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SMaking Sense of the Alphabet Soup in Water and Wastewater
By Vicki Stanley, AWEA President
ometimes it feels like our industry uses so many acronyms that they end up creating more confusion than clarity. Instead of helping us communicate, they can leave people wondering who’s who and what organization does what. Think of this article as a plainlanguage guide to some of the most common acronyms you will hear in the water and wastewater world.
Let’s start with AWWA , the American Water Works Association (awwa.org). Founded in 1881, AWWA is the largest organization of water supply professionals in the world. Its mission focuses on education, advocacy for safe and sustainable water, knowledge sharing, and volunteer opportunities. AWWA’s Annual Conference and Expo is a major industry event and will be held June 21–24, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
If you are an AWWA member in Arkansas, you are automatically part of SWAWWA, the Southwest American Water Works Association (swawwa.org). SWAWWA represents Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, and its annual conference rotates among those three states. The 2025 conference in Hot Springs was so popular it ran out of booth space. In 2026, SWAWWA will meet October 11–13 at the Live! Casino and Hotel in Bossier City, Louisiana.
Another major acronym you will hear often is WEF, the Water Environment Federation (wef.org). Founded in 1928, WEF is a nonprofit technical and educational organization focused on water quality and wastewater professionals. Its flagship event, WEFTEC, is the largest annual water quality exhibition in North America. In 2026, WEFTEC will be held September 26–30 in New Orleans.
“
IN A FIELD FULL OF ACRONYMS, UNDERSTANDING WHO DOES WHAT IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARD GETTING MORE INVOLVED.
When you join WEF, you also belong to a Member Association (MA). You can belong to one MA or multiple MAs – it’s entirely up to you.
In Arkansas, the WEF Member Association is AWEA , the Arkansas Water Environment Association (awea-ar.org). Unlike SWAWWA, you do not need to be a national WEF member to join AWEA – you can join at the local level only if you choose. Membership is $30 and can be paid online by credit card or by mailing a check to the treasurer, Max Hicks. AWEA’s Specialty Conference will be held October 27–28 at the DoubleTree Suites in Bentonville.
You may also hear AWW&WEA , which brings together AWWA and WEF to host the Arkansas Water Conference (arkansaswaterconference. com). This organization was formed in 1931 in Fayetteville specifically
to hold a statewide conference for water professionals.
AWW&WEA is its own entity, with independent leadership, bylaws, and representation from AWWA, WEF, the Arkansas Water & Wastewater Managers Association, and the state’s nine autonomous water districts. There are no membership fees, and you cannot “join” AWW&WEA. Attending the conference does not make you a member of AWWA or WEF. The Arkansas Water Conference is traditionally held the last full weekend in April at the Hot Springs Convention Center. In 2026, the dates are April 26–29.
Another important organization is ARWA , the Arkansas Rural Water Association (arkansasruralwater.org). ARWA offers multiple professional membership tiers ranging from $520 to $10,000 for Diamond/Corporate
members. Individual membership is also available, but you must be associated with a member system.
ARWA provides training throughout the year for water, wastewater, and backflow licensing. Their 49th Annual Conference will be held in Hot Springs August 30–September 2, 2026.
Finally, there is AWWMA , the Arkansas Water & Wastewater Managers Association (arkwwma.org). Formed in 1966, AWWMA focuses on management practices for water and wastewater utilities. The organization supports the missions of AWWA, WEF, and AWW&WEA, with membership fees based on the type and size of the utility system.
If you attend the Arkansas Water Conference, be sure to visit the AWEA and SWAWWA booths. Both organizations offer valuable information, opportunities to volunteer, and ways to get involved. You can join both – and you just might find the place where you truly belong.
Acronym Quick Reference: Who’s Who in Water & Wastewater
AWWA: American Water Works Association – National organization focused on drinking water education, advocacy, and standards
ACE26: AWWA’s Annual Conference & Expo
SWAWWA: Southwest American Water Works Association –Regional AWWA section serving Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.
WEF: Water Environment Federation – National organization supporting wastewater and water quality professionals.
WEFTEC: WEF’s Technical Exhibition and Conference –Largest annual water quality conference in North America.
MA: Member Association – State or regional association connected to WEF.
AWEA: Arkansas Water Environment Association – Arkansas’s WEF Member Association; focuses on wastewater professionals.
AWW&WEA: Arkansas Water Works & Water Environment Association –Independent organization that hosts the Arkansas Water Conference.
ARWA: Arkansas Rural Water Association – Provides training and support for rural water and wastewater systems.
AWWMA: Arkansas Water & Wastewater Managers Association –Organization focused on utility management practices in Arkansas.
WLooking Ahead to 2026: The AWEA Specialty Conference Comes to Bentonville
By Andy Robinson, AWEA Vice President
e are pleased to share that planning is officially underway for the 2026 AWEA Specialty Conference, which will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Bentonville, Arkansas October 27 and 28. Northwest Arkansas continues to grow as a hub for infrastructure investment, innovation, and collaboration, making it a fitting location for water professionals from across the state to gather, learn, and connect.
