SWMOA Press Release – 2019 Award Winners and Welcome Board Members

SOUTHWEST MEMBRANE OPERATORS ASSOCIATION (SWMOA)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 25, 2019

For more information, please contact:

Janet L. Jaworski, CMP

SWMOA Administrative Director

admin@swmoa.org

2019 SWMOA AWARDS PRESENTED DURING ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM
ON JUNE 25, 2019

The 2019 SWMOA Annual Symposium held in Riverside, CA; the Awards Luncheon and SWMOA Membership Meeting took place on Tuesday, June 25, 2019. During the Luncheon Awards Ceremony and SWMOA Members Meeting, the following awards were presented:

OUTSTANDING MEMBRANE PLANT AWARD – Small Plant:

• Mission Basin Groundwater Purification Facility in Oceanside, CA, was presented with this year’s Outstanding Membrane Plant Award. The award recognizes an outstanding water/wastewater facility that uses any membrane technology with high efficiency in an environmentally friendly approach. The award is inscribed: “in recognition of outstanding plant operations & maintenance and exemplary membrane treatment plant performance.”

OUTSTANDING LARGE PLANT OPERATOR AWARD:

• David Paulson, of Irvine Ranch Water District, was presented with this year’s Outstanding Large Plant Operator Award. The award recognizes outstanding contributions by a plant operator working at a membrane filtration, desalination or water reuse facility that resulted in significant, long-term improvement in water production and/or water reuse. The award is inscribed: “in recognition of outstanding service and dedication to membrane operations and for leadership within the industry.”

OUTSTANDING SMALL PLANT OPERATOR AWARD:

• George Barnes, of Amador Water Agency, was presented with this year’s Outstanding Small Plant Operator Award. The award recognizes outstanding contributions by a plant operator working at a membrane filtration, desalination or water reuse facility that resulted in significant, long-term improvement in water production and/or water reuse. The award is inscribed: “in recognition of outstanding service and dedication to membrane operations and for leadership within the industry.”

FIRST RUNNER UP, BEST TASTING MEMBRANE WATER IN THE SOUTHWEST REGION:

• City of Irvine “Baker Water Treatment Plant” received the First Runner Up Best Tasting Membrane Water in the Southwest Region Award following the Best Tasting Membrane Water Competition held during the Annual Symposium.

BEST TASTING MEMBRANE WATER IN THE SOUTHWEST REGION:

• Sweetwater Authority “Richard A. Reynolds Desalination Facility” was presented with this year’s Best Tasting Membrane Water in the Southwest Region Award. The award recognizes the winner of the Best Tasting Membrane Water Competition held during the Annual Symposium.

VENDOR APPRECIATION:

• Afton Pumps, Inc. was presented with the Vendor Appreciation Award in recognition of continuous support to the growth and development of the Southwest Membrane Operator Association.

SWMOA PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS: These awards are presented at the discretion of the President of SWMOA to acknowledge individuals and companies who have made significant contributions to furthering the mission of SWMOA.

• Wayne Wright, received the award in recognition of Wayne’s dedication, commitment and service in SWMOA, support of its symposiums and technology transfer workshops and for his mentorship of the Executive Board and Incoming Board Members.

SWMOA DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS: These awards are presented to acknowledge Outgoing Board Members who have made significant contributions to furthering the mission of SWMOA. The recipients were:

• Christiana Daisy received the award in recognition of her contribution and support to the growth and development of the Southwest Membrane Operator Association and for Serving as the Vice President of the Board of Directors from 2017 to 2019 and a member of the Board of Directors from 2011 to 2019. Also, for her service as the chair of the Program Committee in 2012 and 2013, co-chair of the Membership and Awards Committees in 2013, chair of the Awards, Nomination/Election Committee and Program Committee in 2014, chair of the Tech Transfer Committee in 2015, and co-chair of the Awards Committee from 2016 to 2019.
• Dave Commons received the award in recognition of his contribution and support to the growth and development of the Southwest Membrane Operator Association and for serving as a member of the SWMOA Board of Directors from 2016 to 2019, AMTA Liaison from 2016 to 2017 and leading the SWMOA MOC-IV Program.
• Wayne Wright received the award in recognition of his contribution and support to the growth and development of the Southwest Membrane Operator Association and for serving as a member of the Board of Directors from 2013 to 2019 and President of the Board of Directors from 2014 to 2016. Also, for his service as the chair of the Bylaws & Policies Committee and Executive Committee from 2014 to 2015, chair of the Nomination & Election Committee from 2016 to 2019 and chair of the Program/Technology Transfer Committee from 2017 to 2019.

WELCOME NEWLY ELECTED and RE-ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS!

Southwest Membrane Operators Association (SWMOA) is an affiliate of the American Membrane Technology
Association dedicated to the Southwest United States region including, but not limited to, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah.

SWMOA’s mission is to enhance the professional development of the membrane operator and the municipal
and industrial applications they support in the Southwest USA.

SWMOA recognizes that as membrane technology advances and becomes increasingly complex, the membrane
operator must keep pace. The Association provides an avenue for training and exchange of technical information to prepare the membrane operator for this challenging environment. This is accomplished through symposiums, technical workshops,
operator certification and outreach to students interested in the field of water treatment and technology.

© 2019 Southwest Membrane Operator Association (SWMOA). All rights reserved.