My Profile
Michael Walkowiak
Brown and Caldwell
Mike is an environmental engineer who has devoted his 30-year career to planning, designing, constructing, and commissioning water resource recovery facilities throughout California and around the world. Throughout that time, he has been an active member of the California Water Environment Association and the Water Environment Federation. For the San Francisco Bay Section of CWEA, Mike served as chairperson for the Professional Development Committee and is currently serving on the section’s board of directors. Mike is also a member of the CWEA Engineering and Research Committee and has helped organize, facilitate, and present at numerous CWEA and WEF conferences. He is currently a managing principal for Brown and Caldwell in Walnut Creek.
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.