Union County Public Works scored a pair of second-place finishes in the Operations Challenge and Pipe-Tapping Contest at the 98th Annual North Carolina American Water Works Association - Water Environment Association (NC AWWA-WEA) Conference in Raleigh. Their efforts were recognized at the County’s Board of Commissioners meeting 

 

Held at the annual NC AWWA-WEA conference in November, the competitions are extended to all utility organizations in N.C. The Operations Challenge consists of four-person teams, along with their coach, competing in events that test their skills in various wastewater-related activities. There are four events in the Challenge: Collection System, Laboratory, Process Control, and Pump Maintenance. Union County’s Blake Brooks, Wyatt Howell, Hayden Hunter, Aaron Winans and Matt Hargett earned first place in the Collections and Process Control events, but due to total score overall, achieved second place.

 

The water pipe tapping contest is a timed competition in skill where teams open a cement-lined, ductile iron pipe and install a tap. Teams consist of four people; three technicians and their coach. Chase Griffin, Rick Mareth, Justin Huntley and Richard Baker achieved second place in this event for Union County.

Union County’s performance qualified the team to represent N.C. at the international competition next year in Chicago.

 

“It’s quite an honor to finish second in the state,” said Greg Morgan, Utility Field Services Superintendent. “Challenges like this really bring us together as a team and that’s what’s most important. I’m proud of our guys and appreciate the Board recognizing their achievement.”

 

Established in 1881, the American Water Works Association is the largest nonprofit, scientific and educational association dedicated to managing and treating water, the world’s most important resource.