Introducing the 2016 WEF Awards Recipients

The Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) has announced the recipients of the 2016 WEF Awards. The annual awards recognize individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the water environment profession, WEF, and WEF Member Associations.

Recipients contribute to the sustainability of water resources and make a profound impact on the future through education and engagement with water professionals.

The awards were presented at WEFTEC® 2016 in New Orleans.

Camp Applied Research Award

Kartik Chandran, Camp Applied Research Award

Kartik Chandran, Camp Applied Research Award

Kartik Chandran

“[Chandran] has shown how to convert pollutants into valued resources while minimizing the greenhouse gas footprint. His work is truly groundbreaking for the wastewater processing industry,” according to the WEF Camp Applied Research Award subcommittee.

Phillip Hubbard, Collection Systems Award

Phillip Hubbard, Collection Systems Award

Collection Systems Award

Phillip Hubbard

“[Hubbard] is an active member of the Virginia Water Environment Association and WEF with over 30 years’ experience in maintenance and construction of collection systems,” according to the WEF Collection Systems Award subcommittee.

Eddy Wastewater Principles/Processes Medal

Erik Coats, Eddy Wastewater Principles/Processes Medal

Erik Coats, Eddy Wastewater Principles/Processes Medal

Zachary Dobroth, Eddy Wastewater Principles/Processes Medal

Zachary Dobroth, Eddy Wastewater Principles/Processes Medal

Cynthia Brinkman, Zachary Dobroth, Eddy Wastewater Principles/Processes Medal

Cynthia Brinkman, Eddy Wastewater Principles/Processes Medal

“EBPR Using Crude Glycerol: Assessing Process Resiliency and Exploring Metabolic Anomalies,” Erik R. Coats, Zachary T. Dobroth and Cynthia K. Brinkman, Water Environment Research, January 2015, v. 87, no. 1, pp. 68-79

“This laboratory-scale research demonstrated the successful enhanced removal of phosphate using an anaerobic zone fed with crude glycerol — a byproduct of biodiesel manufacture,” according to the WEF Eddy Medal subcommittee.

Dale Jacobson, Emerson Distinguished Service Medal

Dale Jacobson, Emerson Distinguished Service Medal

Emerson Distinguished Service Medal

Dale Jacobson

“Jacobson has made numerous and continuing contributions to the goals of the Water Environment Federation through the course of 40 years,” according to the WEF Emerson Medal subcommittee.

Peter Fox, Fair Distinguished Engineering Educator Medal

Peter Fox, Fair Distinguished Engineering Educator Medal

Fair Distinguished Engineering Educator Medal

Peter Fox, Arizona State University

“Fox has demonstrated a strong commitment to the education of his students for more than 25 years, teaching a wide variety of courses and conducting significant research in the areas of biological wastewater treatment, natural resource management, water reclamation, groundwater recharge, and sustainable engineering principles,” according to the WEF Fair Medal subcommittee.

Chris Maher, Gascoigne WWTP Operational Improvement Medal

Chris Maher, Gascoigne WWTP Operational Improvement Medal

Peter LaMontagne, Gascoigne WWTP Operational Improvement Medal

Peter LaMontagne, Gascoigne WWTP Operational Improvement Medal

Gascoigne WWTP Operational Improvement Medal

“Add it Up,” Chris Maher and Peter LaMontagne, Water Environment & Technology, April 2015, v. 27, no. 4, p. 59

“This article details how the staff at the Rock Creek Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility in Hillsboro, Ore., developed and then used an overall ‘cost to process’ approach to optimize their solid centrifuge dewatering units,” according to the WEF Gascoigne Medal subcommittee.

Industrial Water Quality Achievement Award

ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Refinery

ExxonMobil, Industrial Water Quality Achievement Award

ExxonMobil, Industrial Water Quality Achievement Award

“The wastewater treatment facility at the [refinery] treats an average of [35,956 L/min] 9500 gal/min of refinery wastewater with a discharge of treated effluent into the Mississippi River in accordance with a Louisiana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit,” according to the WEF Industrial Water Quality Achievement Award subcommittee.

Innovative Technology Award

Arvia Technology Ltd. (Runcorn, England), Innovative Technology Award

Arvia Technology Ltd. (Runcorn, England), Innovative Technology Award

ODC™ system; Arvia Technology Ltd. (Runcorn, England)

“[The system] shows an innovative and creative product that could have large implications in the practice of treating wastewaters, especially hard to treat contaminants that are not amenable to biological treatment,” according to the WEF Innovative Technology Award subcommittee.

Tom Horton, Media and Public Education Medal

Tom Horton, Media and Public Education Medal

Media and Public Education Medal

Tom Horton

“Horton has shone a light upon the majesty of the Chesapeake Bay while issuing a call to action to combat the forces that have threatened it. As such, Horton is a distinguished leader in promoting public understanding of the need for effective water quality,” according to the WEF Media and Public Education Medal subcommittee.

