Aren Hansen
Aren Hansen grew up in Arcata, CA and became interested in water at a young age while taking family walks and bird watching at the Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary, which he found out later was one of the first major natural wastewater treatment systems implemented in the US. Aren’s educational background includes a B.S./M.S. in Chemistry, and a M.S. in Environmental Engineering, which led him into wastewater-focused engineering. For the last 20 years, he has been involved in the design and construction of wastewater related facilities upgrades. His breadth of experience includes project management, conceptual/detailed design of process upgrades to existing treatment facilities, process mechanical equipment evaluation/selection, and instrumentation and automation. He also has specific experience in projects utilizing collaborative delivery methods (progressive design-build, CMAR, CMGC). Aren also serves as Brown and Caldwell’s Bay Area Wastewater Practice Lead and as a client service manager for various Bay Area clients.
Purpose
The Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers (5S) is used by water environment associations (i.e., those working with sewage and sewage treatment) to honour those who have made a particular contribution to the industry.
Pennsylvania started the High Hat Society in 1937 and used the words "Sludge Shovelers Society" in its initiation ceremony. Later, this became known as the Ted Moses Sludge Shovelers Society. The second Chapter of the Five S Society was formed in Arizona in October 1940, the idea being conceived by A.W. "Dusty" Miller and F. Carlyle Roberts, Jr. There are chapters in many of the United States and in Canada, as well as the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
5S chapters do not accept applications, but select potential members. Each inductee receives a badge in the form of a gold tie bar in the shape of a round-nosed shovel.
5S recognizes individuals active in protecting the water environment through participation in Local, State, and/or Federal sponsored activities.