The DoubleTree offers convenient meeting space and comfortable accommodation within close proximity to Bentonville’s downtown area. A room block has been secured at the conference rate and will be held through October 3, 2026. Attendees are encouraged to book early to ensure availability. Reservations may be made by calling 479-845-7770 and asking for the conference rate or by using the booking link available on the AWEA website at awea-ar.org
As with past Specialty Conferences, the 2026 event will focus on providing meaningful technical content,
professional development opportunities, and time to network with peers from across Arkansas. We are currently seeking speakers and presentation proposals and encourage members from all areas of the industry to consider participating. Whether your expertise is in operations, maintenance, engineering, regulatory compliance, management, or emerging technologies, your perspective is valuable. Sharing lessons learned and practical experience is one of the strengths of our association, and we welcome both first-time and returning presenters.
While the conference itself remains the priority, Bentonville offers attendees a pleasant setting to enjoy during breaks or after sessions conclude. Nearby attractions such as Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and The Momentary provide opportunities to explore art, architecture, and outdoor spaces without straying far from the conference venue. For those interested in dining or evening activities, the Bentonville Square features a variety of local restaurants, cafés, and casual nightlife options that are well suited for
informal networking or unwinding after a full day of sessions.
We hope attendees will take advantage of the chance to experience the area while keeping the focus on the connections and conversations that make the Specialty Conference such a valuable event each year. As details continue to come together, we look forward to sharing more information about the program, speakers, and schedule.
Again, I want to extend sincere appreciation to everyone working in the water and wastewater community across Arkansas. The work you do often goes unseen, but its impact is felt every day.
If you are not already a member of the Arkansas Water Environment Association, we encourage you to consider joining. Membership is available through the Water Environment Federation (WEF) or directly through our website at awea-ar.org. Being part of AWEA connects you with training opportunities, professional support, and a statewide network committed to advancing water quality and strengthening our industry. We would love to have you stop by our booth at the Arkansas Water Conference in Hot Springs and look forward to learning from one another.
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of CUSTOMER RELATIONS for the WASTEWATER ASSOCIATE
By William C. “Will” Winn, RS, Winn Environmental Tech, LLC
A. You are on the Public Relations Team: No matter what position or title you hold, you are a public relations team member for the company or utility you work for
B. How the Public Views You: Perception = Truth. The way you are perceived while responding to a complaint is what you are to that customer
C. On the Phone: Negative first Impressions can be the hardest to overcome. From the minute a phone call is answered you and your utility are being graded. If taking a message for a field person, get specifics from the customer. Include the name, address, telephone number, and description of problem.
D. Go To: Making an on-site visit can sometimes make a big difference. Nothing takes the place of a “faceto-face” conversation. To put a face with a name gives a “human” side to any issue. “Go To” also allows you to better control the situation since you can control the length of the visit.
E. Listen, Before You Leap: Don’t “hear” what you think they are saying. Listen to what they are saying. Don’t act until you understand their concerns.
F. Take Notes: It keeps all the pieces together. Research shows that if you take notes, you will retain more of what was said.
G. Watch Your Mouth: Off color comments are not appreciated by customers. And anything you say, can, and will be used against you and your utility.
H. A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Photos and Videos not only give you a visual historical record but can also protect your utility and even the customer.
I. Follow-Up and Follow-Through: As golfers and baseball players can attest, success lies in the followthrough. This could be in the form of a follow-up letter or just a short informal phone conversation.
J. Your Grandpa was Right: What Grandpa said about the “Golden Rule” works well with customer complaints and customer relations. If you wish to be respected by your customer, show them respect first. Remember customer service is just part of your job, but whatever is going on with your customer is part of their life.
K. Let’s do some role playing based on some actual customer service calls:
Customer Complaint 1: “My dog has been missing for two weeks and the last time I saw him he was near the manhole you people put in my back yard ten years ago. I do not appreciate the lady that answered the phone. She was very unprofessional and passed me off to you. I pay my taxes, and I want some respect. My husband’s hair has also started to fall out and he keeps taking naps on the couch instead of listening to me. I caught the mayor at the coffee shop yesterday and told him I am thinking of calling Channel 13. Are you going to do anything or not?”
– Mrs. Ima Nutt
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NO MATTER YOUR TITLE, YOU ARE PART OF YOUR UTILITY’S PUBLIC RELATIONS TEAM EVERY TIME YOU ANSWER THE PHONE OR KNOCK ON A DOOR.
Customer Complaint 2: “There are white specs in my water. My child was taking a bath and the water had white specs all over the top of the water. Also, the tub drained very slowly. I am concerned that it is something that could harm her. Do we need to call a plumber? Should we be drinking bottled water?”
– Mrs. A. Parent
Customer Complaint 3: “I have spoken with your office staff on several occasions and have not had anyone call back. My neighbor is using my trash can because his is gone. Can you help me?”
– Mr. Ben Calling
Customer Complaint 4: “Last Monday, your guys was down the street and they drove over my yard and rutted up the place. It has cost me a bunch at Lowe’s to get my yard lookin’ pretty. Yesterday, when we was at church a friend of my wife told us you would pay us for fixin’ our yard. When are you gonna’ bring me a check?”
Customer Complaint 5: “There is a house being built next door to mine. I don’t know if you can help me, but I’m on a fixed income and the construction crew keeps filling up fifty-gallon drums of water using my outside faucet. My water and sewer bill has doubled. It makes me angry that these guys think they can do whatever they want just because I live alone. I didn’t want to confront them because they might do something worse. Can you help me?”
