COVER STORY THE Benefits of Membership By Peter Pineda ell obviously they pretreatment coordinators themselves. exhibitors, and the hustle and bustle of wouldn’t be unspoken The conference was one-and-a-half the people flowing through. It wasn’t if I could just list them days and included exhibitors and a long until I found myself chatting with for you. So instead, I networking event. It would become various exhibitors about their products will need to provide a training event that I attended every and services relative to my work. you with my own year and eventually became involved I was learning more and more about Wpersonal experience and career in the in; first as a speaker and then as a pretreatment, and even more about water environment industry and allow committee member planning the wastewater operations. I was realizing you to draw your own conclusions. conference and other training events that the water environment industry I began my career with the related to pretreatment. was a big industry that is supported by Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) Through my interaction with various private companies. It would be in 2001, fresh out of college, in their EPWPCOA, I was introduced to a whole here in the exhibit hall, where Industrial Waste and Pretreatment Unit new world of wastewater operations, I would witness something that had me with absolutely no idea what I would be not just pretreatment. I was also yearning to become more involved with doing. Honestly, my degree in chemical introduced to EPWPCOA’s affiliate, PWEA: the Operations Challenge, a engineering prepared me to work at a the Pennsylvania Water Environment live competition between the DELCORA chemical plant or an oil refinery, but not Association (PWEA), which also Loo-Natics and the Western Pennsylvania to regulate them. Well, it wasn’t long conducted trainings and held an annual Wastewater Pollution Control Association before I realized that I was going to need technical conference and exhibition (WPWPCA) Die-Jesters. For those of some outside training to equip me with entitled PennTec. I attended my first you who have not been to PennTec or the skills to better perform my duties. PennTec in 2006 at State College, WEFTEC, the Operations Challenge is the Through the advice of some coworkers, Pennsylvania and was literally amazed “Wastewater Olympics” for professionals I located a relatively local industrial by what I experienced. First the training in the wastewater treatment industry. waste conference organized by the classes were like none I have ever Teams of four members compete in Eastern Pennsylvania Water Pollution taken. There was a diverse schedule five separate timed events: collection Control Operators Association covering topics of particular interest to systems, laboratory, process control, (EPWPCOA). This conference would soon me like pretreatment, but also many maintenance, and safety. At WEFTEC, become one of my most anticipated others areas like collection systems and each team is sponsored by a WEF events of the year, not only for quality engineering. Upon my review of the member association, like PWEA, or a training applicable to my specific field, schedule, I realized there were topics recognized operator association. Winners but for networking with other like- in other areas that also pertained to are determined by a weighted point minded professionals and also for fun my work for the Philadelphia Water system, each designed to test the diverse and enjoyment. The speakers at the Department. I went from class to class skills required for the operation and conference were all well versed, many of and when I had time I would explore maintenance of wastewater treatment them being EPA employees working in the exhibit hall. The exhibit hall – wow, facilities, their collection systems, the pretreatment unit and others being I was taken aback by all of the many and laboratories. PennTec 2007, Operations Challenge Competition – Philly River Rats. KEYSTONE WATER QUALITY MANAGER 15 COVER STORY “There are many other benefits to being a member of associations such as EPWPCOA, PWEA, and WEF. These organizations not only provide top-notch training, but also plan social events WEFTEC 2007, Operations Challenge Competition – PWEA’s Die-Jesters. for fun and networking.” After returning to work from PennTec The Philly River Rats brought a new a kid on his first day at high school. 