WASHINGTON, DC – How fast can teams repair a water main or rescue someone from a sewer manhole? These skills are put to the test in the Operations Challenge being held in Ocean City, Maryland. DC Waters award-winning team, Centrifugal Force, competes today.

The challenge – a sort of “Water and Sewer Olympics” – is part of the Tri-association Conference, sponsored by the Chesapeake Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA); the Chesapeake Water Environment Federation (CWEA); and Water & Waste Operators Association of Maryland, Delaware & the District of Columbia (WWOA).

Teams from water and sewer authorities around the region and across the country will compete in challenges such as tapping a valve, replacing a pipe and performing a confined space rescue.

“Our crews work hard every day to ensure critical water and sewer services are maintained for customers,” said Duane McCoy, Wastewater Foreman for DC Water, and Team Captain of Centrifugal Force. "Even though important, there’s not usually much recognition for a job extraordinarily done. This is a chance for field crews to test themselves and to compete with other top teams." The winning team wins a trophy and a spot at the national competition in June 2012.

Additionally, there will be a “Top Ops” competition that tests teams on their knowledge of the water industry. Both competitions will be held on Thursday, September 1, 2011 at the Roland Powell Convention Center in Ocean City, Maryland.

About the Chesapeake Section of the AWWA
The American Water Works Association Chesapeake Section is dedicated to the promotion of public health and welfare by assuring drinking water of unquestionable quality and sufficient quantity in the Chesapeake Section region.
The Chesapeake Section provides its members a regional forum to advance the technology, science, and government policies of the drinking water industrys role in stewardship of water resources. More info can be found at:

About the Chesapeake Water Environment Federation (CWEA)
The Chesapeake Water Environment Association is dedicated to improving water quality and protecting the water environment in Delaware, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. The Association strives to do this through public education, the exchange of technical and scientific information among water quality professionals, the training of wastewater and water treatment plant operators, and by offering technical expertise and advice to the law-making and regulatory processes. More info can be found at: http://www.wwoa-cwea.com/

About the Wastewater Operators Association
The WWOA is a non-profit organization whose objectives are 1) to further the knowledge of the planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance and management of systems for water supply and distribution, collection and treatment of domestic and industrial wastewaters, and solid waste collection, disposal, recycling and utilization; 2) to inform the public about those systems and the necessity for highly skilled operating personnel; and 3) to promote the certification of operators in these facilities.