WEFTEC 2019—the Water Environment Federation’s 92nd annual technical exhibition and conference—in Chicago hosted its most anticipated event, the Operations Challenge. OPS Challenge is a unique and fast-paced test of the essential skills needed to operate and maintain wastewater treatment facilities, their collections systems and laboratories — all vital to the protection of public health and the environment.
Over the past 32 years, Operations Challenge has steadily grown from the original 22-team event to this year’s record-breaking 47-team, two-division format that showcased competitors from as far away as Denmark. Teams are judged on the best combination of precision, speed, and safety.
The winners are determined by a weighted point system for five events over two days including laboratory and process control and collections, safety, and KSB maintenance.
Winners in both divisions include:
Division 1
First Place: Elevated Ops
Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association
Metro Wastewater Reclamation District, Denver, Colo.
Second Place: TRA CReWSers
Water Environment Association of Texas
Trinity River Authority, Dallas, Texas
Third Place: L.A. Wrecking Crew
California Water Environment Association
Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, Carson, Calif.
Division 2
First Place: South Mesquite Rangers
Water Environment Association of Texas
North Texas Municipal Water District, Mesquite, Texas
Second Place: Double Duty
Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association
Metro Wastewater Reclamation District, Denver, Colo.
Third Place: Lethal Concentration
Water Environment Association of South Carolina
Greenwood Metropolitan District, Greenwood, S.C.