Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

River Authorities or Districts: Upper Trinity Regional Water District Lake Ralph Hall Website Last year Upper Trinity Regional Water District began building Lake Ralph Hall in North Texas.

As public interest in the project grew, UTRWD created and regularly updated the Lake Ralph Hall website (https://lakeralphhall.com/) to provide accurate information on the project, including project graphics, documents and updates, ensuring that they are always accessible.

A number of pages were added to the site, including those on project benefits, environmental improvements, current construction opportunities and the temporary Ladonia Fossil Park (which is of particular interest to locals and visitors in the area, and given its own dedicated page).

The team also created a set of pages on each of the project’s components and a Newsroom to house all recent news releases, stories and eNewsletters on the website, among others.

The Lake Ralph Hall website has proven a highly successful resource – with accurate, timely In 2021, the Lake Ralph Hall website was built out information. The site was viewed over 35,400 to communicate the start of construction. The site’s times in 2021, with an average 3,000 times per branding incorporated the project logo and simple month. navigation and robust content make the website the project’s central communications hub.

Category IV: Community Outreach & Education Programs: events, curriculums, programs Small Utility: City of Mansfield Water Utilities Educating the Public during a Pandemic It’s challenging enough to get residents interested in public education about water conservation and protection topics, but throw in a pandemic and it becomes even more difficult. So, how do you continue to provide public outreach, educating and engaging, while keeping everyone safe?

Because of closures, cancellations and the need for COVID safety protocols, we were forced to rethink how we keep our residents educated and informed. Because of COVID, it was essential that we provided safe and accessible education options.

The pandemic provided us a unique opportunity to come up with creative and unique ways to reach not only the usual participants and attendees, but also increase our reach exponentially.

Expanding our audience to include Meals on Wheels recipients, seniors at the city activity center Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

and students participating in the Feed the Kids program gave us new educational avenues. Moving from in-person classes to virtual, on-demand classes raised our participation rates through the roof. Through changing our thinking and modes of distribution, we were able to fulfill our educational goal of educating residents on how to conserve and protect water, and keep our waterways clean from trash and hazardous materials.

Large Utility: Houston Public Works Protect Our Pipes - SSO Prevention Outreach Program In Houston, approximately 70 percent of sanitary sewer overflows are caused by clogged pipes from fats, oils and grease poured down sinks and wipes flushed down toilets. To address these causes, HPW recently launched Protect Our Pipes, which engages Houston’s community in preventing SSOs. Using storytelling approaches through the program’s distinctive characters, Protect Our Pipes (Continued) 35

asks the community to pour fats, oils and grease in the trash and only flush the 3 Ps: pee, poo and (toilet) paper. Through an implementation strategy that includes fostering both city-wide awareness and targeted community engagement, the program aims to change community behavior to help reduce SSOs. In 2021, the program reached 14,467,055 impressions and the Protect Our Pipes webpage received 9,166 views. This was achieved through leveraging four key areas: 1. City of Houston platforms 2. Media and advertising 3. Community engagement (events and presentations) 4. Community Partnerships In 2021, Houston witnessed an overall 19 percent decrease of grease- and wipes-caused SSOs from 2020, due to a multifaceted approach that included Protect Our Pipes.

Challenges included navigating community engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing content and leveraging platforms that reflect the diversity of Houston and selecting the most cost-effective means of outreach.

River Authorities or Districts: Upper Trinity Regional Water District Watershed Story Map Website for School Outreach and Education School outreach and education is a key component of Upper Trinity Regional Water District’s (Upper Trinity) Water Conservation and Watershed Protection programs. In typical years, Upper Trinity provides tours, presentations and demonstrations on water and wastewater treatment, water conservation, and watershed protection. With restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Upper Trinity staff have not been able to educate students in-person.

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To continue providing educational resources to teachers and students, Upper Trinity created a Story Map website that provides information on watershed protection, water quality, and water conservation. The Story Map can be used by students from elementary to high school and engages the students with videos, text, graphics, and links to additional resources.

Upper Trinity partnered with the University of North Texas to develop three new lesson plans about streamflow and erosion, the importance of stream habitats for macroinvertebrates, and the difference in water usage of native vs. non-native plants. These lesson plans were incorporated into the Story Map as free educational resources for teachers and parents to use.

Collaborators on the project include the University of North Texas, Denton County Master Gardeners, the Lewisville ISD Outdoor Learning Area, and the Tarrant Regional Water District.

Honorable Mentions: North Texas Municipal Water District Water4Otter Online Youth Education Curriculum The pivot to online learning created an opportunity for the North Texas Municipal Water District to convert their youth water education performance program, Water4Otter, into free, modular online courses available to all. The result was three comprehensive online lessons and a workbook that can be adapted to a variety of digital learning environments.

