The Wastewater Challenge is a national competition held in conjunction with the WEF Residuals and Biosolids Conference. This hands-on competition requires teams of students to treat agricultural runoff from a biosolids compost facility in order to protect a wetland ecosystem, using an assortment of household products. The challenge is an opportunity for students from across the nation to work collaboratively, problem solve, and design an emergency wastewater treatment system by applying traditional wastewater treatment principles learned in the classroom to an extraordinary situation that requires true and innovative “outside the box” thinking.
The next Wastewater Challenge is scheduled to be held in conjunction with the Residuals and Biosolids Conference held May 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee. Additional information on the 2013 event will be forthcoming.
The 2011 Wastewater Challenge held in Sacramento, California on May 22, 2011 was a success! Please see below for Challenge details from the 2011 event.
Competition Scenario:
Hands-on competition requires teams of students to treat agricultural runoff from a biosolids compost facility in order to protect a wetland ecosystem, using an assortment of household products. The challenge is an opportunity for students from across the nation to work collaborataively, problem solve, and design an emergency wastewater treatment system by applying traditional wastewater treatment principles learned in the classroom to an extraordinary situation.
2011 Competition Schedule:
| 7:00 - 8:00 am |
Team Check-In |
Badge pick-up and unload design materials |
| 8:00 - 10:00 am |
Event Begins |
Teams set-up their design |
| 10:00 - 12:00 Noon |
Team Presentations |
Each team will present their design |
| 12:00 - 1:30 pm |
Lunch |
Box lunch provided to team members |
| 1:30 - 2:30 pm |
Teams to Run Systems |
Teams run their design |
| 2:30 - 5:00 pm |
Break Down
|
Team cleanup |
Amended Guideline (PDF) (as of 3/7/11)
Guideline Q&A's (PDF) (current as of 3/7/11)
2011 Participating Teams:
California State University - Fullerton
|
University of California, Irvine
|
California State University - Sacramento
|
University of California, Los Angeles
|
Cal Poly Pomona
|
University of California, San Diego
|
Cal Poly Sol
|
University of Southern California
|
Colorado State University
|
Washington State University
|
New Mexico Tech
|
Wentworth Institute of Technology
|
2011 Team Reminders:
- *Submit Team Design Report - Due April 1
- *Chemical Products Usage Form - WEF Requires - Due May 1
- *Material Safety Data Sheet - Due May 1
- Team members must pre-register for conference online - By May 1
- Team members must check-in onsite at 7 am - May 22
2011 Grand Prize:
GOLD Level Benefits at $1,000:
• Sign recognition at sponsored event
• Sponsorship signage identifying your company as a sponsor
• Logo on official Wastewater Challenge T-Shirt
• Logo with sponsorship listing in conference program
• Logo and hyperlink with online sponsorship listing at www.wef.org
• One company representative to serve on judging panel for the Wastewater Challenge
SILVER Level Benefits at $500:
• Sign recognition at sponsored event
• Sponsorship signage identifying your company as a sponsor
• Logo on official Wastewater Challenge T-Shirt
• Company name with sponsorship listing in conference program
• Company name and hyperlink with online sponsorship listing at www.wef.org
For information on sponsorship opportunities for the Wastewater Challenge, contact:
Sarah Evans, Exhibition Sales Coordinator
Phone: 703.684.2400 x 7739, or
Email: SEvans@wef.org