– Mrs. Betty Cares
“
– Mr. Seymour Cash
PERCEPTION IS REALITY—HOW YOU RESPOND TO A COMPLAINT IS WHO YOU ARE TO THAT CUSTOMER.
Customer Complaint 6: “My water tastes weird. And my toilet is not flushing good. There is a Russian guy hiding out behind the curtain in my living room. I can see his boots. He’s been whispering that he is going to put something dangerous in my trash can. This is some of that homeland security type stuff, isn’t it? Do you think I should call the FBI or CIA? That Director guy on TV says we should be watching for this kind of stuff. Also, I am getting darn tired of these little blue aliens shooting green x-ray lasers at me. Why do you think they do that. They are cute little guys, but they have sharp teeth. Did I mention that my toilet is making weird noises.
– Mrs. Shirley Goofy
L: Always Remember You are the Front Line on Customer Service: It is ultimately up to you how you and your utility are perceived.
M-Z: Review L
Precision That Powers Progress
CHAMPIONING PRETREATMENT:
INSIGHTS FROM TIMOTHY A. MCGEE, CITY OF BENTONVILLE
By Rebecca Burkman, Director of Environmental Affairs, Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority
The wastewater industry is built on the dedication and expertise of professionals who ensure the safety and sustainability of our water systems. Among these leaders is Tim McGee, Pretreatment Coordinator for the City of Bentonville. With over three decades of experience in water and wastewater field, Tim’s journey offers valuable lessons for both seasoned professionals and newcomers to the field.
A Career Defined by Service and Growth
Tim’s career began in 1995 as an Assistant Biologist with the City of Fort Smith, Arkansas. Over the years, he advanced through roles as Water Treatment Plant Operator, Environmental Technician, and Utilities Operator, gaining hands-on experience across multiple municipalities. His tenure at CH2MHill in Fayetteville saw him serve as lead Operator at major wastewater treatment plants, further honing his expertise in Operations and biosolids management.
Since 2017, Tim has served the City of Bentonville, first as a Laboratory/ Pretreatment Technician and now as Pretreatment Coordinator for Water Utilities. In this role, he oversees both the Pretreatment and FOG (Fats, Oils, and Grease) Programs, ensuring compliance and operational
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(2022–2025) and as Lab/Pretreatment Chair for the Arkansas Water Environment Association (2018–2019).
Embracing Change and Technology
Reflecting on industry evolution, Tim notes that technological advancement has been “eye-opening.” He highlights artificial intelligence (AI) as a frontier that pretreatment professionals must approach thoughtfully. While opinions on AI’s impact vary, Tim remains openminded, actively researching how emerging technologies can support or challenge the field. His perspective underscores the importance of adaptability and lifelong learning in wastewater management.
Advice for Aspiring Pretreatment Professionals
Tim’s advice to those entering pretreatment is both practical and inspiring. He encourages new professionals to seek learning opportunities, prioritize quality over quantity, and embrace mistakes as growth experiences. “Always provide value in the workplace; be genuine; work hard; and be ethical,” he advises. For those interested in joining the field, Tim recommends networking through organizations like Young Professionals and RVIPA, crosstraining, and pursuing internships or research opportunities in college.
PRETREATMENT MAY WORK BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT ITS IMPACT IS FELT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE TREATMENT PROCESS.
excellence. His leadership extends beyond Bentonville, with service as the Arkansas Municipal Representative for the Region VI Pretreatment Association
The Unsung Role of Pretreatment One of Tim’s key messages is the critical role pretreatment plays in the broader wastewater treatment system.
“
ALWAYS PROVIDE VALUE, BE GENUINE, WORK HARD, AND STAY ETHICAL – THOSE PRINCIPLES CARRY YOU FAR IN THIS INDUSTRY.
He describes pretreatment as “the life support team,” emphasizing its foundational importance in protecting infrastructure and public health. This perspective invites greater recognition and appreciation for the professionals who safeguard our water resources.
Final Thoughts: Enjoy the Journey
As the interview concludes, Tim offers a simple yet profound reminder: “Remember to enjoy the journey!” His words reflect a career marked by service, growth, and a genuine passion for environmental stewardship. For those in the wastewater industry, Tim’s story is a testament to the impact of dedication, adaptability, and ethical leadership.
SOUTHEAST’S MOST
DEALER DISTRIBUTOR HERE TO SUPPORT YOU
MUNICIPAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE
MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT
SALES. RENTALS. PARTS.
MAKE SAFETY
TIME SPENT ON PRE-JOB PLANNING PAYS BIG DIVIDENDS IN INCIDENT REDUCTION.
WORK FOR YOU
By Allen Green MS, CSP, Loss Control Liaison, Municipal Workers Compensation Arkansas Municipal League
Iwould like to pass along a few tips to help you move your safety program from paper to practice and integrate safety activities into your daily operations. While it’s important to have written programs and policies in place, implementation is where the rubber hits the road. Here we go! First, be proactive. Don’t wait for an accident to occur before you start talking up safety. Preach and practice safety and walk-the-talk (lead by example) every day. Be seen and heard talking about the importance of safety. Remember, what is important to leaders will become important to others. Get employees involved in safety. Put safety activities and responsibilities in the hands of employees. Safety inspections, peer-to-peer observations, hazard reporting, and job safety analysis (JSA) are examples of routine safety activities that employees can and should own. Teach, train, then turn them loose! Leaders must provide feedback and respond to employee concerns for this to take hold.