Like the existing in-person performance, these online lessons align with TEKS and include a teacher introduction, quizzes, badges and a completion certificate. The mission of Water4Otter is to reduce peak-day water use, grow and inspire local environmental stewards within the NTMWD service area that will engage their families in conversations about water and water conservation.

(Continued) Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

Category VI: Multimedia: video and photography Small Utility: McAllen Public Utility RGV Women in STEM series Women are not only underrepresented in STEM fields but in the water sector as well. Together, McAllen Public Utility and the International Museum of Art and Science aim to help create an equitable STEM workforce by presenting the community with resources on STEM careers and representing more women scientists in exhibits and educational materials.

Among these resources is the “RGV Women in STEM” video series featuring local women working in the Rio Grande Valley. MPU and IMAS hope to inspire museum visitors and those who visit the virtual exhibit to see and learn about women in STEM careers firsthand.

These videos have been seen on site, online and used for educational camps and workshops hosted

by IMAS and MPU.

Large Utility: El Paso Water

We Are El Paso Water Video

El Paso Water has about 900 employees who understand their department’s role in serving the community, but many do not have a good understanding about other departments.

Additionally, like many other utilities nationwide, EPWater struggles with recruiting and retaining quality employees. The EPWater Communications team determined that a bilingual video would be the best tool to reach employees and the community on these challenges.

The video had three main goals: 1) to inform the community about what EPWater does and who we are; 2) to improve employee morale and pride by highlighting the important work we do; and 3) helping the community see EPWater as a great place to work.

The Communications team felt strongly that the video should feature employees in their elements explaining key messages in their own words. Nine employees were selected for the We Are El Paso Water project, consisting of bilingual 5-minute and 2-minute videos.

Response on the We Are El Paso Water videos has been overwhelmingly positive. The videos have received about 1,300 views on YouTube and Facebook. Plans are underway to formally use the videos as part of EPWater new employee orientation and recruitment efforts.

River Authorities or Districts: San Jacinto River Authority Mini Series The San Jacinto River Authority created a YouTube mini-series highlighting different efforts that SJRA is involved in.

The videos are educational to those who live in the region or are on Lake Conroe. The mini-series videos include SJRA and Texas Parks and Wildlife Christmas Tree Fish Habitat, SJRA Weather Aware Guide, and Lake Conroe Fishing Tips. These videos are a fun Q&A style video that helps engage members of the community.

Hope to see everyone next year!

Texas WaterTM 2023 — April 10-14 — Houston Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

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WEAT Operations Awards Ceremony April 6, 2022, 2:45 p.m.

Exhibit Hall, Meter Challenge/Awards Celebration Area

WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

SUSAN B. HIER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION & LICENSING ...recognizes an individual who has demonstrated passion and service to the operators of Texas.

Gary Sober Gary Sober graduated with a Bachelor of Science in zoology from Oklahoma State University in 1970. From 1973 to 1980, Gary worked for the Oklahoma State Department of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Gary focused on troubleshooting water and wastewater systems in EPA Region 6. He also instructed cities & towns on completing National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permits and forms. He presented a myriad of seminars on water and wastewater operations across the State of Oklahoma.

In 1980, Gary moved to Austin, Texas, and established Environmental Training Inc. and Envir-O-Spec Inc. in 1983. The two companies’ focus was developing and implementing training courses in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana and developing standard operating procedures for facilities.

With the two companies, Gary managed operations of 30 water and wastewater systems in central Texas from 5,000 gallons per day to 3.5 MGD. As co-owner of these two companies, Gary supervised up to eight full-time employees and water/wastewater operators.

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The water and wastewater operations business focused not only on the maintenance of the systems but also the management of these utility districts, including billing, payment processing, facility plans, and staffing. Gary ran the operations business successfully until 1997.

In 1997, Gary began working as Byo-Gon Inc.’s research and development manager His focus was researching natural solutions for grease, odor, and solids reduction. In 2005, Gary became vice president of Byo-Gon and began research of a product for remediation of soil contamination.

Gary continues to operate Environmental Training Inc., focusing on troubleshooting water and wastewater plant operational challenges. Gary provides training across the State of Texas for water and wastewater operators with the Texas Water Utilities Association. He hosts specialty training programs for operators seeking to upgrade their wastewater licenses.

Gary is a board member of the RPM Water Supply Corporation, near Chandler, Texas, where he is a valued member as the only licensed operator on the board.

Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OF THE YEAR Category 1 ( less than 1 MGD) ...acknowledges a municipal wastewater treatment plant in Texas that has consistently exhibited outstanding performance of daily activities beyond the normal call of duty.

Fair Oaks Ranch WWTP City of Fair Oaks Ranch The Fair Oaks Ranch Wastewater Treatment is a 0.5 MGD, activated sludge treatment process with a continuous loop reactor. The influent collection system includes approximately 2,100 residential connections and combines direct gravity feed and six lift stations.

Treatment begins at the influent bar screen, continues to an in-yard lift station, at which point it is pumped to a 350,000 gallon CLR with two aeration turbines. There are two secondary clarifiers and a chlorine contact chamber where effluent is treated with chlorine gas.

Effluent reuse water is then pumped to two golf courses within the city and used for irrigation.

Sludge is disposed of via wet truck hauling or the drying beds on-site for dry hauling. The current permit was renewed in-house by the current assistant director, who established a 10-year permit term with TCEQ. The utility currently has a multistep safety program that includes weekly safety meetings, facility, equipment, and vehicle safety inspections, and third-party training. The utility wastewater department has not sustained any loss time incidents in the past year due to the utilities’ emphasis on safety training.

Currently, the utility has a staff of 9 operators: one Class A wastewater operator, one Class B wastewater operator, and seven Class C wastewater operators. Although the plant only requires a C operator, the utility encourages employees to pursue the highest level of licensing.

Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

The City of Fair Oaks Ranch Wastewater Plant has a fascinating history as it was once privately owned. The city purchased the utility in 1998 and took over ownership and operations in 2000.

In the past 21 years of ownership, the utility has maintained an impeccable operation record. The plant has passed all TCEQ inspections. The plant received only one NOV in its history due to odor complaints. The utility went above and beyond to remedy the issue by installing various odor control measures.

Under the city’s ownership, the plant has also gone through multiple upgrades to improve its operation. However, like any other wastewater plant, it is still playing catch-up compared to most water operations.

During the 2021 winter storm, staff, the plant, and the collection system continued to operate without service interruption. Staff stayed and lived on-site throughout the winter storm from February 14 to February 19, 2021.

Thanks to staff being on site, they could catch problems before they became significant issues, such as pump freezing, power loss, salting walkways and driveways for access, and prepared by setting up backup generators and emergency diesel pumps when needed.

The staff’s sacrifice of being away from home and family was not easy; however, the city and its residents greatly appreciated it.

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WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OF THE YEAR Category 2 (1 MGD to <15 MGD) ...acknowledges a municipal wastewater treatment plant in Texas that has consistently exhibited outstanding performance of daily activities beyond the normal call of duty.

Sulphur Springs WWTP City of Sulphur Springs The City of Sulphur Springs Wastewater Treatment thickeners, dewatered using a belt filter press, and Facility is an activated sludge plant that is are composted with wood before being hauled to a permitted for 5.40 MGD annual average daily flow landfill. and 6.07 MGD peak 2-hour flow.

The documented safety program in action consists of the following written documents: Hazard The plant is designed to provide service for Assessment, Confined Space Entry Manual, approximately 17,000 residents. Liquid treatment processes consist of influent bar screens, an Excavation Safety, Prevention Program, Emergency Response Program, Hazardous Waste Operations, aerated grit removal basin, primary clarifiers, and Emergency Response, Risk Management aeration basins with a fine-bubble diffused air and Plan. In-house safety meetings are conducted centrifugal blower system, final clarifiers, a final monthly. The City of Sulphur Springs Wastewater clarifier effluent pump station, cloth disc filters, Treatment Facility has had no lost-time incidents and a chlorination/dechlorination disinfection process. per 100 facility employees in the year preceding the nomination.

Primary sludge and WAS are combined in the aerobic digesters, are then thickened via gravity

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Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OF THE YEAR Category 3 (>15 MGD) ...acknowledges a municipal wastewater treatment plant in Texas that has consistently exhibited outstanding performance of daily activities beyond the normal call of duty.

South Austin Regional WWTP Austin Water South Austin Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant located in Del Valle, Texas is owned and operated by Austin Water. It has an annual average effluent flow of 39.3 MGD.

South Austin Regional WWTP is currently implementing and maintaining a documented safety program. SAR has only had two lost time incidents since 2019.

South Austin Regional WWTP is a conventional activated sludge wastewater treatment plant with three treatment trains. Process units for each train include mechanical bar screens, grit removal, primary clarifiers, flow equalization, complete mix activated sludge aeration basins, secondary clarifiers, chlorine contact basins, filters, and dechlorination. Waste sludge is thickened and pumped to the City of Austin’s Biosolids Management Plant for treatment and beneficial reuse.

