Chicago, IL, Oct. 7, 2002 -- More than 200 of the best and brightest wastewater treatment professionals in the world got their chance to shine in Chicago, IL Oct. 2, when they competed in Operations Challenge 2002, a unique, fast-paced skills competition for wastewater operations and maintenance professionals.
The winners included:
Division I
1st Place - Virginia Water Environment Association Team HRSD Bio-Force
2nd Place - California Water Environment Association L.A. Wrecking Crew
3rd Place - Water Environment Association of Texas TRA CRWSers
Division II
1st Place- Nevada Water Environment Association Totally Chaotic
2nd Place - Water Environment Association of Texas Austin Blues
3rd Place - New England Water Environment Association Crustaceans
Now in its 15th year, Operations Challenge is a "wastewater Olympics" that honors the skill and professionalism of wastewater treatment plant operators. Thirty-six teams from across North America competed in this year's event at McCormick Place. 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. On a daily basis at their treatment facilities, these same individuals protect public health and the environment by cleaning the wastewater generated in homes, businesses, and factories.
Chicago, host of Operations Challenge 2002, is also the site of the Water Environment Federation's WEFTEC 2002 conference, bringing together more than 17,000 of the world's leading water quality experts and nearly 800 exhibiting companies for five days of technical education and information exchange.
Founded in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization with members from varied disciplines who work toward the WEF vision of preservation and enhancement of the global water environment. The WEF network includes water quality professionals from 79 Member Associations in 32 countries.