Stress the importance of reporting and reviewing all safety incidents, including injuries, near hits and close calls, vehicle and equipment damage. Reporting incidents and injuries should be encouraged as a positive, not a negative, and framed as an opportunity for everyone involved to help learn from it and improve the work environment. Don’t use investigations as a fault-finding
mission, but rather a means to repair a process error in your management system. Make sure corrective actions address the root cause of the problem and are not just band-aids for the symptoms. More time spent reviewing the small stuff like minor injuries, near misses and safety concerns, will reduce the number of severe incidents.
Instill a questioning attitude in your employees. Train them to use the What-if method to question potential hazards, determine what might go wrong and plan accordingly. Encourage questions and reports concerning real or potential hazards and get employee buy-in on possible solutions. If employees are ignored or chastised for bringing these items forward, the program will wither on the vine.
Plan your work and work your plan. Have employees take ownership in utilizing Job Safety Analysis (JSA) or Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) tools to pre-plan non-routine jobs and identify potential hazards. Never allow employees to start a task that has not been properly planned, or if there is any uncertainty among the group on how to proceed, proper tools to use, etc. Make time for and require pre-job safety briefs and job planning. Implement these safety tools as standard practice. The time invested will pay big dividends in efficiency and incident reduction.
Give employees STOP WORK authority and mean it! Encourage
employees to speak up when potential hazardous situations arise. Employees should understand that stopping a job to discuss a deviation from the plan or to address a new hazard is a good thing and should become common practice. No job or task is worth risking an injury or fatality.
Develop employee safety teams or committees to participate in hazard identification, safety audits, incident investigations, and ideas for corrective actions. Be sure to share findings across the organization so that the same learnings and corrective actions are implemented in similar situations in other departments.
Conduct safety audits and inspections utilizing individual employees or teams. Be sure to include vehicles and equipment. Conduct prestart-up inspections for new, modified, or rebuilt equipment before releasing it for general use. Allow employees to cross-audit into other departments. This is a great way for them to see and learn how other departments may be addressing similar safety issues they encounter in their own work area.
Put emphasis on preventive maintenance to minimize equipmentrelated issues. Implement daily, weekly, and/or monthly equipment inspections and don’t forget to include company owned or leased vehicles and powered equipment such as forklifts. Make this task easier by having inspection pads or booklets in each vehicle or on each piece of equipment.
Make safety work for you this year by training employees and giving them shared responsibility for their safety and the safety of co-workers, then hold them accountable. Lead by example and provide positive energy and feedback on safety at every opportunity. Implementing these triedand-true safety tools will lead to a safer 2026 for everyone in your organization.
DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING LOAN FUND
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR PUBLIC WATER PROJECTS
WATER LINE REPLACEMENT & DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
FEDERAL PROGRAMS
ENERGY AND WATER
CONSERVATION TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE
•Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF)
• Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF)
•Emerging Contaminants in Small and Disadvantaged Communities
•Small and Disadvantaged Communities
•Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse (OSG) 1%
STATE PROGRAMS
•Water Sewer & Solid Waste Fund (WSSW)
•General Obligation Bond Program (GO)
•Water Development Fund (WDF)
•Water and Sewer Treatment Facilities Matching Grant Program (WSTFG)
FUNDING
20 26
THE ARKANSAS WATER CONFERENCE
APRIL 26 – APRIL 29, 2026 HOT SPRINGS CONVENTION CENTER |
REGISTRATION
TO ATTEND THE AWC IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND ALL REGISTERED ATTENDEES PAY THE SAME FEE.
By Newton White, PE, President, Instrument & Supply, Inc.
The Arkansas Water Conference is held traditionally the last part of each April and is co-sponsored by the AWW & WEA, but membership is neither required, nor given to attend this conference. Registration to attend the AWC is open to the public and all registered attendees pay the same fee. Attendance at the AWC does not provide membership to AWWA nor AWEA.
To join AWWA, connect online, https://awwa.org, pay by credit card, and the fee will include membership in the Southwest section of AWWA.
To join WEF, connect online, https://wef.org, and the fee will include membership to AWEA.
Or, if a person does not want to Join WEF, but wishes to join AWEA, https://awea-ar.org, and the $30 annual fee will be charged to a credit card.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE 9 LIFETIME MEMBERS:
1. William Turner – WEF Member since 1/1/67 until 12/31/2120
2. Larry Gaddis – WEF Member since 1/1/68 until 12/31/2120
3. James Beasley – WEF Member since 1/1/74 until 12/31/2120
4. Martin Roy – WEF Member since 1/1/77 until 12/31/2120
5. Fred Oswald – WEF Member since 1/1/85 until 12/31/2126
6. Jennifer Enos – WEF Member since 10/1/85 until 12/31/2126
7. John Cutright – WEF Member since 1/1/86 until 1/1/2126
8. Mike Ross – WEF Member since 11/1/87 until 1/1/2126
9. John Beard – WEF Member since 1/1/89 until 1/31/2126
Congratulations and thank you for your service to AWEA.
