The Water Environment Federation (WEF) has announced the winners of its 2021 Student Design Competition. WEF honored students from Clemson University and California State Polytechnic University, Pomona as this year’s competition winners.
The 20th annual competition showcased the innovations of 23 teams from 18 WEF Member Associations and four countries during WEFTEC 2021, WEF's 94th annual technical exhibition and conference.
The California State Polytechnic University, Pomona’s project, “A Community Approach to Puddingstone Watershed Restoration” won in the Water Environment Design category, and the Clemson University team’s project, “F. Wayne Hill Water Resources Center Solids Processing upgrades” won in the Wastewater Design category.
This was the first win for both California State Polytechnic, Pomona and Clemson University.
As a program of WEF’s Students & Young Professionals Committee, the competition promotes real-world design experience for students interested in pursuing an education and/or career in water/wastewater engineering and sciences. Individuals or teams of students within a WEF student chapter are tasked to prepare a design to help solve a local water quality issue. Teams evaluate alternatives, perform calculations, and recommend the most practical solution based on experience, economics, and feasibility.
The full roster of this year’s top competition contestants are:
Water Environment Category
1st: California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (California Water Environment Association)
2nd: George Mason University (Virginia Water Environment Association)
3rd: University of South Florida (Florida Water Environment Association)
Wastewater Category
1st: Clemson University (Water Environment Association of South Carolina)
2nd: Northeastern University (New England Water Environment Association)
3rd: North Carolina State University (North Carolina AWWA-WEA)
4th: City College of New York (New York Water Environment Association)
5th: Southern Methodist University (Water Environment Association of Texas)
GHD, Carollo, Vaughan, Black & Veatch, and CDM Smith sponsored this year’s competition.
