Operations Challenge is the water sector’s premier skills competition.  It is unmatched in delivering cross training, team building and professional development.  

Teams of four compete to earn the highest score in five different events: Collections Systems, Laboratory, Process Control, Maintenance and Safety.  Each event is designed to put the diverse skills required to operate and maintain a water resource recovery facility or collection system to the test. 

On June 7 and 8, 2023, eleven teams went head-to-head at the Joint NYWEA/NEWEA Spring Technical Conference in Saratoga Springs. 

A good time was had by all, competitors and observers alike.  

Overall

1st: Place: Metropolitan Chapter Bowery Bay Coyotes (NYWEA)

2nd Place: Rhode Island Rising Sludge (NEWEA)

3rd Place: Long Island Brown Tide (NYWEA)

Process Control

1st Place: Rhode Island Rising Sludge

2nd Place: Bowery Bay Coyotes

3rd Place: Watertown Water Bears

Laboratory

1st Place: Rhode Island Rising Sludge

2nd Place: Watertown Water Bears

3rd Place: Long Island Brown Tide

Safety

1st Place: Long Island Brown Tide

2nd Place: Bowery Bay Coyotes

3rd Place: Coney Island Sludge Hustlers

Collections

1st Place: New Jersey Cake Breakers

2nd Place: Coney Island Sludge Hustlers

3rd Place: Rhode Island Rising Sludge

Maintenance

1st Place: Bowery Bay Coyotes

2nd Place: Coney Island Sludge Hustlers

3rd Place: Long Island Digested Dragons

Best of luck to the Coyotes, the Brown Tide, the Sludge Hustlers and the Water Bears who will join teams from across the country in Chicago this October for Nationals at WEFTEC!