If anyone has had 35 years of continuous WEF membership they can apply for lifetime membership or let us know and we can help them.
HOT SPRINGS CONVENTION CENTER
HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
APRIL 26 – APRIL 29, 2026
The Arkansas Water Conference is the premier event for information management in the water and wastewater industry, and for those actively engaged in the design, management, operation, and control of water works systems.
No matter what your interest is within the water industry, AWW&WEA has information and event opportunities to fit your needs. Our organization’s educational programs set the industry standard in continuing education and cover the full spectrum of relevant, leading-edge water industry topics. They also provide attendees with valuable opportunities to meet, learn, and network with other water professionals from throughout the state.
Go to https://arkansaswater conference.com for the agenda, attendee and exhibitor registration, sponsorship details and hotel information.
LEARN & NETWORK AT OUR CONFERENCE
Join utility leaders, engineers, operators, and decision-makers at the Arkansas Water Conference – the state’s flagship event for everything water and wastewater. From cuttingedge technology and regulatory updates to hands-on solutions you can take back to your system, this is where ideas turn into action. Be part of the community shaping the next generation of water works.
Visit our exhibit hall
Our exhibit hall is where industry leading companies showcase their products and services to our attendees. It is a vibrant exhibit hall with dedicated networking opportunities and is your chance to connect directly with the companies that can meet all of your water industry needs.
AGENDA
Sunday, April 26, 2026
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM | Exhibitor Appreciation Lunch (Exhibit Hall)
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Registration (Convention Center Lobby)
1:00 PM - 6:30 PM | 2026 Expo (Exhibit Hall)
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM | AWW&WEA Board Meeting (Room 207/208)
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM | Meet and Greet (Exhibit Hall)
5:30 PM - 6:00 PM | Drinking Water Contest (Exhibit Hall)
6:00 PM - 6:30 PM | Door Prize Drawing (Exhibit Hall)
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Young Professionals Event (TBD)
Monday, April 27, 2026
7:30 AM - 9:00 AM | Past Chair’s Breakfast (Embassy Suites)
7:30 AM - 4:00 PM | Registration (Convention Center Lobby, closed for lunch from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM)
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM | 2026 Expo (Exhibit Hall)
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM | Ops Challenge (Exhibit Hall/Arena)
9:45 AM - 11:30 AM | Technical Sessions (see class schedule for details)
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM | Equipment ROADeo (Exhibit Hall)
10:45 AM - 1:15 PM | Conference Lunch (Exhibit Hall)
1:30 PM - 4:30 PM | Technical Sessions (see class schedule for details)
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM | Nickel Beer (Exhibit Hall)
5:15 PM - 5:30 PM | Door Prize Drawing (Exhibit Hall)
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM | Lab/Pretreatment Breakfast (Embassy Suites)
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Registration (Convention Center Lobby)
8:45 AM - 11:30 AM | Technical Sessions (see class schedule for details)
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM | 2026 Expo (Exhibit Hall)
10:45 AM - 1:15 PM | Conference Lunch (Exhibit Hall)
11:45 AM - 1:30 PM | All Awards Luncheon (Horner Hall)
1:30 PM - 4:30 PM | Technical Sessions (see class schedule for details)
1:45 PM - 2:00 PM | Water for People Prize Drawing (Exhibit Hall)
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | AWEA Collection System Certification (Room 102/103)
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Wastewater Certification Exams (Room 104/105)
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Water Certification Exams (Room 203/204)
OHIGHLIGHTING AND RECOGNIZING THE WORK OF OUR FUTURE WATER LEADERS
By Meghan Post, Education Coordinator, Beaver Water District
ne of my goals in joining AWEA as the Education & Outreach Committee Chair in 2025 was to bring back to life AWEA’s involvement in the Stockholm Junior Water Prize.
Originally a research paper competition, the Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) is an international water research competition for high school students. Students across the globe enter their research to be in the running for a $15,000 cash prize, a crystal trophy, and a $5,000 award given to the winning student’s school. There are multiple levels to SWJP and are as follows:
1. Regional Level-In the U.S., WEF affiliate organizations award certificates to students at local science and engineering fairs for water-research projects. Public, private, or independent high school students in grades 9-12 are to submit their water-research project by April 15th of every year in their state competition.
2. State Competition- Once the research has been submitted, each state’s WEF affiliate organizations or qualified judges choose the project to represent at the national competition. AWEA sponsors the trip expenses for Arkansas’s winner.
3. U.S. National Competition-Held in St. Louis this year, the State winners compete to represent the U.S. at the international competition in Stockholm, Sweden. The prize for the winner of the national competition is a $10,000 scholarship, trophy, framed U.S. SJWP certificate and an allexpenses paid trip to Sweden.
4. International Competition-Held during World Water Week at the
end of August, the winners from each country compete for the grand prize.
