Awards
Awards
RMWEA sponsors association-specific awards to recognize individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to the water industry. If you know an individual who should receive special recognition, please complete and submit the appropriate Nomination Form below.
RMWEA and WEF Award Nominations are due by June 15, 2023.
RMWEA WEF Financial Assistance Application - Closed for 2023.
Award Nomination Forms
Learn more about each award category below and fill out the nomination form.
- Individual Awards: Individual Award Nomination Form
- Organizational Awards:
- Shared RMWEA & RMSAWWA Awards: Young Professional of the Year Award Nomination Form
- WEF Awards: WEF Awards Nomination Form
Plant Operation Award
- This award is given to recognize an outstanding individual who has demonstrated excellence in the operation of municipal and/or industrial wastewater treatment to achieve high levels of plant performance and effluent quality. It also acknowledges contributions to the success of the RMWEA, which has positively contributed to the betterment of individuals associated with facility operations.
Plant Maintenance Award
- This award is given to recognize an outstanding individual who has demonstrated excellence in plant maintenance programs. Criteria for this award includes:
- Development and implementation of effective preventive and/or corrective maintenance programs
- Significant reductions in equipment downtime, or significant improvements in process reliability which result from maintenance program improvements
- Development of effective maintenance records or management information systems
- Significant improvements in maintenance personnel skills as a result of effective training programs
Golden Manhole Award
- This award acknowledges an outstanding individual who has demonstrated an aggressive and efficient design, management, construction, evaluation, training, or operation and maintenance program for a collection system. It also acknowledges contributions to the success of the RMWEA which has positively contributed to the betterment of individuals associated with collection systems.
Outstanding Service Award
- This is a special/prestigious award to recognize an individual who has and continues to provide significant contributions to the RMWEA. The recipient will have given outstanding service to the RMWEA over the longevity of their membership.
Thomas Crapper Award
- The Crapper award is to recognize an individual that may or may not be an RMWEA member but goes out of their way to be helpful and make RMWEA successful. For this award, the nominee does not need to be a member of RMWEA.
Public Official Award
- The Public Official Award is presented to an elected or appointed public official that has made a documented significant contribution in the areas of clean water legislation, public policy, government service or another area of public prominence that resulted in improvements to the water environment. The award can be presented for public service at local, state or federal level. For this award, the nominee does not need to be a member of RMWEA.
Water Hero Award
- The Water Hero Award is to acknowledge an individual (or a group of individuals) who performed duties above and beyond the usual call of duty during an emergency situation to continue to protect the public and environment. These duties elevate the status of the wastewater industry. This award can be given out at any time and is not limited in number.
5S Award
- Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers (5S) members are selected by previous members in recognition of "Outstanding Meritorious Service above and beyond the Call of Duty" to the Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association.
Water Resource Recovery Facility Award
- This award will be presented to the water resource recovery facility to recognize outstanding efforts in plant operations, maintenance, or public relations, which occurred because of the concerted efforts of all personnel associated with plant management and operations.
Biosolids Management Award
- This award will be presented to the water resource recovery facility to recognize outstanding efforts in biosolids management practices. Criteria for this award may include: proper biosolids treatment operations; development of a sound biosolids disposal program; development of an effective biosolids disposal monitoring program; research and development of alternative treatment or disposal options; public relations; and outstanding supervision of biosolids management practices.
Sustainability Award
- This award will be presented to a water resource recovery facility that embraces the principles of sustainability. The award is intended to recognize systems thinking, design practices, management practices, and infrastructure systems that not only sustain the utility, but society as well.
Friends of RMWEA Award
- This award is given to a municipality, a vendor, and an engineering firm to recognize the company for their valuable support leading to the success of RMWEA.
Water Resource Recovery Facility Award Nomination Form
Friends of RMWEA Award Nomination Form
Young Professional of the Year Award
- This award recognizes a young professional for their efforts in promoting the water / wastewater industry, advocating the transfer of knowledge from more experienced professionals to young professionals, and supporting the missions of the RMSAWWA/RMWEA.
Volunteer Excellence Award
- Presented to individuals in recognition of service to RMSAWWA and RMWEA. The recipient of this award is nominated and selected by the RMWEA President and the RMSAWWA Chair.
Walter A. Weers Service Award
- Presented to individuals who have demonstrated continued, long-term dedication and service to the members of RMSAWWA and RMWEA. The recipient of this award is nominated and selected by the RMWEA President and the RMSAWWA Chair.
Bedell Award
- The Bedell Award was established to acknowledge extraordinary personal service to a WEF Member Association. Criteria to be eligible include:
- WEF member
- Organizational leadership, administrative service, membership activity, stimulation of technical functions, or similar participation
Burke Award
- Recognizes a municipal or industrial wastewater facility for establishing and maintaining an active and effective safety program. The purpose of this award is to encourage an active and effective safety program in municipal and industrial wastewater facilities. Criteria to be eligible include:
- The documented and illustrated safety program and safety record of the facility for the preceding calendar year.
Hatfield Award
- The Hatfield Award is presented to operators of wastewater treatment plants for outstanding performance and professionalism. Criteria to be eligible include:
- WEF member
- 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
- Contributed to the dissemination of information concerning advancements in the field
Laboratory Analyst Award
- Recognizes individuals for outstanding performance, professionalism and contributions to the water quality analysis profession. Criteria to be eligible include:
- WEF member
- Candidate must be employed at an educational facility laboratory, industrial, commercial, or municipal laboratory which performs wastewater-related analysis, and must have direct analytical responsibilities