2025 WEF Award Winners

WEF is honored to annually recognize and congratulate those who make an immense impact on the world of water in many ways.

Through the WEF Awards Program, you will find below the vast and varied list of Awards and recipients we are pleased to present.

WEF FellowS  Published Papers  Education Awards  Individual Service and Contribution Awards  Operation Design and Excellence Awards  Organization and Association Recognition Awards 

On Monday, September 29th at 5pm (CT), click here to watch the 2025 WEF Awards & Presidential Celebration Ceremony livestream at WEFTEC! 

2025 WEF Fellows

Created to celebrate outstanding contributions to the global water sector by long-time Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Virginia) members, the WEF Fellows Recognition Program recognizes the professional achievement, stature, and contributions of WEF members to the preservation and enhancement of the global water environment. These professionals have made a lasting difference for public health and the environment.

James R. Barsanti

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New England Water Environment Association

 

 

Katherine Y. Bell, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE

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Clean Water Professionals of Kentucky & Tennessee

 

Todd Boling

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Nebraska Water Environment Association

Patrick J. Bradley

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Virginia Water Environment Association

Jay M. Brady, P.E.

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Central States WEA (IL, MN, WI), Illinois Water Environment Associaton, Iowa Water Environment Association

Shellie Chard

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Oklahoma Water Environment Association

B. Scott Cummings, P.E.

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Alabama's Water Environment Association

Thomas M. Galeziewski, P.E.

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AZ Water Association

Dr. Graham Juby, P.E.

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California Environment Association of Texas

Daniel J. Murray, Jr., P.E., BCEE

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Ohio Water Environment Association

 

Richard Russell Roll, P.E., DEE

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New York Water Environment Association

Diego Rosso

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California Water Environment Association

Jeff Sober, P.E., BCEE

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Water Environment Association of Texas

Louis Storino, P.E., BCEE

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Central States Water Environment Association, Illinois Water Environment Association

Robert A. Villée

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New Jersey Water Environment Association

Published Papers

WEF published research awards recognize exciting advancements in water knowledge and practice.   

Eddy Wastewater Principles & Processes Medal

"Comparing methanol and glycerol as carbon sources for mainstream partial denitrification / anammox in an IFAS process”, Ms. Megan Bachmann, Charles B. Bott, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, Dr. Kartik Chandran, Dr. Haydee De Clippeleir, Dr. Stephanie Klaus, Halil Kurt, Michael Parsons, Daniel M. Stockard, and George F. Wells, WER, Vol. 96, Issue 4 (April 2024) 

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Megan Bachmann

 

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Charles B. Bott, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE

 

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Dr. Kartik Chandran

 

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Dr. Haydee De Clippeleir

 

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Dr. Stephanie Klaus

 

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Halil Kurt

 

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Michael Parsons

 

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Daniel Stockard

 

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George Wells

 

Gascoigne Wastewater Treatment Plant Operational Improvement Medal

“Taming the Aeration Beast”, William Fang, Patrick Wittbold, and Dr. Joseph Gitau Gikonyo, WE&T, Pg. 42 (October 2024)

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William Fang

 

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Joseph G. Gikonyo

 

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Patrick Wittbold

 

McKee Groundwater Protection, Restoration, or Sustainable Use Award

Fluoride geochemistry in groundwater at regulated industrial sites”, Andrew P G Fowler, Nigel Goulding, Shanna Law, WER, Vol. 96, Issue 8 (August 2024)

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Andrew Fowler


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Nigel Goulding


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Shanna Law


 

Rudolfs Industrial Waste Management Medal

“Spent Media Management Options for Industrial PFAS Treatment Applications”, David Garb, Alison Ling, Andy McCabe, Margaret Thompson, David Trueba, and Sudhakar Viswanathan, Access Water Proceedings of the Water Environment Federation, WEFTEC Conference Paper, (October 2024)

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David Garb

 

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Alison Ling

 

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Andy McCabe

 

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Margaret Thompson

 

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David Trueba

 

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Sudhakar Viswanathan

 

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

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James R. Mihelcic

Florida Water Environment Association

Student Chapter of the Year Award

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Puerto Rico Water & Environment Association (PRW&EA)
Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico (PUPR) Student Chapter

Canham Graduate Studies Scholarship

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Kenneth Mensah

University of Maine

Public Communication & Outreach Program Award (Individual Category)

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Gabriel Evans

 

Public Communication & Outreach Program Award (Other Category)

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Stafford County Utilities Department

"Captain Clog Superhero" Educational Program

Public Communication & Outreach Program Award (Other Category)

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Water Environment Association of Texas - North Texas Section

"Membranes and Mudbugs Event" Program

 

Media & Public Education Medal

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Patti Wetli

Operator Scholarship

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Rosa Arminda Ayala

WEA of Ontario

Operator Scholarship

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Kiel Canterbury

Rocky Mountain WEA

Operator Scholarship

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Matteo Dykstra

Pennsylvania WEA

Operator Scholarship

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Kenny Deivis Garcia Rondon

 

Operator Scholarship

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Aaron Walter Gee

 

Operator Scholarship

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Tracy Gerhardt

Pacific Northweast CWA

Operator Scholarship

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Matthew Gregory

 

