WEFTEC 2021 will host the 34th annual Operations Challenge. This five-event competition demonstrates the precision, speed, and safety of the wastewater sector’s most elite specialists.
Teams of wastewater collection and treatment operators are sponsored by a WEF Member Association or recognized Operator Association. They will face off in the Laboratory and Process Control events on Monday, October 18, and the Collections, Safety, and Maintenance events on Tuesday, October 19.
2021 Plans
This year’s event will be much like 2019 event with just a few changes, according to Brenna Durkin, Chair of the WEF Operations Challenge Committee.
“We kept all the events the same since most teams were not going to be able to spend any money on new equipment or have as much time to practice together,” she said. “We will have each event spread out a little farther than usual and will be limiting the competition to 36 teams.”
She also explained that judges will observe the competitions from specific spots to maintain social distancing; all equipment will be wiped down each event; and each team table will have hand sanitizer stations.
“Our goal is to make it much like the pre-pandemic competitions while recognizing that things have changed over the past 16 months,” Durkin said.
Returning Talent
Approximately 80% of last year’s Division 1 teams are expected to return for the 2021 competition, including Controlled Chaos, reigning Division 1 champions from the Water Environment Association of South Carolina.
Other notable names planning to compete in Chicago this year include 2019 Division 1 champions Elevated Ops from the Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association (RMWEA), as well as perennial contenders such as the L.A. Wrecking Crew from California, the TRA CReWSers from Texas, and Team HRSD from Virginia. The Great Danes, longtime competitors from Denmark, have also indicated their plans to attend.
More Details and History
To learn more about Operations Challenge, visit www.weftec.org/opschallenge. There you can find information on registration (which opens July 26), a detailed competition schedule, and more.
Notably, the Operations Challenge Team Resource Page, hosted by RMWEA, provides up-to-date event descriptions and event FAQs.\
You also can watch the video recordings of Operations Challenge 2020 and read all of the past coverage of Operations Challenge in WEF’s publications since 1988.
