City Staff Take Top Honors at Water Conference

ARKANSAS CITY, KAN. (SEPT. 6, 2023) The City of Arkansas City is proud to announce the outstanding achievement of its Environmental Services Department in the recent Environmental Excellence Competition at the 14th Annual Kansas Water Environment Association (KWEA) and Kansas Section American Water Works Association (AWWA) joint conference, held from August 29-31 in Wichita, Kan.

The Environmental Excellence Competition, often dubbed the Scholar's Bowl of the water industry, brought together teams of three operators and lab personnel from across Kansas. These dedicated professionals competed head-to-head in a fast-paced question-and-answer tournament, demonstrating their water operations and wastewater management expertise.

Representing the City of Arkansas City and ultimately winning this year's Environmental Excellence Competition were Rod Philo, Environmental Services Superintendent; Tommy Bowman, Wastewater Treatment Plant Supervisor; Mike Frank, Water Treatment Facility Supervisor; and Spencer Stover, Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator.

The Environmental Excellence Competition aims to recognize and promote excellence and professionalism in all facets of water operations. It provides a unique platform for professionals to demonstrate their talents and share their knowledge.

Participants face a barrage of technical questions a skilled moderator poses and must answer within a limited time frame. The competition also involves strategy, as points are awarded for correct answers and deducted for incorrect responses.

"We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Rod, Tommy, Mike, and Spencer for this outstanding achievement. Additionally, we express our deep appreciation for the dedicated Environmental Services staff, whose tireless round-the-clock efforts and expertise consistently deliver high-quality environmental services to our community," remarked City Manager Randy Frazer.