The first thing I did was research Arkansas’s Science & Engineering fairs across the State and connect with their coordinators. My AWEA team of committee chairs (past and present) helped guide, direct, and facilitate the distribution of regional certificates. After the water research scientists had their certificate in hand, it was up to them to submit it to the State SJWP Competition. Of the research that was submitted, one stuck out the most, and that was Kira Burnett’s research entitled, “Urbanization’s Impact on Aquatic Ecosystems: Assessing Phosphorous Transport, Biological Health, and Endocrine Disruptors.” Her project focused on the impact of urbanization on local waterways. Ms. Burnett recently graduated from the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts. Her research showed that Hot Springs Creek (HSC) is suffering from “urban stream syndrome.” Urban stream syndrome is characterized by an increase in the volume of water through a stream, increased nitrate/ phosphorous concentrations, a decrease in pollution-sensitive macroinvertebrate species, and a lower nutrient uptake in the ecosystem. Elevated phosphorous is harming Hot Springs Creek’s aquatic macroinvertebrates which act as the canary in the coal mine for water quality. Being that HSC is in the headwaters of the Ouachita River basin. It’s imperative that research like this is recognized.
Ms. Burnett’s research won first place for the Arkansas state competition, and she went onto the U.S. National competition in St. Louis where she was awarded the 2025 USA Stockholm
Junior Water Prize National Runner Up! I personally was able to hear Ms. Burnett speak about her research at the Arkansas Agriculture, Forestry and Water Conference in Fayetteville, Arkansas this summer. Questions and comments from the audience, which was filled with professionals, included, “With this research, what are your next steps with solving this problem?” to which Kira replied, “I am hopeful that this smart group of professionals will help me with that.” I am hopeful that this encouragement and networking will aid in developing solutions to Hot Springs Creek’s nutrient issues.
The SJWP does a wonderful job of recognizing young professionals and inspiring them to pursue a career in the water industry. AWEA is honored to highlight young people in STEM, and we hope to continue to do the behind-the-scenes work of getting this research and these folks recognized for years to come.
WHAT CAN YOUR LAB DO FOR YOU? MAYBE MORE THAN YOU THINK.
COLLABORATION, TESTING BEST APPROACH to Solve Problems at Your WWTP
By Patrick Pruitt
What can your lab do for you? Maybe more than you think.
You might ask what the value of a good lab is when evaluating what you need to make your plant run its best. Most wastewater labs are there to test your effluent for compliance with your NPDES permit. But what about samples from within the WWTP to test how well the process is working? Operations often do that, right? But should they?
Probably lab analysts are a better choice to run your samples because they know more about the analyses and can better judge the quality of the results. The lab should know if a method delivers good accuracy and precision, and what parts of the calibration range work best. They probably know what method would give the best results for a given sample
based on its potential interferences. And that makes sense that lab people know lab tests well because that’s what they do, they analyze samples.
What you might not expect is that lab analysts can also be very good at troubleshooting what’s causing problems at your plant. That’s because they are good at solving problems, and many have taken courses in biology, microbiology, and chemistry. Starting a career in wastewater with that training is super helpful in understanding the biological processes at your plant.
And, I’m not saying that operators are not good at problem solving. Some are very good at diagnosing mechanical and biological problems in the plant. But they have a lot of other important things to do than collect and analyze samples. Also, the combination of lab analysts and operators working
together is the best of all worlds! Both groups can be engaged and invested in making the effluent as clean as what your plant can produce!
Collaboration is the key. It is often missing. There is only so much one person can do. You have to be able to work with others in a meaningful way to accomplish many of the biggest problems at a wastewater plant.
At the Rogers Pollution Control Facility (RPCF), our lab collects and analyzes grab samples from all three of our aeration basins and all three clarifiers. We analyze these grabs, as well as a 24-hour effluent composite, for nitrate and orthophosphate almost every morning. So, normally we test seven samples. We also analyze the samples for ammonia when our inline meters show elevated levels, or when we suspect ammonia may be present.
On a typical day we have our seven grab results by mid-morning. From there, we also look at inline meters like dissolved oxygen (D.O.) and oxidationreduction potential (ORP) to determine whether we need to adjust process settings like aeration.
When you use grab samples, try to collect them at about the same time every day. If flow settings and recent rain are normal, you should be able to compare grab samples collected at the same time of day to see how treatment in the plant compares from one day to the next.
all conditions in the plant steady and vary only one, which is what you would need to do to test the effect of the one change you made.
Go out in your plant and test for something different! You might just learn something!
If your plant removes phosphorus biologically, test your return activated sludge (RAS) for phosphorus to see how much is being returned to the start of your system. Test your return for nitrate to make sure the anaerobic basin isn’t using up too much of the volatile fatty acids (VFA’s) denitrifying the nitrate.
CLEAN WATER COMES FROM THOUGHTFUL TESTING AND TEAMWORK.
Look out for faulty cause and effect reasoning. I’ve seen this situation all too often. Someone makes a change to plant settings, things get better, and it is assumed that the change caused the difference. Remember that from day to day at least a few things will change in the plant. It’s almost impossible to keep
Test how much soluble COD you have in your influent. Test at different times, like in the middle of the night, and see if the results are meaningful over time. You can always stop testing at a certain location, but if you never test at a location, you just don’t know what the value of those tests could be.
Learn the theory of what conditions can cause better treatment at your plant. Read texts, search the internet, and find research articles that apply to what you’re trying to figure out.
Work together and seek out new solutions to old problems. Give your lab a shot at analyzing process control samples. Talk amongst yourselves and make a plan for how you can figure out what is causing your problem. Include everyone who is interested and has an educated opinion. You never know where a good idea will come from!
