Awards

FWEA and WEF believe that individuals and groups should be recognized for meritorious achievements in our industry. Each year awards are given out in a variety of categories recognizing both individuals and organizations. You may nominate yourself or another person or group for these awards. 


Awards will be presented during the FWRC WEF Awards, Lifetime Membership Presentation, and FWEA Awards Presentation May 4 - 7, 2025.

 

CREATE AND EDIT NOMINATIONS:

1. See the list of awards below along with application guidelines.
2. Click the "Awards Nomination Form" below to create a new submission or edit an existing one.
3. Save or submit your nominations.

AWARDS NOMINATION FORM

Nominations will be accepted NOVEMBER 01, 2024 - FEBRUARY 15, 2025. Select "New Submission" to start a new award submission.

If you have questions about an award, please reach out to the Sponsoring Committee Contact listed below.

 

AWARD                                

DESCRIPTIONSPONSORING COMMITTEE CONTACTAPPLICATION/GUIDELINES

Albert B. Herndon Award

Outstanding Performance in Industrial Pretreatment

The Albert B. Herndon Award is presented annually to an FWEA member who has excelled in the field of industrial pretreatment.

Previous Recipients

Industrial Pretreatment Committee

Dustin Chisum
dchisum@ardurra.com
329-849-5093

Albert B. Herndon Award Criteria

Albert B. Herndon Award Nomination Form
Biosolids/Residuals
Program Excellence Award


Recognizes excellence in all areas of biosolids management
The FWEA Biosolids/Residuals Program Excellence Awards recognize excellence in all areas of biosolids management. The categories and criteria for selection allow for consideration of a broad spectrum of programs with sound management, effective communication to stakeholders, and community-friendly practices.  The purpose of these awards is to recognize and promote the safe management, public acceptance and beneficial use biosolids. Possible award categories include:

    a. Large Operating Projects, processing greater than 5 dry tons per day
    b. Small Operating Projects, processing less than 5 dry tons per day
    c. Technology Innovation and Development
    d. Research Program
    e. Public Acceptance Program
 
Biosolids Committee

George Dick
gdick@brwncald.com
727-452-9725
FWEA Biosolids/Residuals Program Excellence Awards Nomination Form

Biosolids Award Application Form

Innovative Biosolids Award Form

Award Competition Rules

Wastewater Collection System of the Year Award

Recognizes Utilities for Exceptional Effort

This award recognizes utilities for significant accomplishments fostering excellence in the operation  and  maintenance  of  wastewater  collection systems.  The  award  is  intended  to  encourage  utilities  to  provide  adequate  resources  and  excellent  practices  within  their wastewater collection systems.  Awards are presented in three different categories based on the size of the population served: Under 10,000 served, 10,000 to 100,000 served, and Over 100,000 served.

 

Collection Systems Committee

Oscar Bello
Oscar.Bello@stantec.com
954-650-0164

Collection System Award Application

Collection System Award Criteria
 

David W. York Reuse Awards & OneWater Professional Award

 

The FWEA Water Resources, Reuse and Resiliency (WR3) Committee honors utilities, customers and organizations for their commitment to, and their accomplishments in, developing, using and/or maintaining exemplary reuse programs. Also, the Committee recognizes a water resource professional for advancing the concept of OneWater in Florida. 

Previous Recipients

Water Reuse, Resources and Resiliency (WR3) Committee

Shanin Speas-Frost
Shanin.SpeasFrost@floridadep.gov
850-508-1809

Awards Program Criteria and Form

 
Florida Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers  (FSSSSS)

The Florida Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers was founded in 1956 by David B. Lee to recognize industry professionals for their outstanding, meritorious service above and beyond the call of duty to the Florida Water Environment Association, previously known as the Florida Pollution Control Association.  The Florida Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers award is an award of the Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA).  Nominees must be a member in good standing of the Florida Water Environment Association at the time of their nomination.

Previous Recipients

Florida Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers

Patrick Murphy
pmurphy@plantcitygov.com
813-707-2349
Nominations are by members of the FSSSSS. 

Earle B. Phelps Award 

Outstanding WWTFS Performance

The Florida Water Environment Association gives the Earle B. Phelps Award annually to recognize wastewater treatment facilities, which have maintained the highest removal of major pollution-causing constituents prior to discharging, treated effluent to receiving waters.  For the past several years Awards have been given in three treatment categories:

  • Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plants
  • Advanced Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plants
  • Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plants

The awards will consider plant size in the evaluation.  Nominees will be evaluated against treatment facilities of the same relative size and treatment type.  If nominations merit, Awards will be given for small, medium and large size plants within each treatment category.

Who was Earle B. Phelps? Find out HERE.

Previous Recipients
Recipients 2016-2019

Jason Hopp
jhopp@heywardfl.com
863-701-3082

Nomination Instructions

Application Form

Daily Flow & Lab Data Form



 
Environmental Stewardship Award for Odor Control

Recognizes utility for good environmental stewardship to the public.
The utility receiving this award shall demonstrate good environmental stewardship to the public within their community as a result of an exceptional odor control project or program. 2015 is the inaugural year for the award.

Previous Recipients
Air Quality Committee

Darryl Parker
dparker3@leegov.com
Selection Criteria
Golden Manhole Award    This award is presented to individuals that have made outstanding contributions to the art and science of Collection System operations through the operation, maintenance, design, construction, management, planning, education, training, or certification of collection systems operators for FWEA's inauguaral Golden Manhole Award.

