WEF Offerings for Operators

As a leading source of water quality expertise, WEF is committed to advancing the water quality profession by providing access to the world’s best science, engineering, and technical practices in the water environment field. 

From hands-on training and leadership opportunities, such as Operations Challenge, to online training, like our Wastewater Treatment Fundamentals series, WEF provides Operators with various opportunities to advance your on-the-job knowledge and career. Browse our resources and opportunities below.

Activities for Operators

Operations Challenge: Since 1988, teams representing Member Associations have come together each year to compete in the Operations Challenge competition. Operations Challenge a global showcase of the skills of wastewater collection and treatment personnel.

This event is featured at the Water Environment Federation's Technical Exhibition and Conference, WEFTEC®. It started with 22 teams and one division and has grown to a more than 50-team, three-division format. The competition combines five events, Collections, Laboratory, Maintenance, Process Control, and Safety.

Please visit the Operations Challenge page for more extensive information including dates, teams, registration information, and photos.

Operator Ingenuity: Operator Ingenuity is a recurring column in WE&T that recognizes fixes that tackle a persistent problem with nothing more than the materials at hand and a hearty dose of ingenuity. Learn more and submit your ingenious fix.

Operator Scholarship: The Operator Scholarship provides up to $5,000 to individuals who are seeking water sector operator education, training, or certification to enter the industry or to advance their knowledge, skills, abilities or license. Applications are open January 15 - March 31 and scholarships are awarded in July. Apply Today. 

Operate With Excellence: The Water Environment Federation and University of Colorado-Boulder have teamed up to offer a short course for Operators who have either recently advanced to a management role or are looking to advance in the future. Operate with Excellence: Leadership and Management Skills provides students with skills in leadership, management, utility finance, ethics, justice, and equity specific to the water industry.

The course is offered annually. To be notificed when registration for the next course offering opens, please join the Waitlist.  

Operate with Excellence Course

WEFMAX Training: At one WEFMAX each year, there is an all-day operator training event.

WEFTEC Workshops: WEFTEC® workshops (about 25) and technical sessions (about 125) are preapproved for operator credits in all states.

WE&T: Water Environment & Technology (WE&T) magazine hosts recurring Operator Essentials and Maintenance Essentials columns, highlighting what every operator should know about important topics. The archive is available on Access Water and is free to WEF Members. 

Opportunities for Involvement

The Professional Operator (PO) membership package is designed for operators and technicians directly involved in water reuse, wastewater treatment, collection systems, or laboratory operations.

More than 2,500 WEF members participate in WEF community activities, developing conference programs, writing technical manuals and books, developing training materials and program content, and many other WEF program activities.  Get involved by joining the Plant Operations and Maintenance Community (POMC).