During COVID 2020-2021, SAR faced personnel reduction due to COVID, but SAR met all compliance requirements despite the personnel challenges.

SAR WWTP’s compliance history is exemplified in the last five years by achieving both Gold and Silver NACWA Peak Performance Awards.

The NACWA Peak Performance Awards have three award levels: Platinum, Gold, and Silver.

The Platinum Award recognizes 100 percent compliance with permits over a consecutive five-year period. The Gold Peak Performance award recognizes 100 percent compliance with permits for the past calendar year. The Silver Peak Performance award is presented to facilities with no more than five permit violations during the past calendar year.

SAR has received the NACWA Peak Performance Gold Award in 2017, the Silver Award in 2018, the Silver Award in 2019 and the Gold Award in 2020.

Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

Overlapping the pandemic, which was already straining city resources, winter storm Uri severely challenged SAR’s operations. Uri, which brought 164 hours of freezing temperatures and broke the record for consecutive days of grounded snow, left up to 40 percent of Austin residents without power, with some outages lasting as long as 72 hours.

In addition to the power and travel challenges, the winter storm caused significant disruptions to the States product availability of sodium hypochlorite supplies. Chemical providers were facing electrical issues which halted production and delivery.

SAR operations management reached out to other chemical providers to provide disinfection chemicals for SAR. Five days of continued persistence and tenacity by SAR’s Superintendent Mark Reeh paid off. Mark was able to procure and receive deliveries of Sodium Hypochlorite without any disruption to SARs operations. Equally impressive, SAR did not have any permitted effluent limit excursions during the winter storm.

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WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

OUTSTANDING OPERATOR OF THE YEAR ...recognizes a wastewater treatment plant operator (municipal or industrial) in the State of Texas who has demonstrated outstanding professionalism at his/her facility and has performed his/her duties tirelessly and with dedication to the betterment of the water environment.

Victor Riels Throughout Victor Riels’ tenure of 43 years of service, he has become one of the most reliable, hardworking, knowledgeable, and strong leaders in the Wastewater Operations Branch at the City of Houston.

He is highly knowledgeable of the overall operations process at several plants in the South Central area. He was involved in bringing the new Sludge Drying Facility at Almeda Sims online in 2008.

Regardless of any recognition and hard hits from Tropical Storms Allison and Imelda, and Hurricanes Rita, Ike and Harvey, Victor continued to perform his duties with the highest degree of honor and integrity.

The freeze that occurred in February 2021 caused several power outages, broken pipes, and equipment failures that affected the operation of the treatment process. Victor used his expertise to overcome these harsh conditions and maintain the Almeda Sims Treatment Plant in compliance.

He has been behind the city consistently and devotedly. His leadership has created positive recognition for the Wastewater Operations Branch.

Victor is an employee who leads by example.

Several facilities under his watchful direction have received award honors from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies for consistently meeting the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit limits, which has created a safe, productive, and professional environment.

A true team player, Victor works very well with his staff and support groups to achieve the best possible outcome for his area of responsibility. His staff often consult with him to resolve issues and problems before they get out of hand.

Victor provides clear direction, valuable performance feedback, and he dedicates considerable effort to developing the skills of his subordinates to perform at their full potential.

He is a very effective problem solver and quickly overcomes any obstacles. He is very proactive at getting on top of problems and solving them quickly.

He became a member of the Water Environment Association of Texas to broaden his wastewater knowledge. Houston Public Works is very grateful to have him as a dedicated employee in the Houston Water Department.

Gavel Passing Ceremony San Antonio Botanical Garden Wednesday, April 6, 6 :15 p.m.

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Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

OUTSTANDING OPERATOR OF THE YEAR ...recognizes a wastewater treatment plant operator (municipal or industrial) in the State of Texas who has demonstrated outstanding professionalism at his/her facility and has performed his/her duties tirelessly and with dedication to the betterment of the water environment.

Bill Champion Bill Champion has worked for the City of Fair Oaks Ranch for 13 years as the chief wastewater treatment operator. His dedication and service to the wastewater field extends 50 years, spanning four states, beginning in Colorado as an Armed Forces Veteran at the Air Force Academy in 1970.

members, and engineers to educate them on the city’s challenges. Due to all this research, the Fair Oaks Ranch City Council recently approved purchasing a sludge dewatering press, eliminating odor complaints and saving the city over $300,000 per year in sludge hauling costs.

His experience, knowledge, and commitment have resulted in 13 years of success for the City of Fair Oaks Ranch, running a 0.5 MGD plant constructed in 1976 with limited upgrades.

