2026 WEF Award Winners
WEF is honored to annually recognize and congratulate those who make a lasting impact within the water community in many ways. Through the WEF Awards Program, below you will find the vast and varied list of Award and Scholarship recipients we are pleased to recognize this year.
On Monday, September 28th at 5pm (CT), the 2026 WEF Awards & Presidential Celebration Ceremony will be livestreamed at WEFTEC! An event link will be available here before WEFTEC begins.
2026 WEF Fellows
WEF is honored to annually recognize and congratulate those who make a lasting impact on the world of water. Through the WEF Awards Program, you will find below the vast and varied list of Award and Scholarship recipients we are pleased to celebrate.
Bob Bucher, P.E.
Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association
Tim Constantine
Water Environment Association of Ontario
Yang Deng, PhD, P.E., BCEE
New Jersey Water Environment Association
Dr. Viraj deSilva, P.E., BCEE
Florida Water Environment Association, Georgia Association of Water Professionals, Water Environment Association of Texas
Scott F. Foley
Missouri Water Environment Association
Gary Lynn Hunter, P.E. BCEE, EnvSP
Clean Water Professionals of Kentucky & Tennessee, Georgia Association of Water Professionals, Missouri Water Environment Association, Water Environment Association of South Carolina
Bruce W. Husselbee, PhD, P.E., BCEE, DBIA
Virginia Water Environment Association
David R. Jackson, P.E., BCEE
Water Environment Association of Texas
Sharon M. Miller
Water Environment Association of Texas
Susan Moisio
Indiana Water Environment Association
Fernando Pasquel
Chesapeake Water Environment Association, Virginia Water Environment Association
John Phillips
Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association
Pusker Regmi, PhD, P.E., BCEE
Virginia Water Environment Association
Leanne B. Scott
Clean Water Professionals of Kentucky & Tennessee
Jay Swift
Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association
Published Papers
WEF published research awards recognize exciting advancements in water knowledge and practice.
Eddy Wastewater Principles & Processes Medal
“Modeling aerobic granules in continuously flowing wastewater-treatment processes,” Joshua P. Boltz, Bruce E. Rittmann, WER, Vol. 97, Issue 1 (January 2025)
Joshua P. Boltz
Bruce E. Rittmann
Gascoigne Wastewater Treatment Plant Operational Improvement Medal
“Unlocking the Power of Wastewater Data: Metro Water Recovery’s Data Management Journey,” Gregory Clark, Joshua Goldman, Jeffrey Hlad, P.E., Tanja Rauch-Williams, PhD, P.E., Rylee Rubino, Access Water Proceedings of the Water Environment Federation, WEFTEC Conference Paper (October 2025)
Gregory Clark
Joshua Goldman
Jeffrey Hlad, P.E.
Tanja Rauch-Williams, PhD, P.E.
Rylee Rubino
Rudolfs Industrial Waste Management Medal
“Intensifying Refinery WWTU Secondary Solids Separation: Suspended Air Flotation (SAF®) Pilot Study Results,” Aditi Podder, Ronald W. Ballard, P.E., Houston Flippin, J.J. Gonzalez, David R. Marrs, P.E., Chris Pettit, Matthew Sucich, Access Water Proceedings of the Water Environment Federation, WEFTEC Conference Paper, (October 2025)
Aditi Podder
Ronald W. Ballard, P.E.
Houston Flippin
J.J. Gonzalez
David R. Marrs, P.E.
Chris Pettit
Matthew Sucich
Education Awards
These awards focus on educating citizens on the value of water challenges everyone in the water environment profession. This is an important responsibility of individuals, professional associations and utilities alike.
Fair Distinguished Engineering Educator Medal
Yang Deng, PhD, P.E., BCEE
New Jersey Water Environment Association
Student Chapter of the Year Award
Puerto Rico Water & Environment Association (PRW&EA), Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico (PUPR)
Canham Graduate Studies Scholarship
Camille Brulé
University of California, Berkeley
California Water Environment Association
(NEW) Professor David Jenkins Operator Award and Scholarship
Sarah M. Hickman
Water Environment Association of South Carolina
Public Communication & Outreach Program Award, (Individual or Small Teams Category)
Fairfax County Wastewater Management Outreach Team: Lisa Good, Elizabeth Barbour, and Judy Fincham
Public Communication & Outreach Program Award, (WEF Member Associations and Communities Category)
Water Environment Association of Texas – City of Grand Prairie Public Health and Environmental Quality Outreach Program
FINALIST: Public Communication & Outreach Program Award, (Utilities, Corporations, Partnerships or Large Groups Category)
City of Boise Department of Public Works
FINALIST: Public Communication & Outreach Program Award, (Utilities, Corporations, Partnerships or Large Groups Category)
Montgomery Township Municipal Sewer Authority
FINALIST: Public Communication & Outreach Program Award, (Utilities, Corporations, Partnerships or Large Groups Category)
Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority
Operator Scholarship
Clarance Ray Bonds
Illinois Water Environment Association, Central States Water Environment Association
Operator Scholarship
Nikole Brunner
AZ Water Association
Operator Scholarship
Olivia O’Neil Curmano
Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association
Operator Scholarship
Olweny Emmanuel
Operator Scholarship
Mr. Kenny Garcia Rondon
Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association
Operator Scholarship
Brooks M. Gilliland
Operator Scholarship
Lisa Hamilton
Pennsylvania Water Environment Association
Operator Scholarship
Richard Manuel Hernandez, Jr.
Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association
Operator Scholarship
Colin Madden
Chesapeake Water Environment Association
Operator Scholarship
Sandra Montero
AZ Water Association
Operator Scholarship
Godswill Chukwunenye Okechukwu
Cheseapeake Water Environment Association
Operator Scholarship
Frank Schmidt
Chesapeake Water Environment Association
Operator Scholarship
George Schuhmacher
Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association
Operator Scholarship
Anna Beatriz Tsuchiya Tomaz
Water Environment Association of Ontario
Operator Scholarship
Owen Via
Ohio Water Environment Association
Operator Scholarship
Tyler Waterhouse
Water Environment Association of South Carolina
Operator Scholarship
Evan White
Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association
Individual Service and Contribution Awards
These awards recognize individuals that have made outstanding contributions to the sustainability of water resources and made a profound impact on the future of the water profession.
“Why does low dissolved oxygen favor biological phosphorus removal? Oxygen inhibition of PAOs is an important part of the story,” Lilian McIntosh, Charles B. Bott, Alexandria Gagnon, PhD, P.E., Stephanie Klaus, Kester McCullough
Public Officials Award
Myra C. Reece, South Carolina Department of Environmental Services, Director
Public Officials Award
Kari K. Steele, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Board of Commissioners, President
Camp Applied Research Award
Dr. Zhen (Jason) He
Missouri Water Environment Association
W. Wesley Eckenfelder Industrial Water Quality Lifetime Achievement Award
Brian Arntsen
Water Environment Association of Ontario
W. Wesley Eckenfelder Industrial Water Quality Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Richard Speece
Clean Water Professionals of Kentucky and Tennessee
Emerson Distinguished Service Medal
Navneet Prasad, P.E.
Water Environment Association of Utah
FINALIST: Outstanding Young Water Environment Professional Award
Abhinoor Dhull
California Water Environment Association
FINALIST: Outstanding Young Water Environment Professional Award
Elizabeth Heise, P.E.
Central States Water Environment Association
FINALIST: Outstanding Young Water Environment Professional Award
Charles “CJ” Spellman, Ph.D., P.E.
New England Water Environment Association
FINALIST: WEF Mentorship Award
Mr. William Grandner
FINALIST: WEF Mentorship Award
Berrin Tansel, PhD, P.E., BCEE, F.WEF, F.AAAS
Florida Water Environment Association
FINALIST: WEF Mentorship Award
Jason Watts
Ohio Water Environment Association
MARC (Manufacturers and Representative Community) Individual Distinguished Service Award
Debra L. Leigh
Nebraska Water Environment Association, Iowa Water Environment Association
Water For People Robert W. Hite Distinguished Leadership Award
Richard Yarbrough
Clean Water Professionals of Kentucky & Tennessee
“Why does low dissolved oxygen favor biological phosphorus removal? Oxygen inhibition of PAOs is an important part of the story,” Lilian McIntosh, Charles B. Bott, Alexandria Gagnon, PhD, P.E., Stephanie Klaus, Kester McCullough
Best WEFTEC Program Abstract Award
Lilian Mcintosh
Best WEFTEC Program Abstract Award
Charles B. Bott
Best WEFTEC Program Abstract Award
Alexandria Gagnon, PhD, P.E.
Best WEFTEC Program Abtract Award
Stephanie Klaus
Best WEFTEC Program Abtract Award
Kester McCullough
Operational and Design Excellence Awards
These awards recognize individuals and organizations that have achieved excellence in operations and design.
Innovative Technology Award
CETCO, a Minerals Technologies Company
FLUORO-SORB® Adsorbent
Innovative Technology Award
IDE Technologies
Pulse Flow Reverse Osmosis
Innovative Technology Award
Paques Environmental Technologies Inc.
BioCyclone
WEF Project Excellence Award
Bee Ridge Water Reclamation Facility
Sarasota County and Sarasota County Public Utilities, Carollo Engineers, Garney, DuPont Water Solutions (MemCor™)
WEF Project Excellence Award
Piscataway WRRF Bioenergy Project
WSSC Water, PC Construction, Stantec Consulting Services, Inc., Hazen and Sawyer, HDR, EBA Engineering, Inc., Albrecht Engineering, Inc., EPCM, Inc., CSA Central, Inc., Milhouse Engineering & Construction, Inc., Sherrill Partners Architects Inc.
WEF Project Excellence Award
South Wastewater Treatment Plant
City of Sherman, Texas, Plummer, Carollo Engineers, Mead & Hunt, Kiewit Water Facilities South Co., Pape-Dawson, Plus Six Engineering, LLC, Greater Texoma Utility Authority
Collection Systems Award
Susan Moisio
Indiana Water Environment Association
Morgan Operational Solutions Award
Metro Water Recovery, Hazen and Sawyer, Brown and Caldwell, Stantec, CDM Smith, NEWhub Water Corporation, University of Kansas
Water Quality Improvement Award
Lystek International
D3 Project/Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District
WEF Safety Award
Clayton County Water Authority Safety Program
Organization and Association Recognition Awards
These awards recognize organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the sustainability of water resources and made a profound impact on the future of the water profession.
Citation of Excellence in Advertising, Best Design, Fractional Page
Company Name: Parkson Corporation
Ad Name: Settles Like a Rock
Citation of Excellence in Advertising, Best Design, Full Page
Company Name: SIMFLO
Ad Name: A Difference You Can Clearly See
Citation of Excellence in Advertising, Best Presentation of Information, Fractional Page
Company Name: MELTRIC® Corporation
Ad Name: Quickly Connect & Disconnect Motors
Citation of Excellence in Advertising, Best Presentation of Information, Full Page
HOMA Pump Technology
Ad Name: A Tool for Every Job
Citation of Excellence in Advertising, Best Overall Ad
INVENT Environmental Technologies, Inc.
CYBERFLOW – Accelerator
Citation of Excellence in Advertising, Best Campaign
Smith & Loveless Inc.
Ad Name: PISTA Ad 1, Ad 2, Ad 3
Outstanding Member Association Award
Water Environment Association of Texas