NYWEA’s Annual Spring Technical Conference was hosted by the Genesee Valley Chapter this year in Rochester, NY. A major part of the conference continues to be the Operations Challenge. Operations
Challenge is a combination of five timed events (Process Control, Laboratory, Maintenance, Safety and Collections) related to wastewater treatment operations in which teams of four members compete.

Each chapter within NYWEA is allowed to sponsor a team for the challenge. The only exception is the Metropolitan Chapter, which is allowed to sponsor two teams because of its size. This year, four teams competed in the Operations Challenge: the Genesee Valley Water Recyclers, a team from the Long Island Chapter and two teams from the Metropolitan Chapter.

The Genesee Valley Water Recyclers’ team members were:

Steve Reiter (captain), Allen Oates, Frank Mahns, Ken Smith, Ken (Corky) Kelsey (alternate) and Stephen Peletz (coach). All team members work for the Monroe County Department of Environmental Services. This year’s team had four new members: Allen, Frank, Ken and Corky. The team began practicing in January and spent many hours between then and the operations challenge preparing for each event.  The hard work paid off as the team won the Laboratory Event and placed a respectable 3rd overall in the challenge. Most importantly, all team members enjoyed the time practicing and preparing for the challenge and walked away with many new skills and expanded knowledge related to wastewater treatment operations. Special thanks to Corky for providing his time and knowledge in assisting the other team members prepare for the challenge. As well, the Water Recyclers would like to thank the chapter for their assistance and support. The team looks forward to competing again next year. Congratulations to the Water Recyclers on a job well done!

- by Stephen Peletz, Monroe County DES.

The Water Recyclers are always looking for sponsors and additional team members. Please contact Steve Peletz (speletz@monroecounty.gov) for further information.