Each June, teams of dedicated water industry professionals gather from across the U.S. and Canada to participate in a dynamic question-and-answer competition called Top Ops. The event is designed to recognize excellence and professionalism in all aspects of water operations through a competition allowing operators to showcase their talents.

Skagit PUD will send a team June 10 – 14 to the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Annual Conference and Expo in Anaheim, Calif., to compete against the nation’s other top water treatment plant operators in the “College Bowl” of the water industry.

The PUD will be represented by Water Treatment Plant Operators Riley Smith and Mark Edwards, along with Meter Technician Matt Walker.

Each team must first win a regional chapter competition to compete for the Top Ops national championship title. “In May, our Top Ops team represented the PUD at the Pacific Northwest Section – American Water Works Association Section Conference in Spokane,” Engineering Manager Mark Handzlik explained. “Our Top Ops team won two of three rounds and now advances to compete nationally.”

How It Works

Top Ops is a competitive question-and-answer tournament that challenges contestants’ technical knowledge and problem-solving abilities with complex math and operational questions. Strategy is involved since points are awarded for correct answers and deducted for incorrect answers, and the score does not change for not answering a question. Teams have 25 seconds to respond to each question.

The competition’s questions are categorized into the following subject areas: safety, water treatment processes, laboratory, maintenance, distribution, and basic science.

Teams of one, two, or three operators are quizzed from a secure bank of more than 2,000 questions — all taken from two dozen AWWA publications and vetted by Water Professionals International. While the questions are top secret, examples of those typically asked include: What metal makes the best anode? What is the pressure, in pounds per square inch, at the bottom of a tank if the water level is at 38.29 feet? (See answers at the end.)

Each question is worth two points, except for math questions, which are worth three. One point is deducted for incorrect answers.

A panel of judges, selected from water professionals involved in AWWA Sections, has the final say on whether an answer is correct.

Last year, Skagit PUD’s Top Ops team placed fifth nationally out of 18 teams.

Answers to questions: What metal makes the best anode? Zinc. What is the pressure, in pounds per square inch, at the bottom of a tank if the water level is at 38.29 feet? 16.6 psi.

Left to Right: Water Treatment Plant Operators Riley Smith and Mark Edwards,  and Meter Technician Matt Walker.