In May of this year, Columbus City Utilities employees participated in the IWEA (Indiana Water Environment Association) Wastewater Challenge in Lafayette. The team placed second overall and advanced to the Water Environment Federation’s WEFTEC in Chicago in October to participate in the 2023 Operations Challenge. A total of 55 US and International teams competed and earned an overall score based on their weighted performance in five classic Operations Challenge events. The five events tested a different aspect of work in the wastewater profession: Process Control, Laboratory, Safety, Collection Systems, and Vaughan Maintenance. Columbus’ team members competing in Chicago were Ashley Getz, Utilities Engineer; Travis Calhoun, Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent; Chris Murray, Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator; and Erin Johnson, Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent/Assistant Director at Connersville Utilities. Competition was strong and while the team didn’t place this time, they gained a lot of good knowledge and look forward to competing again in 2024.
