This award is intended to provide and encourage recognition of educational contributions other than conventional classroom instruction. It is to recognize individuals who have given exemplary service in the broad area of water pollution control and the environmental sciences through education, training and motivation. This award was established in honor of Harris F. Seidel, the former Director of Water and Pollution Control for the City of Ames.

1. Nominee shall have been a member of the IWPCA and have been active in the field for at least ten (10) years. The award may be given annually but need not be if a qualified candidate is not identified.
2. Classroom teaching/training at any level including basis training courses, short courses, vocational technical, college and university courses.
3. Program contributions at regional meetings, state conferences or similar events.
4. Hands-on training in operations or laboratory practices; assistance in startup on behalf of manufacturers, consultants or state agency.
5. Provide management/administration of educational programs.
6. Development of materials for training or education including written, audio/visual, computer or other modes or media.
7. Examination of materials and their support for operator certification.
8. Impact on policies, funding and legislation which contribute to education and training.

Nominee shall meet one or more of the criteria listed above.

Seidel Award Winners

2010
Glen Petersen - Press Release

2009
John Veach

The Harris F. Seidel Education Award being presented to John Veach of Iowa Rural Water Association by IWPCA President James McElvogue at the Region 4 Fall Meeting in Carson, Iowa October 2, 2009.

The Arthur Sidney Bedell Award was established to acknowledge extraordinary personal service to a Member Association. The award is named for Arthur Sidney Bedell, the second president of the Federation who exemplified its purpose by his long devotion and service to the New York Sewage and Industrial Wastes Association, now the New York Water Environment Association. He was Chief of the Bureau of Sewage and Waste Disposal of the New York State Department of Health.

The award consists of a plaque suitably inscribed with the recipient's name and presented by a Federation representative at the Member Association Annual Meeting.

1. Must be a member of the Water Environment Federation.
2. Organizational leadership, administrative service, membership activity, stimulation of technical functions, or similar participation.
3. The size of the membership dictates the frequency with which Member Associations are eligible to make nominations for the award.

Click here to view past IWPCA recipients of the Arthur Sidney Bedell Award.

The award is to encourage an active and effective safety program in municipal and industrial wastewater facilities.

The award consists of a plaque suitably inscribed with the facility's name and presented by a Federation representative at the Member Association Annual Meeting following approval by the WEF Board of Directors at it’s Annual Meeting.

1. Documented and illustrated safety program for the facility.
2. Documented and illustrated safety record for the preceding calendar year for the facility.

Burke Award Winners

2009 - City of Spencer and Veolia Water, James Virelli

The award consists of a plaque suitably inscribed with the recipient's name and is presented by a Federation representative at the Member Association annual meeting.

1. Must be a member of the Water Environment Federation.
2. A successful system of reports from the operator to his or her superiors that fulfill the information requirements and provide the operator with a forum for suggestions for improvements.
3. Use of a good public relations program.
4. The nominee should have contributed to the dissemination of information concerning advancements in the field.
5. The size of the membership dictates the frequency with which Member Associations are eligible to make nominations for the award.

Click here to view past recipients of the William D. Hatfield Award.

The Maintenance Committee of the IWPCA is awarding individuals who have exceeded in maintenance in the water pollution treatment process. The award is given to the individual(s) who has/have gone "beyond exceptional duties" in the maintenance of equipment. This prestigious award will be given to the recipient at our annual state meeting. They will be inducted into an exclusive club of individuals that have received his award, and share the fraternal responsibilities of the club. A plaque and lapel pin will be awarded to the recipient of this award.

Click here to view past recipients of the the Wrencher Award Recipients

Each year at the Annual Meeting of the Iowa Water Pollution Control Association, individual (field personnel) will be inducted into the Golden Manhole Society in recognition of their contributions in Collection System Operation and Maintenance.

Evaluation Criteria

1. Years of service and significant participation in one or more of the following areas: Operations, Maintenance, Education, Training, Certification, and Collection Systems planning and related areas.
2. Promoting the professional recognition of the collection system field.
3. Nominee membership in the IWPCA is not required but is recommended.
4. Contact Duean Wessel, for a detailed listing of evaluation criteria.

Download a Golden Manhole Society Award Nomination Form

Golden Manhole Recipients

This award was established to recognize outstanding operation, maintenance and administration of treatment facility. The Subcommittee chairperson shall provide other subcommittee members as identified above with copies of the “Criteria for Operator Advancement Award” as listed in Appendix 1 of the IWPCA Handbook. Documentation on plant operation and maintenance activities should be included with the completed form as well as flow diagrams and other printed material on the treatment facility.

Frequency of Awards: Facility category eligibility for nomination shall be according the
following schedule:

• Grade I/IL and Grade IV Plant: 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011
• Grade I/IL and Grade II/IIL Plant: 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012
• Grade I/IL and Grade III Plant: 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013

Download a Operator Advancement Award Nomination Form

Operator Advancement Award Winners

2009
Grade 1L - Charles Coffey and the City of Garden Grove
Grade 2 - Jeff Peterson and the City of Huxley

Criteria for the Award

1. To recognize individuals for outstanding performance, professionalism and contributions to the water quality analysis profession.
2. Employment at an educational facility laboratory, industrial commercial or municipal laboratory which performs wastewater related analysis and must have direct analytical responsibilities.
3. Membership and involvement in professional associations.
4. Outstanding efforts in wastewater and environmental aquatic analyses, including items such as innovative sampling techniques, solutions to a treatment, analytical or environmental problem.
5. Presentations at professional conferences, meetings, etc. relevant to water quality analysis.
6. Contributions which have been beneficial to the nominees facility.
7. Involvement in professional certification and continuing education activities. h. Involvement in community activities or public relations.
8. Unusual initiative or performance beyond the call of duty.

Laboratory Analyst Award Recipients