Requirements:  The nominee must be a member of FWEA and exhibit significant participation in the following areas:  Operations, Maintenance, Education, Training, Certification, Design, Management and Planning of Sewer Collection Systems.
Collection Systems Committee

Oscar Bello
oscar.bello@stantec.com
954-650-0164
Nomination Form

Award Criteria

L.L. Hedgepeth Award

Outstanding Industrial Wastewater Operator

The L.L. Hedgepeth Award is presented to an outstanding industrial wastewater operator.  The scope of this award includes not only industrial wastewater treatment systems, but also industrial wastewater management programs.  Candidate should have direct technical responsibility and not only managerial and administrative responsibilities.  Pollution control is not only achieved through wastewater treatment systems, but often through in-plant controls and water management practices.

Previous Recipients

Industrial Pretreatment Committee

Dustin Chisum
dchisum@ardurra.com
239-849-5093

L.L. Hedgepeth Award Criteria

L.L. Hedgepeth Award Nomination Form
 

Leroy H. Scott Award

Exceptional contribution by an Operator

The Leroy H. Scott Award is given to consider the work of wastewater treatment plant operators who are members of the FWEA and to nominate the operators who made the greatest contribution to his/her fellow operators, or who did the best job in operating a plant, regard less of its size or available equipment.  If the Committee deems no one worthy of the award, it shall give a negative report.

Previous Recipients

Jamie Hope
jamie.hope@frwa.net  
352-318-3321
 
Norm Casey Scholarship Award

This scholarship is awarded to winners of FWEA's Student Design Competition

Previous Recipients

Student & Young Professionals Committee

Jissell Muir
jissell.muir@arcadis.com
305-586-3411

Award goes to competition winner

Public Education Award for Organizations and/or Events

Thomas T. Jones Public Education Award (Individual)

Promotion of environmental awareness and public outreach 

The Public Education Awards recognize organizations or events/campaigns for significant accomplishments that foster and support the development of public outreach programs as well as integrate public education as a core element of wastewater/water utility planning and management.  The award is intended to encourage utilities and other organizations to incorporate public education and outreach into their operating plans as well as provide examples of successful public education programs and best practices.

The Public Education Award for an individual was renamed the Thomas T. Jones Public Education Award. This award was named in honor of Tom Jones, a long term member and past chair of the FWEA Public Education Committee who passed away suddenly. As a past recipient of the Public Education Award, Tom shared his love for teaching and promoting the environment to school children, teachers and the public. Tom was a true example of promoting environmental awareness and public outreach which is the purpose of this award. 


Previous Recipients
 

Public Communications & Outreach Committee

Julianne LaRock
julilarock@bellsouth.net
561-682-6747

Public Education Award Application

Public Education Award Criteria
Ralph H. Baker Award

The Ralph H. Baker Award is presented annually to an FWEA member who has done outstanding work in membership recruitment.  It honors Ralph Baker who for so many years has devoted his energy, wisdom and humor to the advancement of the public health interests in Florida.

Previous Recipients

Joan Fernandez
 
 

Safety Awards

Utilities Who Maintain Exemplary Safety Programs 

Facilities from all over the state of Florida compete for the opportunity to receive a plaque recognizing the excellent safety programs that are in place all over our state.  Awards will be given for exemplary safety programs in all categories (A, B, C and D) for domestic wastewater treatment plants.  Each category will have a first, second and third place winner.

Previous Recipients
2023 Award Recipients

Safety Committee

Jackie Hall
safety@tohowater.com
407-747-5122

Award Application (Word)
 

Samuel R. Willis Award 

Recognizes an individual for heroism

The Samuel R. Willis Award is given in recognition of Samuel R. Willis who in November of 1976 risked his life to save another human being and in the process sustained personal injury.

Awards Committee

Katie Templeton
tempkl@jea.com
904-882-1815

 

Utility Management Award  

Recognizes utilities for best business practices and operational performance excellence


 

Utility Management Committee

Elizabeth Keddy
Elizabeth Keddy
813-853-6163

Application

 
YP of the Year Award

Recognizes an outstanding FWEA Young Professional member. 
The FWEA YP of the Year is an outstanding young professional that shows leadership, initiative, technical knowledge and actively participates within FWEA. 

Previous Recipients
Students and Young Professionals Committee

Jissell Muir
jissell.muir@arcadis.com
305-586-3411
 
YP of the Year Nomination Form

 



WEF Awards

The Water Environment Federation proudly promotes opportunities to recognize individuals and organizations who have made outstanding contributions to the water environment profession and to the Federation through their Awards and Recognition Programs. For a list of WEF awards, CLICK HERE. Below is a list of some of the more prominent WEF awards.

Name of Award                                      DescriptionSponsoring Committee/Contact
William D. Hatfield Award

The William D. Hatfield Award is presented to operators of wastewater treatment plants for outstanding performance and professionalism.  The award was established in honor of Dr. William D. Hatfield, Superintendent of the Decatur, Illinois Sanitary District, who was President of the Central States Sewage Works Association in 1944-45 and served as President of the Federation in 1958-59.
Criteria:

  • Member of the Water Environment Federation
  • Documentation of a successful system of reports from the operator to his or her superiors that fulfill the information requirements and provide the operator with a forum for suggestions for improvements.
  • Use of a good public relations program.
  • The nominee should have contributed to the dissemination of information concerning advancements in the field.

Previous Recipients

Awards Committee
Katie Templeton
tempkl@jea.com
904-882-1815                                                                                                                  

Quarter Century Operator ClubThe Quarter Century Operator Club recognizes operators of wastewater treatment facilities for their service and dedication in a difficult and dangerous profession.  The Club was created under the sponsorship of Frank Woodbury Jones, who served as the Clubs' first registrar.

Tom Baber 

 


 

SPONSORS