Operations Challenge
2027 OPERATIONS CHALLENGE COMPETITION
The 2027 WEAU Operations Challenge will be held April 21-22, 2027 at the WEAU Annual Conference in St. George, UT. Please email [email protected] with any questions or concerns related to the competition.
RESOURCES
The Rocky Mountain WEA (RMWEA) hosts the National Operations Challenge Team Resource Center. Event rules, Q&As, demonstration videos, process test practice materials, and more can be found on their website. Note that some of the rules may vary from the WEAU Competition. It is important that you follow the rulebooks provided to you at the kickoff meeting and only use the RMWEA website as an additional resource.
event q&A
If you have a question about a particular event, please email [email protected] and the question will be directed to the head judge for the event. Questions and answers will be posted below for all teams to review. Questions will be accepted up until TBD. Questions can also be asked at the pre-competition meeting in St. George.
process
| Question | Answer | Date |
| PENDING |
laboratory
| Question | Answer | Date |
| PENDING |
maintenance
| Question | Answer | Date |
| PENDING |
safety
| Question | Answer | Date |
| PENDING |
collections
| Question | Answer | Date |
| PENDING |
competition results
2026 WEAU Operations Challenge Results
2025 WEAU Operations Challenge Results
2024 WEAU Operations Challenge Results
ABOUT THE OPERATIONS CHALLENGE
What is the Operations Challenge?
Everyday, operators and technicians must operate treatment facilities, problem solve, respond to emergencies, and perform analyses related to wastewater treatment and the collection system. Few people know about the behind-the-scenes work that is performed daily by our state professionals. The WEAU Operations Challenge is an excellent avenue to cultivate new skills, hone current ones, increase operational knowledge, improve confidence, increase morale, and build camaraderie in a safe, fun, and competitive environment.
WEAU is always seeking new teams and veteran teams to join in on the fun and compete. The Ops Challenge is a prime opportunity to represent your organization in the "Wastewater Olympics" of our profession.
The top performing Ops Challenge teams each year are provided the opportunity to attend the WEFTEC conference in the fall and compete on the national level against teams from across North America. It is a great honor to compete at nationals and represent WEAU and something that our Ops Challenge teams work towards each year.
WHEN AND WHERE IS THE COMPETITION HELD?
The WEAU Ops Challenge competition is held annually at the WEAU Annual Conference in St. George, Utah. The conference is typically held at the end of April. Check out the Future Conferences page to see upcoming conference dates.
Teams practice for the competition starting in January and continue through mid-April leading up to the annual conference. Two practice facilities are available, one in Salt Lake City and one in St. George.
HOW MANY PEOPLE COMPRISE A TEAM?
Teams consist of four members and one coach/alternate for a total of five people. WEAU also has composite teams that are made up of individuals from various organizations. If you do not have a full four person team, we will do our best to find you some additional teammates so that you can compete in the challenge.
what are the different events?
Teams compete in five timed events as part of the Ops Challenge: Maintenance, Safety, Collections, Laboratory, and Process Control. A brief description of each event is included below.
Maintenance
The maintenance event tests the skills of a maintenance team in response to issues at a sanitary pumping station. Teams must perform proper lock out tag out procedures, complete electrical motor checks, and rebuild a submersible pump.
Safety
The safety event simulates the rescue of a worker that collapses inside a manhole. The in-plant rescue/repair team must enter the confined space, rescue the downed worker, and repair a check valve.
Collections
The collections event simulates connecting a 4-inch PVC lateral sewer to an 8-inch PVC sewer pipe to replace a leaking section of the 8-inch pipe while in service.
Laboratory
The laboratory event has team members analyze and determine total suspended solids, conductivity / total dissolved solids, and be tested on standard laboratory methods and procedures.
Process Control
The process control event consists of a handwritten and computerized test on wastewater treatment knowledge and scenarios to distinguish the relative process control skills of the teams.
How do I sign up to compete?
A call for teams usually goes out in November each year. The kickoff meeting is then held in December to give an overview of the challenge, discuss changes to the events from the previous year, and answer any questions.
questions?
If you would like additional information or have questions about the Ops Challenge, please email [email protected].
