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. Nominees must be RMWEA members to be eligible for RMWEA Individual awards and members of both RMWEA and WEF to be eligible for WEF Awards.

RMWEA and WEF Award Nominations are due by May 31.

RMWEA WEF Financial Assistance Application - deadline is April 30.

Award Nomination Forms

Learn more about each award category below and fill out the nomination form.

Individual Awards: Individual Award Nomination Form
Organizational Awards:
- Water Resource Recovery Facility Award Nomination Form
Shared RMWEA & RMSAWWA Awards:
- Young Professional of the Year Award Nomination Form
- Water Hero Award
WEF Awards: WEF Awards Nomination Form

Individual Awards +

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.

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.

Individual Award Nomination Form

Organizational Awards +

Plant Performance 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

Shared RMWEA & RMSAWWA Awards +

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 water industry. This award can be given out at any time and is not limited in number.

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.

Young Professional of the Year Award Nomination Form

Water Hero Award

WEF Awards +

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

WEF Awards Nomination Form

View Past Awards Recipients