Teams from utilities in South Carolina, Virginia, and Ontario took top honors at the annual Operations Challenge at WEFTEC Connect.
Alexandria, VA – Teams from utilities in South Carolina, Virginia, and Ontario took top honors at the annual Operations Challenge at WEFTEC Connect.
This year’s competition, adapted to an online format for the first time in its 33-year history, featured modified versions of three classic Operations Challenge events: Process Control, Laboratory, and Collections Systems.
Twenty-seven teams, each representing a WEF Member Association, completed the Process Control event simultaneously on Monday, October 5. Then, during hour-long time slots throughout Tuesday and Wednesday, teams completed the Laboratory and Collections Systems events. Each team competed live from their home facilities via webcam in front of expert judges and crowds of virtual spectators.
“Hands down, the Operations Challenge program is the best training and professional growth program I have ever been involved in,” said John Bennett, WEF Operations Challenge Committee Chair. “More competitors than I can count, including myself, have realized dramatic changes in their careers and almost all of us will attribute the successes we have realized directly to the knowledge, skills, and opportunities to surround ourselves with other professionals that we gained while competing.”
Coming away with the Division 1 overall win out of 14 total teams was Controlled Chaos, representing the Water Environment Association of South Carolina. Members of the team include Troy Newton, Patrick Ross, Kevin Ganley, and Seth Duncan.
The Blue Ridge Brawlers from the Virginia Water Environment Association, consisting of Lacy Burnette and Stephen Lofaro, won first-place overall out of five Division 2 teams.
The new Division 3 featured two-member teams, both of whom were Operations Challenge newcomers participating for the first time. The Peel Wastewater Connoisewers from the Water Environment Association of Ontario — Lino Zanardo and Maitrik Patel — finished first of the eight teams in the division.
Division 1 Winners
- First Place: Controlled Chaos, Water Environment Association of South Carolina
- Second Place: The Pooseidons, Water Environment Association of Texas
- Third Place: Surprise Turdologists, Arizona Water Association
Division 2 Winners
- First Place: Blue Ridge Brawlers, Virginia Water Environment Association,
- Second Place: Women of Wastewater, North Carolina Water Environment Association
- Third Place: Force Maine, New England Water Environment Association
Division 3 Winners
- First Place: Peel Wastewater Connoisewers, Water Environment Association of Ontario
- Second Place: Smooth Operators 1, North Carolina Water Environment Association
- Third Place: Smooth Operators 2, North Carolina Water Environment Association
For more information on the 2020 Operations Challenge visit https://www.weftec.org/now/weftec-now/operations-challenge-2020-winners-crowned/
Visit the official Operations Challenge 2020 event site to watch recordings of this year’s competitors in action as well as the Operations Challenge Awards Ceremony.