Member Association Achievement Award

Kentucky-Tennessee Water Environment Association

Kentucky-Tennessee Water Environment Association, Member Association Achievement Award

Kentucky-Tennessee Water Environment Association, Member Association Achievement Award

“Starting 3 years ago, the Kentucky-Tennessee Water Environment Association helped its Student Committee successfully build an outstanding series of programs that benefit students, encourages them to pursue water careers, and helps them transition to become successful clean water professionals,” according to the WEF Member Association Excellence Awards subcommittee.

New York Water Environment Association, Outstanding Member Association Award

New York Water Environment Association, Outstanding Member Association Award

Outstanding Member Association Award

New York Water Environment Association

“The New York Water Environment Association thoroughly demonstrated its excellence in financial management, scholarship programs, professional development, and awards programs,” according to the WEF Member Association Excellence Awards subcommittee.

Lauren Zuravnsky, Outstanding Young Water Environment Professional Award

Lauren Zuravnsky, Outstanding Young Water Environment Professional Award

Outstanding Young Water Environment Professional Award

Lauren Zuravnsky

“[Zuravnsky] has shown a great amount of commitment and dedication on the national level as well as locally within her Member Association,” according to the WEF Outstanding Young Water Environment Professional Award subcommittee. “[She] is well deserving of this award, and her passion for our industry should be recognized.”

Public Communication & Outreach Program Awards

Kenneth Burgener, Public Communication & Outreach Program Awards

Kenneth Burgener, Public Communication & Outreach Program Awards

Individual category: Kenneth W. Burgener

“[Burgener] has spearheaded in Utah the important work of kindling and maintaining interest in the practical technology of water recovery and environmental enhancement for a substantial period of time,” according to the WEF Public Communication & Outreach Program Awards subcommittee. “He has spent a great deal of time working with children and promoting water. … We are impressed with the amount of energy he has put into his outreach activities.”

 

 


Member Association category: Hawaii Water Environment Association (HWEA)

Hawaii Water Environment Association, Public Communication & Outreach Program Awards

Hawaii Water Environment Association, Public Communication & Outreach Program Awards

“HWEA has done an impressive job of ramping up its public education programs in the past few years,” according to the WEF Public Communication & Outreach Program Awards subcommittee. “They are actively promoting and participating in a variety of outreach and educational activities including field trips, school visits, and more. They have made extensive use of social media.”


Other category: Albuquerque (N.M.) Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority

Albuquerque (N.M.) Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, Public Communication & Outreach Program Awards

Albuquerque (N.M.) Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, Public Communication & Outreach Program Awards

“The water authority has developed an innovative program focused on fourth graders with a field trip called the River Is Ours (RIO). This program brings about 7000 fourth graders to the river in addition to follow-up class presentations and wastewater tours,” according to the WEF Public Communication & Outreach Program Awards subcommittee. “This is a strong, community-based program, emphasizing personalized ownership and precious nature of water resources.”

Public Officials Award

George S. Hawkins, General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority

George S. Hawkins, Public Officials Award

George S. Hawkins, Public Officials Award

“Hawkins has launched programs at DC Water [Washington, D.C.] to improve aging infrastructure, eliminate overflows, reduce nutrient levels in the systems discharges, and generate energy from a waste-to-energy program. To develop customer engagement, he has led the development of a vibrant social media presence,” according to the WEF Public Officials Award subcommittee.

Malcolm Fabiyi, Rudolfs Medal

Malcolm Fabiyi, Rudolfs Medal

Asun Larrea, Rudolfs Medal

Asun Larrea, Rudolfs Medal

Rudolfs Industrial Waste Management Medal

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

“[The paper] presented new information on the ability of a biological [wastewater treatment] facility to successfully transition from mesophilic to thermophilic operation without a drop in oxygen uptake rate,” according to the WEF Rudolfs Medal subcommittee. “This finding resonated with the committee members, partly because we all know of industrial [wastewater treatment facilities] that have experienced difficulty in operating when aeration basin temperatures are in that transition zone.”

Randall A. Wirtz, Schroepfer Innovative Facility Design Medal

Randall A. Wirtz, Schroepfer Innovative Facility Design Medal

Schroepfer Innovative Facility Design Medal

Randall A. Wirtz, Strand Associates Inc.® (Madison, Wis.)

“The Dubuque (Iowa) Water & Resource Recovery Center Upgrade was a transformational project for the City of Dubuque,” according to the WEF Schroepfer Medal subcommittee. “The upgrades provided significant cost savings and revenue generation through onsite electricity production. The project recycled or repurposed 98.6% of the construction and demolition materials and achieved an Energy Star rating for the new administration building.”

