South Florida, British Columbia Teams Win the 2014 WEF Student Design Competition

During the 2014 Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) Student Design Competition a judge asks the University of British Columbia (Vancouver) about their project. Photo courtesy of Oscar Einzig Photography.

Students from the University of South Florida (Tampa) and the University of British Columbia (Vancouver) won the 2014 Water Environment Federation Student Design Competition. The thirteenth annual competition took place in New Orleans at WEFTEC^® 2014, WEF’s 87th annual technical exhibition and conference.

The University of South Florida team project, “South/Central Hillsborough County Service Area Capital Improvements Project,” won in the wastewater design category. The University of British Columbia team project, “Scenario Evaluation for Maintaining Baseflows and Water Quality in Star Creek,” won in the environmental design category. This was the fourth win for the University of South Florida and a second win for the University of British Columbia.

Both teams received certificates and a $2500 award.

Members of the University of South Florida team included Lauren Davis, Michael Esteban, Jared Faniel, Andrew Filippi, Winsome Jackson, Herby Jean, Richard Johnson, and their faculty advisor Sarina Ergas. Members of the University of British Columbia team included Stephen Bertulli, Robert D’Amours, David Houghton, Davis Saabas, Michael Thiessen, and their faculty advisor, Noboru Yonemitsu.

As a program of WEF’s Students and Young Professionals Committee, the competition promotes real-world design experience for students interested in pursuing an education and/or career in water and wastewater engineering and sciences. To compete, individuals or teams of students within a WEF student chapter must 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.

Wastewater Design Category Winner	Environmental Design Category Winner
The University of South Florida team placed first in the student design competition’s wastewater design category. Team members, from left, Michael Esteban, Lauren Davis, Herby Jean, Winsome Jackson, Richard Johnson, and Andrew Filippi, stand with WEF President Ed McCormick. Photo courtesy of Oscar Einzig Photography.	The University of British Columbia team placed first in the student design competition’s environmental design category. Team members, from left, Stephen Bertulli, Michael Thiessen, Robert D’Amours, Davis Saabas, and David Houghton, stand with WEF President Ed McCormick. Photo courtesy of Oscar Einzig Photography.