This post follows up the email sent in earlier last fall to remind you of the Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association’s (PNCWA) student design competition. PNCWA is a member association of the Water Environment Federation (WEF). PNCWA holds an annual conference focused on bringing together the area’s water environment professionals as well as students interested in the clean water industry for enriching professional development and networking through technical programs, operational challenges, equipment exhibitions, and poster presentations. The location of the annual conference rotates every year between the member states of Idaho, Oregon and Washington. WEF is the national and international wastewater professional organization committed to increasing the awareness of the value of water. As part of WEF’s mission, the Students and Young Professionals Committee provides programs for students to be involved and gain knowledge about the water sector including hosting the Student Design Competition. This can be an excellent springboard into the water profession by providing project experience and an opportunity to network with established professionals.
The PNCWA2018 Annual Conference will be held in Boise, ID from October 21-24. Prior to this conference, we are hosting the 4th Annual PNCWA Student Design Competition. The competition will be held in April 2018. Submissions will include a design notebook and a live presentation using a Zoom video conference platform to meet the requirements of the national competition. The video conference allows teams to participate throughout our region without needing to travel toward the end of the semester/quarter for a regional competition. Judges will engage teams in a question/answer sessions immediately following the video conference. Presentations will be recorded and available shortly after for viewing on PNCWA’s YouTube channel.
Winners of PNCWA’s regional design competition will receive complete to partial funding to compete in the national competition at WEFTEC—WEF’s annual conference drawing over 20,000 water professionals each year—scheduled for September 29- October 3, 2018 in New Orleans, LA (competition date September 30th). PNCWA has sent three teams to WEFTEC since 2015. This past year, University of Idaho represented our member association at the national competition.
We are adding a second design category this year that showcases the breadth of our industry. This second design category also provides an opportunity for students teams to compete who study the environment and water science while not necessarily studying engineering.
When the regional competition started, PNCWA limited student teams to the wastewater design track. The wastewater design competition is based around problems such as collection system design, wastewater treatment plant expansions, biological nutrient removal, reclamation and reuse, natural treatment systems, etc.. However, it’s time broaden our regional competition. This year we will also include the water environment design competition that covers more contemporary topics. We feel this competition expansion is important as our membership body represents so much more than just wastewater design professionals. Water environment competition tracks include (but are not limited to) projects covering stormwater management design, green infrastructure, low impact development, wetlands, and non-centralized treatment systems in emerging countries. Regardless of selecting either the wastewater design or water environment design category, the judges will use the same guidelines and scoring systems.
Design teams may be up to 8 people; however, only up to 4 representatives from each winning team will receive travel funding. The regional participants will also have an opportunity to showcase their design project and presentation at the PNCWA2018 conference. All teams that submit projects will receive a monetary participation prize that can be used to start up or support their WEF student chapter.
Attached is the 2018 PNCWA Student Design Competition Guidelines.
This Competition Guidelines package contains:
- General information
- Requirements for the competition
- Team entry form
- Sample scoring sheets
If your students choose to compete, they will have the opportunity to present to other professionals in our industry while developing their technical and leadership skills. Additionally, the competition provides a means for students to distinguish themselves in an increasingly competitive job market.
Initial entry forms are due by February 19, 2018. An amended entry form (necessary if there is a change to the student team or project scope) is due by March 26, 2018. Design notebooks must be turned in by April 23, 2018.
We are extremely excited to hold the 4th Annual PNCWA Student Design Competition and look forward to your institution’s involvement. If you or your students have any questions, please feel free to contact me by phone at 360-407-6433 or via email: ekey461@ecy.wa.gov. You may also contact Kristi Steiner for questions via email (steinerk@cleanwaterservices.org).
Thank you for your interest and good luck!
Eleanor Key, P.E.
Water Quality Program | Dept of Ecology
ekey461@ecy.wa.gov | 360.407.6433
PNCWA Student Design Competition Package 2018_Final