Awards & Recognition


2023 AWARD NOMINATIONS ARE CLOSED

Come back next year!


Local CWP-KT Awards

Contact Kristi Schnell with questions.

Utility or Industry - Public Outreach Award

  • Purpose:
    • To recognize CWP-KT members for significant accomplishments in promoting public awareness and understanding of water environment issues through the development and implementation of outreach, education and/or communication programs.  
    • Note: 2023 CWP-KT winners will be submitted to the 2024 WEF award competition – to be awarded at WEFTEC 24.

Utility or Industry - Project Excellence Award

  • Purpose:
    • To recognize excellence and innovation in the execution of projects and programs in the water sector or Kentucky or Tennessee. 
    • Note: 2023 CWP-KT winners will be submitted to the 2024 WEF award competition – to be awarded at WEFTEC 24.

Individual - Golden Manhole Award
Past Award Winners List

  • Purpose:
    • To recognize individuals who have dedicated their careers to the wastewater collection field
    • To recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the area of wastewater collection systems

Utility or Industry - Clean Water Technology Award 

Past Award Winners - Beneficial Use of Biosolids
Past Award Winners - Beneficial Reuse of Effluent

  • Purpose:
    • To recognize operational innovation or the application of treatment technology to improve effluent quality, resource recovery, and/or sustainability at a municipal or industrial resource recovery facility in Kentucky or Tennessee.  Examples of projects that would be considered include:
      • Operation improvements that reduce operating costs, improve effluent quality, or solve a problem. For example, changes in operation that control excessive foaming would be considered.
      • Technology innovations that reduce operating costs, improve effluent quality, or solve a problem. For example, demonstrated cost savings through installation of higher efficiency aeration systems would be considered.
      • Sustainability improvements such effluent reuse, beneficial use of biosolids, combined heat and power systems, and phosphorus recovery would be considered.

Utility - Control Authority Pretreatment Excellence Award
Past Award Winners List

  • Purpose:
    • To recognize excellent Pretreatment programs in Kentucky and Tennessee

Utility - Operational Excellence Award
Past Award Winners List 

  • Purpose:
    • To recognize POTW and industrial treatment facilities having no more than one violation of their NPDES permit

Utility - Outstanding Overflow Abatement Project Award
Past Award Winners List 

  • Purpose:
    • To recognize projects that improved water quality by controlling wet weather overflows through various means

Utility - Outstanding Watershed Management Project Award
Past Award Winners List 

  • Purpose:
    • To recognize projects that improved water quality by controlling non-point sources through various means

Industry - Industrial Pretreatment Award
Past Award Winners List 

  • Purpose:
    • To recognize industries for their outstanding performance in the pretreatment of industrial wastewater

Individual - S. Leary Jones Achievement
Past Award Winners List 

  • Established in 1990 as a special recognition of many years of dedicated service to the Clean Water Professionals of KY & TN (CWP-KT) and/or to the field of environmental engineering. It is looked upon as the CWP-KT Hall of Fame honor and named after its first recipient. Only past recipients may nominate a candidate.

Individual - Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers (5S)
Past Award Winners List 

  • Selection is given to members of the association in recognition of outstanding, meritorious service beyond the call of duty to CWP-KT. Only 5-S members may nominate a candidate.


WEF Awards

Contact Valerie Lucas with questions.


Quarter Century Operators Club
The Quarter Century Operator Club recognizes operators of water resource recovery facilities for their service and dedication in a difficult and dangerous profession. The Club was created under the sponsorship of Frank Woodbury Jones, who served as the Club's first registrar.  Click here to learn more and apply.
Note:  Applications must be signed and submitted by the individual applicant.


Hatfield Award
The Hatfield Award is presented to operators of water resource recovery facilities for outstanding performance and professionalism. Recipients are selected by the Hatfield committee comprised of past Hatfield award winners.  Awards are presented by a WEF representative at the WEF Member Association meeting (KY/TN Water Professionals Conference).


Burke Award
The Burke Award recognizes a municipal or industrial water resource recovery facility for establishing and maintaining an active and effective safety program. Recipients are selected by the Member Association, and awards are presented by a WEF representative at the WEF Member Association meeting (KY/TN Water Professionals Conference). 


Bedell Award
The Bedell Award was established to acknowledge extraordinary personal service to a WEF Member Association. Recipients are selected by the Bedell committee comprised of past Bedell award winners. Awards are presented by a WEF representative at the WEF Member Association meeting (KY/TN Water Professionals Conference).


Laboratory Analyst Award
The Laboratory Analyst Award recognizes individuals for outstanding performance, professionalism and contributions to the water quality analysis profession. Recipients are selected by the laboratory committee, and awards are presented by a WEF representative at the WEF Member Association meeting (KY/TN Water Professionals Conference).