Most of all challenge yourself, enjoy your job, and make the best water you can! Because clean water is worth your most thoughtful approach and your best effort!
Patrick Pruitt is the Environmental Services Supervisor at the Rogers Pollution Control Facility. Patrick has held a Class IV Wastewater Operator’s License since 2008 and has worked in the lab at Rogers for 22 years. He is interested in rapid analyses to optimize nutrient removal in wastewater processes.
Like water itself, innovation flows through every challenge and shapes new possibilities. For over 90 years, Carollo has pioneered breakthroughs in water technology – from resilient infrastructure protecting growing communities to groundbreaking solutions safeguarding public health and ecosystems. At Carollo, innovation isn’t just about what’s new – it’s about what’s necessary. Every advancement, every improvement, and every solution flows from a single purpose: shaping a future where water enriches every community it touches.
TTHE IMPORTANCE OF SPONSORSHIPS:
AWEA SPECIALTY CONFERENCE
By Tiffani Newsom
he AWEA Specialty Conference provides an excellent opportunity for wastewater professionals from across the state to come together for networking and to earn education hours required for wastewater license renewal. Two technical session tracks offer training for a wide range of professionals in the wastewater industry. Sponsors play a vital role in the success of the Specialty Conference. Their support helps fund sponsored lunches that create valuable networking opportunities, as well as a happy hour that encourages attendees to build meaningful professional connections.
Sponsors are given the opportunity to provide speakers for the technical sessions, allowing them to share industry expertise while showcasing their products and services. In addition, sponsored door prizes help boost attendee engagement and participation during sessions.
The more opportunities the conference can offer for learning and networking, the more successful it will be. Sponsorship opportunities are available for every budget, and each one is essential to the success of this event. We encourage you to sponsor the 2026 AWEA Specialty Conference in Bentonville, Arkansas. We hope to see you in October!
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO SPONSOR THE 2026 AWEA SPECIALTY CONFERENCE IN BENTONVILLE, ARKANSAS. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU IN OCTOBER!
THE EVOLUTION OF FORCE MAIN MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY SHAPED MODERN
MULTI-SENSOR INSPECTION
By Steve Burks, General Manager, CPM Pipelines
A Century of Change Beneath Our Feet
When the first sewer force main was installed in Madison, Wisconsin around 1914, few could imagine the complex infrastructure network that would grow beneath our cities. Over the past 110 years, the evolution of force main materials – from cast iron to ductile iron, PCCP, PVC, HDPE, and composite systems – has dictated not only how we move wastewater, but how we inspect, maintain, and rehabilitate it.
The Early Years: Cast Iron, Steel, and the Birth of Pressure Sewers From 1910 through 1940, U.S. cities were racing to accommodate rapid urban growth. Welded and riveted steel dominated high-pressure applications, while cast iron became the backbone of early sewer force mains. These systems were built for strength, not serviceability. Inspection largely consisted of reactive maintenance; failures were addressed only after catastrophic breaks occurred.
THE EVOLUTION OF FORCE MAIN MATERIALS HAS DICTATED NOT ONLY HOW WE MOVE WASTEWATER – BUT HOW WE INSPECT, MAINTAIN, AND REHABILITATE IT.
Today, condition assessment of pressure pipes has become a discipline of its own, driven by high-resolution, multi-sensor technologies that can ‘see’ what was once invisible. Understanding this technological shift begins with looking back at how materials evolved – and how those choices set the stage for modern asset management.
The introduction of reinforced concrete cylinder pipe (RCCP) in the 1920s began shifting thinking toward standardization, but corrosion resistance and joint integrity remained poorly understood. The absence of consistent design and inspection standards meant that operators often had little knowledge of actual pipe conditions – an issue that still challenges utilities today.
The
Post-War
Boom: Durability and Standardization
The 1940s through 1960s ushered in an infrastructure explosion. Asbestos cement offered a lightweight, low-cost option for smaller diameters, while prestressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP) emerged as a high-pressure workhorse for larger mains. In 1948, ductile iron was introduced, and by the 1950s, it rapidly displaced cast iron thanks to its flexibility and strength.
The publication of AWWA C104/ A21.4 (1953) for cement-mortar linings formalized many of the manufacturing and corrosion-resistance practices that continue to guide specifications today. While initially designed for water applications, many of these standards migrated into the wastewater world, establishing the foundation for uniformity.
Environmental Regulation and Material Diversification
The 1970s brought new priorities. The Clean Water Act (1972) triggered unprecedented investment in wastewater systems, while simultaneously demanding better performance and environmental compliance. AWWA C900 (1975)
standardized PVC pressure pipe, and AWWA C906 (1990) later did the same for HDPE.
By the 1980s, PVC and HDPE had become common where flexibility, corrosion resistance, and cost were key factors. However, these plastic systems introduced new challenges: joint gap variability, ovality, and deformation – all difficult to detect with conventional inspection tools.
The Wake-Up Call: Failures and the Rise of Condition Assessment
Between 2000 and 2005, the industry faced a wave of high-profile force main failures. Many systems had exceeded their design life, and the lack of redundancy made every break a crisis. Few utilities maintained accurate as-builts or GIS data, and virtually no formal inspection standards existed for pressure sewer mains.