2006, I immediately began researching level of competition to PennTec 2007 It had everything PennTec had but the Operations Challenge, and started by providing a third team to what bigger, much bigger – an exhibit hall asking my superiors, “Why doesn’t historically has been a battle of two so huge it would take days to canvas, Philadelphia have an Ops Challenge teams essentially representing the east so many presentations you need a team?” My curiosity took me nearly to and west of the state. For our first-ever schedule to keep track of it all, and the the top of the organization, asking the competition, we did an exceptional job Operations Challenge with over 50 current commissioner, Debra McCarty and placed third with the Die-Jesters teams competing. (deputy commissioner at the time) the taking second and the Loo-Natics Each morning, I would ride one same question. I cannot recall her exact taking first. During the competition of WEF’s buses from my hotel to the words, but do remember the gist of it, results announcement, PWEA surprised convention center and quickly made which was if you have the enthusiasm all attendees by noting that they would friends with the DELCORA Loo-Natics, to see it through I will support you. be sending two Operations Challenge a relationship which would prove to be Well, I surely had the enthusiasm teams to WEFTEC, where they would invaluable to the Philly River Rats and and I would quickly learn I also had both represent Pennsylvania in the me. It was an incredible networking my employer’s support, a necessary national competition. opportunity, which I took full item to attend conferences and be While the Philly River Rats never advantage of. I was glad to be a part part of something like the Operations made it to San Diego that year, I of it all, even the Operations Challenge Challenge. I returned to PennTec in was fortunate enough to have my for which I was just an enthusiastic 2007, this time with my very own team, employer’s support to attend WEFTEC spectator cheering on Pennsylvania’s the Philly River Rats. 2007. What an experience! I felt like two teams. The Loo-Natics placed 10th WEFTEC 2007, Operations Challenge Competition – PWEA’s Die-Jesters. 16 OCT0BER/NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 COVER STORY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION Environmental Training Center DELAWARE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE | GEORGETOWN, DELAWARE Technical training for water quality professionals including water operators, wastewater operators, onsite technicians and well drillers. (302) 259-6384 | www.dtcc.edu Customized contract training is available onsite and online to meet your needs. WEFTEC 2013, Operations Challenge The next generation of 3-belt press Competition – PWEA’s Philly River Rats. A night at the Reading Royals Hockey Game 2/19/16. Employment Opportunity To enquire about employment opportunity with Charter Machine call 732-548-4400 or email [email protected] Guaranteed outstanding performance. Call (732)548-4400 Fax (732)494-4596 Visit www.chartermachine.com EPWPCOA Young Professionals – 55 Wester Ave. Metuchen, NJ 08840 Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs Game 7/31/14. KEYSTONE WATER QUALITY MANAGER 17 COVER STORY (out of 30 teams in Division 2) and the members and non-members alike. This full support of PWEA when we gained Die-Jesters placed 18th with a notable is possible because the committees that their sponsorship to WEFTEC 2013 in third place in the Laboratory Event. plan these training events are made up Chicago. The association supported our When I returned to work from of individuals like you and I, who have efforts by providing training equipment WEFTEC 2007, I was more prepared to vested interest in the training. and paying for all travel expenses and fulfill my recent promotion to assistant I was also prepared to improve the registration fees for the five of us to manager of PWD’s Industrial Waste Philly River Rats performance, which attend and compete. It was truly an Unit. My skills as a manager were would not have been possible without honor wearing our team t-shirts with the improving and I was continuing to stay the help of the Loo-Natics. The team PWEA logo while we competed. up to date on pretreatment regulations and coaches at DELCORA made their Are you thinking of starting your and issues through EPWPCOA’s annual training equipment available to us and own Operations Challenge team? industrial pretreatment conferences. also showed us how to run the events, Well, you must be a Water Environment PWEA and EPWPCOA (as well as something we were still learning. It Federation member to do so. There are CPWQA & WPWPCA) do a great job of would lay the groundwork for the Philly many other benefits to being a member selecting topics and pairing speakers to River Rats to return to PennTec in 2008 of associations such as EPWPCOA, provide dynamic training events to its and again in 2013. We received the PWEA, and WEF. These organizations not only provide top-notch training, but also plan social events for fun and networking. For instance, the Young Professionals Committee of EPWPCOA plans multiple social events each year which include brewery tours, hockey games, and baseball games. The association also plans an annual golf tournament, a trade show, and their Mid-Summer Expo. They also host their regular meetings at wastewater treatment plants, which can include locations such as the Yuengling Brewery in Pottstown, PA.