Kenneth Wood, Wesley Eckenfelder Industrial Water Quality Lifetime Achievement Award

Kenneth Wood, Wesley Eckenfelder Industrial Water Quality Lifetime Achievement Award

Wesley Eckenfelder Industrial Water Quality Lifetime Achievement Award

Kenneth N. Wood

“Wood is a widely and highly regarded and recognized leader in the field of industrial wastewater treatment,” according to the WEF W. Wesley Eckenfelder Industrial Water Quality Lifetime Achievement Award subcommittee. “He was our clear choice this year from our four evaluators.”

Water Heroes Award

City of Columbia (S.C.) Metro Wastewater Treatment Plant staff, Water Heroes Award

City of Columbia (S.C.) Metro Wastewater Treatment Plant staff, Water Heroes Award

City of Columbia (S.C.) Metro Wastewater Treatment Plant staff: James Foust, Ashley Dove, Adrian Martin, and Brandon Wilcox

“South Carolina witnessed an unprecedented rain event that resulted in flooding in many parts of the state,” according to the WEF Water Heroes Award subcommittee. “Throughout this event, they managed to maintain compliance with the NPDES permit with very little sleep or provisions. They bolstered each other with encouragement, the ‘can do’ attitude, some humor at times, and a level of professionalism that makes them truly deserving of the designation ‘Water Heroes.’”

Christine Dykstra, WEF Canham Graduate Studies Scholarship

Christine Dykstra, WEF Canham Graduate Studies Scholarship

WEF Canham Graduate Studies Scholarship

Christine M. Dykstra, Georgia Institute of Technology

“[Dykstra’s] current research explores the use of a bioelectrochemical system (BES) for the conversion of waste carbon dioxide into methane,” according to the WEF Canham Scholarship subcommittee. “Following the completion of her Ph.D., [Dykstra] plans to continue working with biological treatment of wastewaters by pursuing a career either in academia or engineering consulting.”

WEF Project Excellence Award

Gresham, Ore. Cogeneration Expansion Project

Gresham, Ore. Cogeneration Expansion Project, WEF Project Excellence Award
Gresham, Ore. Cogeneration Expansion Project, WEF Project Excellence Award
Gresham, Ore. Cogeneration Expansion Project, WEF Project Excellence Award

Owner: City of Gresham

Designer: Carollo Engineers (Walnut Creek, Calif.)

Contractor: JRT Mechanical Inc. (Battle Ground, Wash.)

“The Cogen Expansion Project, along with co-digestion of FOG [fats, oil, and grease] and energy conservation, made the City of Gresham WWTP energy net zero. The project was completed on time, within budget and has a projected payback time of 7 years,” according to the WEF Project Excellence Award subcommittee.


Groundwater Replenishment System Initial Expansion

 WEF Awards -Orange County Sanitation District (WEF Project Excellence)  WEF Awards -Orange County Water District (WEF Project Excellence) 2
Groundwater Replenishment System Initial Expansion, WEF Project Excellence Award
 WEF Awards -Black and Veatch (WEF Project Excellence)  WEF Awards -McCarthy Building Co (WEF Project Excellence)

Owners: Orange County Water District (Fountain Valley, Calif.) and Orange County Sanitation District (Fountain Valley, Calif.)

Designer: Black & Veatch Corp. (Overland Park, Kan.)

Contractor: McCarthy Building Companies Inc. (St. Louis, Mo.)

Construction Manager: Parsons Corp. (Pasadena, Calif.)

“The Groundwater Replenishment System is the world’s largest water purification system for indirect potable reuse. In 2015, the GWRS Initial Expansion increased capacity by [114 ML/d] 30 million gal/d, bringing its total capacity to [379 ML/d] 100 million gal/day, and generating enough nearly distilled-quality water to meet the needs of 850,000 people,” according to the WEF Project Excellence Award subcommittee.


WaterHub at Emory University (Atlanta)

 WaterHub at Emory University (Atlanta), WEF Project Excellence Award
WaterHub at Emory University (Atlanta), WEF Project Excellence Award
WaterHub at Emory University (Atlanta), WEF Project Excellence Award

Owner/Developer: Sustainable Water (Glen Allen, Va.)

Sponsor: Emory University

“The WaterHub® at Emory University is a campus-wide onsite water reclamation system utilizing eco-engineering processes to clean wastewater for non-potable uses. It is the first system of its kind to be installed in the United States. Since it’s commissioning in May 2015, the WaterHub reclaimed over [151,400 m3] 40 million gal of wastewater,” according to the WEF Project Excellence Award subcommittee.

WEF Safety Award

Glenbard Wastewater Authority (Glen Ellyn, Ill.), WEF Safety Award

Glenbard Wastewater Authority (Glen Ellyn, Ill.), WEF Safety Award

Glenbard Wastewater Authority (Glen Ellyn, Ill.)

“Glenbard presented a well-conceived safety plan for a smaller facility.  However, in doing so it demonstrated employee participation and management buy-in to the safety program.  This is further displayed by an incentive program to award positive progress,” according to the WEF Safety Award subcommittee. “Most importantly, their 1000+ days without a reportable lost time accident is further proof that their program is successful.”

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