Also, the last two years have been an extraordinary challenge with the pandemic and the unprecedented Texas freeze in February 2021.

During the freeze, and despite having a family to worry about at home, Bill worked tirelessly and slept at the city campus for a week to monitor and address any issues that arose with record-high wastewater inflow, power outages, and pump station failures.

Bill currently holds a State of Texas TCEQ Class B Wastewater License and continually strives to further his education and keep up with the latest technologies in the field.

He is currently a member of WEAT, WET, TRWA, and annually attends conferences, such as Texas Water. He also reads the latest publications sent by industry organizations. Bill is very involved with the Fair Oaks Ranch community and surrounding municipal wastewater teams.

With the recent explosion of population growth in Fair Oaks Ranch, the city was mandated by the TCEQ to increase plant capacity in the coming years, which will involve upgrading the existing plant or constructing a new plant at a separate location. In addition to the expansion, the city was forced to change the waste process from drying beds to sludge truck hauling because of resident odor complaints.

Bill has been instrumental in this process, taking tours of surrounding municipal plants with similar challenges to bring some ideas to the table, and hosting tours at the plant to residents, council Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

When it comes to daily routine and activities, Bill’s attention to detail and process control has led to 13 years with zero TCEQ violations despite aging infrastructure and technology. He closely examines all state lab reports as they come in, examines sludge microorganisms under a microscope on a daily basis, and performs on-site tests not required under the permit so as to perfect the treatment process. He truly takes the success of CFOR’s wastewater plant to heart.

In an industry struggling to find experienced wastewater operators, he has made himself available to train newly hired operators and share his vast knowledge with whoever is chosen to carry the torch as chief operator of the wastewater plant. In addition, Bill is certified as a TCEQ Class C Groundwater operator, assisting the water department. He serves as the primary 24/7 on-call operator every six weeks.

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WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

OUTSTANDING OPERATOR OF THE YEAR ...recognizes a wastewater treatment plant operator (municipal or industrial) in the State of Texas who has demonstrated outstanding professionalism at his/her facility and has performed his/her duties tirelessly and with dedication to the betterment of the water environment.

Edgar Tijerina The first day Edgar Tijerina walked into the McAllen Public Utility South Wastewater Treatment Plant he was met with the smell of anaerobic bacteria that would typically make someone run away. Ten years later, he does not regret it one bit as he genuinely enjoys his profession.

During his tenure at MPU, Edgar moved up the ranks. He began as an operator, then safety officer, to supervisor and now manager of the largest biological nutrient removal plant in the Rio Grande Valley for over a year. He achieved this by dedicating to better himself as a knowledgeable WWTP operator.

Edgar obtained his Bachelor of Science in biology while working 40 hours a week doing shift work at the SWWTP. A few years later, he became a Certified Public Manager and obtained his master’s degree in public administration. He is most proud of obtaining his TCEQ Wastewater “A” License.

It has been an exciting time at MPU with a BNR plant going online in November 2017. This brought upon new equipment throughout the facility along with new challenges. Edgar learned the ins and outs of each BNR process, how to work the new equipment, and wrote out standard operating procedures for the operators.

When something malfunctioned, it became a unique learning experience on why it occurred and how it was resolved. Information is discussed in daily morning meetings with his supervisor, assistant systems director, and director. He also has

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one-on-one sessions with operators concerning the operation of equipment, TCEQ permits, safety issues, operation of SCADA, and lab results. He schedules webinars where he and his operators can learn about new ideas in the industry, new technology, and new equipment.

Edgar is instrumental in teaching the BNR process to high school students and college students who visit the plant throughout the year; furthermore, MPU takes great pride in knowing that TCEQ will contact them to help train and show new TCEQ inspectors how a WWTP works.

MPU also has a yearly event known as MPU Annual Night. At this event, Edgar and his staff engage with the public about the utility. They have a booth that focuses on wastewater with a 3D WWTP model staff built.

Recently, a state inspection was conducted at the South Wastewater Treatment Plant. The TCEQ inspector shared with MPU that the inspectors at TCEQ all want to visit the plant because of how well it is being managed. During the exit interview, the TCEQ inspector stated, “I rarely do this, but I found no violations.” This comment was a compliment to the operators, but especially to Edgar because he manages and operates the plant.

Edgar enjoys what he does and continues to better himself in every aspect of the profession. He is someone to admire. He continues to give back to his operators by teaching them what he knows for them to enrich their knowledge.

Texas WaterTM 2022 Awards Program

Thank you to our sponsors!

Conference Awards Lunch Tuesday, April 5

Awards Celebration Wednesday, April 6

Congratulations to all our winners!