More than 200 of the best and brightest wastewater treatment professionals in the world got their chance to shine in New Orleans, LA, in early October when they competed in Operations Challenge 2004, a unique, fast-paced skills competition for wastewater operations and maintenance professionals. The winners included:
Division I
1st Place – Virginia WEA Fluid Dynamics
2nd Place – Virginia Environment Association HRSD Bio-Force
3rd Place – WEA of Texas TRA CReWSers
Division II
1st Place – New England WEA Seacoast Sewer Snakes
2nd Place – Virginia WEA Virginia Beach Collectors
3rd Place – Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association River Rangers
Now in its 17th year, Operations Challenge is a "Wastewater Olympics" that honors the skill and professionalism of wastewater treatment plant operators. Thirty-four teams from across North America competed in this year's event at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The teams trained for months leading up to this national event, many having worked their way up from in-plant and regional competitions.
The teams, all sporting a variety of colored team jerseys and hardhats, were judged on speed and accuracy in five events – maintenance, laboratory analysis, collection systems, process control and safety – that represent different aspects of a wastewater professional's job.
New Orleans, host of Operations Challenge 2004, was also the site of WEFTEC®.04, the Water Environment Federation's 77th annual conference and exhibition. WEFTEC.04 attracted over 16,000 attendees and over 800 exhibiting companies for five days of technical education, information exchange and networking opportunities.
