Operations Challenge is multi-day competition designed to showcase the team’s knowledge and skills in Process Control, Laboratory Analysis, Pump Maintenance, Collection System Repair, Safety, Electrical and our Annual Exhibition Event. The top Texas teams are sponsored to represent WEAT at the National Operation Challenge Competition at WEFTEC.
Texas Water 2025
The competition saw a fierce but friendly rivalry, with standout performances across multiple categories. For the first time ever, an out-of-state team took home 1st place in the competition.
The teams that place the best overall in the five primary competitions are awarded the overall places. The top overall Teams include:
- Metro Water Recovery Double Duty – 452 points (Overall Champions)
- TRA River Guardians – 421 points
- TRA TRAilblazers – 386 points
In Division 2, the exhibition event competition, Team SJRA, a brand new team, won first overall.
The top five Texas teams in our state competition earn a paid spot to advance to WEFTEC. Those five teams include:
- TRA River Guardians
- TRA TRAilblazers
- DWU Aqua Techs
- Austin Water Basin Bandits
- Houston Microbe Masters
The Management Trophy was awarded to the Trinity River Authority of Texas. The Management Trophy is awarded to the executives of the top Texas Team recognizing their leadership and commitment to the operations challenge program.
Teams can also win first place in each individual event, and this year, there was a wide array of first place winners:
- Freese and Nichols Process Control Event: Metro Water Recovery Double Duty dominated with 2615 points.
- Carollo Safety Event: TRA River Guardians set a blazing pace, securing first place with a time of 278 seconds.
- STV Walter Chiang Maintenance Event: TRA River Guardians claimed another victory.
- Hartwell Environmental Laboratory Event: TRA TRAilblazers triumphed nearly three minutes ahead of the competition.
- AECOM Collection Systems Event: Metro Water Recovery Double Duty showcased their speed, finishing over 25 seconds faster than their closest competitors.
- Victaulic Exhibition Event: NYWEA Brown Tide was the 1st ever non-Texas team to win first place in this event.
- SEEPEX Exhibition Event: Team SJRA took home first with only 7 seconds separating them and second place.
- Gupta Electrical Event: NYWEA Brown Tide finished 2 minutes faster than all the closest competition. Some would call that electric speed.
- Grundfos Exhibition Event: Team SJRA took home their second 1st place finish in Exhibition Events by winning the newest Exhibition Event featured at Texas Water.
In the special awards category, Zachary Jackson received the Riley Crocker Dedicated Volunteer Award, while Crystal Delgadillo was honored with the David Barber Competitive Spirit Award. The Fastest Saw Cut competition, sponsored by Ardurra, featured an exciting new relay event where coed teams of three raced to cut through a 6-inch pipe as quickly as possible. With 19 teams competing, Team Saw Ya Later from Kimley-Horn emerged victorious, securing first place with an impressive time of 38.27 seconds.
Beyond the scores and accolades, the 2025 Texas Operations Challenge was a celebration of workforce development, industry camaraderie, and the dedication of water professionals. The event would not have been possible without the support of generous sponsors, committed volunteers, and the skilled teams who dedicate their careers to ensuring the safety and sustainability of water systems.
