WEF Highlights

Patty Chesebrough’s love of water can be traced to the childhood weekends she spent at Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. “I can still hear the sound of the twin Mercury motors on our boat and remember dad teaching me to listen to their harmonies to set the throttles,” Patty said. Patty learned the importance of water stewardship as she watched her […]

They say that when one door closes, another opens, and Rey Davila is living proof. An unexpected layoff from the City of Dallas’ Transportation Department opened the door to a successful water sector career for him and, eventually, two other relatives – his daughter, Jessica Davila, and nephew, Christian Mendez. Rey had served the city for […]

Orren West rises through the ranks while contributing to the competition Orren West Jr. believes in Operations Challenge. Staying involved in the competition has helped him rise through the ranks in his career, an experience West wants to pass along to his fellow operators. “I have experienced, personally, professional growth through Ops Challenge, and I […]

The Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) Operations Challenge program has received a Silver “Power of A” award from the American Society of Association Executives (Washington, D.C.). The award recognizes innovative, effective, and broad-reaching programs that positively affect the U.S. and world. The 30th annual Operations Challenge took place at WEFTEC 2017. A record number […]

WEF introduces the top teams in every category Members of the 44 Operations Challenge teams competing at WEFTEC 2017 entered McCormick Place in Chicago with their sights set on winning. In addition to overall Division 1 or Division 2 awards, teams vied for top spots in the competition’s five events: Process Control, Laboratory, Safety, Godwin […]

William Grandner, an icon of New York City’s wastewater treatment sector, has a long history in mentoring wastewater operators. By serving as a mentor for the next generation, he hopes to prepare the sector for an uncertain future. “I am not a psychic, but I know the future of the young operator. I walked in […]

With the 30th Operations Challenge just concluded at WEFTEC 2017 in Chicago, now marks an ideal time to look back at the best of the best. The idea for the Operations Challenge competition began in the mid-1980s. After Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) Member Associations began to host local operator-focused competitions, WEF hosted the first […]

Even in its 90th year, the annual Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC®) continues to grow while maintaining top-notch content. Something for everyone Water quality professionals from around the world will congregate Sept. 30–Oct. 4 at Chicago’s McCormick Place for the largest water quality conference and exhibition in North America. […]