This era gave rise to risk-based asset management, where utilities began prioritizing assessments using the ‘likelihood of failure × consequence of failure’ (LoF × CoF) approach. The idea was simple: not every mile of pipe needs immediate replacement – only the most critical ones do. But assessing that risk required better data, and that meant new tools.
When CCTV Was the Only Option
In the early years of force main condition assessment, CCTV inspection was often the only tool available. These early projects relied heavily on what was accessible, and in many cases, utilities were doing the best they could with what they had. Running a camera through a depressurized or bypassed force main provided a visual record and, for its time, represented progress.
That early work set a precedent in the industry – it introduced the mindset that inspection and documentation were essential parts of managing buried assets. However, given what we now know about pressure pipe failure mechanisms – internal and external corrosion, wall thinning, joint separation, and structural deformation – CCTV provides little actionable condition data.
Today, using a camera in a pressurized line is more of a checkbox exercise than a diagnostic one. True condition assessment demands multi-sensor tools capable of detecting wall loss through
CONDITION ASSESSMENT OF PRESSURE PIPES HAS BECOME A DISCIPLINE OF ITS OWN, DRIVEN BY TECHNOLOGIES THAT CAN NOW SEE WHAT WAS ONCE INVISIBLE.
ultrasonics, identifying corrosion and anomalies magnetically, and locating leaks or gas pockets acoustically. These technologies don’t just provide imagery – they deliver measurable data that utilities can act on.
From Oil and Gas to Water and Wastewater: The First Smart Tools
The mid-2000s marked the crossover of non-destructive testing (NDT) from the oil & gas industry into municipal pipelines. Magnetic Flux Leakage
(MFL) and Remote Field Eddy Current (RFEC) technologies began detecting corrosion and wall loss in metallic pipes. Simultaneously, free-swimming acoustic tools emerged to locate leaks and gas pockets in live lines – no shutdown required.
These innovations, while groundbreaking, were limited by coverage and resolution. Utilities could identify anomalies but not precisely locate or characterize them. The next decade would change that.
2010s: Multi-Sensor Intelligence Becomes Reality
Driven by EPA and Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) studies, utilities started including force mains in comprehensive asset-management programs. Robotic crawlers capable of ultrasonic thickness (UT) and MFL testing, combined with 3D inertial mapping, began generating detailed, quantifiable data sets.
Tools like INGU Pipers® and Aquarius® foam pigs epitomize this new generation. Using acoustic, magnetic, pressure, and inertial sensors simultaneously, they provide high-resolution profiles of pipe condition under normal operating conditions. Each run can identify leaks, gas pockets, wall loss, debris, joint displacement, and diameter reduction –all in a single deployment. The data integration with GIS and digital twins enables visualization of every anomaly by exact station and depth. What once required excavation, or shutdowns can now be analyzed on an interactive dashboard within hours of retrieval.
The Economics of Insight
The financial argument is equally compelling. In one case, inspecting 9,800 feet of 20-inch ductile iron using a multi-sensor approach cost roughly $350,000 – compared to an estimated $40 million for full replacement. That is less than 1% of replacement cost. The result: utilities can make informed rehabilitation decisions, targeting only the segments that truly need it.
This ‘inspect before you invest’ mindset has become central to modern infrastructure strategy. As funding from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act accelerates projects nationwide, cities are shifting from ‘replace by default’ to ‘assess, rehab,monitor.’
Challenges That Remain
Despite these advances, challenges persist. Pressure mains are inherently harder to inspect than gravity lines – there is limited
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THE DIGESTER is made possible by the companies that convey their important messages on our pages. We thank them for their support of the Arkansas Water Environment Association and its publication, and encourage you to contact them when making your purchasing decisions. To make it easier to contact these companies, we have included the page numbers of their advertisements, their phone numbers, and, where applicable, their websites. Archer Western Construction
800 523-5826 www.carollo.com
Engineers, Inc.
501-664-1552 www.cristengineers.com Crossland Heavy Contractors 10 479-464-7077 www.crossland.com Environmental Products Group, Inc. 12 855-552-3742 www.myepg.com
ETEC (Vessco Group) 27 800-251-1047 www.etec-sales.com
Harmsco Filtration Products 6 800-327-3248 www.harmsco.com Haynes Equipment Co. 32 800-832-1580 www.haynes-equipment.com
Horner & Shifrin 24 870-922-0100 www.hornershifrin.com
Instrument & Supply, Inc. 9 501-262-328 www.isiequip.com
Leher Painting Enterprises 18 501-470-9675 https://industrial.sherwin-williams.com/na/us/en/protectivemarine/industry-solutions/water-wastewater.html Midwest Infrastructure Coatings 29 417-631-7064 www.midwestinfrastructurecoatings.com PAXXO 23 770-502-0055 www.paxxo.com
SAK Construction 20 636-385-1000 www.sakcon.com
Sherwin-Williams 7 866-540-1299 www.sherwin-williams.com
The Valve Agency, Inc. 2 281-883-4331 www.valveagency.com
TOLM Group, Inc. 31 501-354-6511 www.tolmgrp.com
Veolia North America 4 617-849-6600 www.veolianorthamerica.com