Operator Scholarship

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Mandi Hebert

Florida WEA, Hawaii WEA, Puerto Rico W&EA, WEA of South Carolina

Operator Scholarship

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MD Al Sadikul Islam

Chesapeake WEA

Operator Scholarship

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Bradley Johnson

WEA of Utah

Operator Scholarship

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Kelly Kurtz

California WEA

Operator Scholarship

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Kaiden Loverin

British Columbia W & WA

Operator Scholarship

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Kimberly Marquez

New Jersey WEA

Operator Scholarship

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Dale Miller

Pennsylvania WEA

Operator Scholarship

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Hailey Power

 

Operator Scholarship

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Giovanni Rivera

Pacific Northweast CWA, Puerto Rico W&EA

Operator Scholarship

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Joseph Rodriguez

New York WEA

Operator Scholarship

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Kenneth Ryder, P.Eng, M.Eng
WEA of Ontario

Operator Scholarship

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Thomas Scott

AZ Water

Operator Scholarship

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Tara Simmon
New York WEA

Operator Scholarship

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Chris Tatum
WEA of Ontario

Operator Scholarship

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Dustin Watkins
NEWEA

Operator Scholarship

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Johnathon Whetton
New England Water Environment 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. 

Public Officials Award

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Kimberly Du Buclet
Illinois State Representative

Public Officials Award

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Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo
President of Mexico

Public Officials Award

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 K. Joseph Shekarchi
Speaker, Rhode Island State House of Representatives

Camp Applied Research Award

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Pusker Regmi, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE

Virginia WEA

 

Best WEFTEC Program Abstract Award

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Laurel Schaich, P.E.

“Fort Wayne’s Journey Towards Resilience and Clean Energy - Implementation of a Microgrid Program and RNG Injection”

Best WEFTEC Program Abstract Award

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Zach Schortgen, P.E.

“Fort Wayne’s Journey Towards Resilience and Clean Energy - Implementation of a Microgrid Program and RNG Injection”

Emerson Distinguished Service Medal

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Bruce Rittmann

AZ Water

Emerson Distinguished Service Medal

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Diego Rosso
California WEA

MARC (Manufacturers and Representative Community) Individual Distinguished Service Award

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Bill Peretti 
Rocky Mountain WEA (CO, NM, WY)

Outstanding Young Water Environment Professional Award

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Natalie Cook

Central States WEA (IL, MN, WI)

Water For People Robert W. Hite Distinguished Leadership Award

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Stephanie Doblosky

 

Water For People Robert W. Hite Distinguished Leadership Award

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Dr. Jamal Y. Shamas, P.E.

WEA of Texas

Water Heroes Award

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City of Asheville Water Resources Department

Water Heroes Award

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City of Mulvane Water Department

Water Heroes Award

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County of Maui Lahaina Wastewater Operations Team

Water Heroes Award

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Henrico Water – Department of Public Utilities

Water Heroes Award

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Veolia North America – Smithfield, Rhode Island

Water Heroes Award

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Veolia North America – Spencer, Iowa

Ralph Fuhrman Medal

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Jui-Hun Chang

Ralph Fuhrman Medal

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Chih-Ming Kao

Ralph Fuhrman Medal

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Dr. Sheu Yih-Terng

Rao U. Surampalli

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Dr. Rao Y. Surampalli

Ralph Fuhrman Medal

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Dr. Tian C. Zhang

WEF Mentorship Award

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Karla G. Camou Guerra
AZ Water

Operational and Design Excellence Awards

These awards recognize individuals and organizations that have achieved excellence in operations and design. 

 

Collection Systems Award

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Paul Costa
Chesapeake WEA (DE, DC, MD) / Water Environment Association of Texas

Water Quality Improvement Award

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Arizona Department of Environmental Quality -

Miller Creek Public Restroom Project

WEF Safety Award

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South Platte Renew, (SPR) Safe Program

Innovative Technology Award

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quagga, Inc., HALT Steed Series PFAS Destruction Unit

Innovative Technology Award

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Moleaer, Nanoshield

Innovative Technology Award

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Revive Environmental Technology, LLC, PFAS Annihilator - Supercritical Water Oxidation (SCWO)

WEF Project Excellence Award

District Green Stormwater Infrastructure at Highland Bridge Project, (Saint Paul, MN)

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Honorees: District Green Stormwater Infrastructure at Highland Bridge, City of Saint Paul Public Works Department, Capitol Region Watershed District, Barr Engineering, Ryan Companies

WEF Project Excellence Award

West Point Power Quality Improvements (Seattle, WA)

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Honorees: West Point Treatment Plant, Brown and Caldwell, Corrosion Probe, Inc., Environmental Science Associates (ESA), Expert Power Solutions Inc., Fire & Risk Alliance, LLC., Hoffman Construction Company, Jacobs Engineering, Kennedy/Jenks (King County), Mott Macdonald, LLC., Wagner Architects, Clarity Engineering LLC., Elcon Associates, Inc., Rushing (now IMEG), True North Land Surveying Inc.

WEF Project Excellence Award

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Southeast Treatment Plant Headworks Project (San Francisco, CA)

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Honorees: San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Southeast Treatment Plant, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, Carollo Engineers, Inc., Sundt-Walsh JV, Lucas Lowney (The Walsh Group)

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

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Myron L Company
 Ultrameter II

Citation of Excellence in Advertising

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Xylem Vue Powered by GoAigua

Citation of Excellence in Advertising

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Aerzen
It's in our DNA

Citation of Excellence in Advertising

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Mueller Water Products
 ECHOLOGICS

Member Association Achievement Award

 
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Florida Water Environment Association