There are three Divisions at Operations Challenge at WEFTEC. 

Division I
Returning teams* that were in the top nine overall winning positions in Division 1 the previous year. This also includes any returning team that competed in the previous year's Division II Competition and placed in the top three positions overall.

Division II
Returning teams who do not qualify for Division I. This also includes any returning team that competed in the previous year's Division III Competition and placed in the top three positions overall.

Division III
New teams whose members have never competed at WEFTEC for that utility. A team may compete in Division III for up to two consecutive years. If a member has previously competed at WEFTEC, but not for their current employer, their team is eligible to compete in Division 3. 

*A returning team is defined as any team that includes at least three members of the team that have participated in any of the previous two WEF Operations Challenge competitions from that member association. 

Interested in Volunteering at WEFTEC? Read our FAQ and Sign up below. 
 
Who can volunteer? Anyone with the time to commit, an interest in water and operations, and a passion for giving back to the water community. Please note that an actively competing team member is not allowed to volunteer unless permission is given by the Operations Challenge Community Leadership.
 
What types of volunteer opportunities are there? Most of our volunteers are judging one of the five events. There is a mandatory two-hour training provided for judges, so you do not need to be an expert on the event to judge. There are other opportunities as well to help with set up, new team orientation, and event support. Please browse the various sign-up links below for details.
 
What is the time commitment? Most volunteers are required to volunteer for at least one full day of the conference, Monday or Tuesday, as well as a two-hour judges training either the day before or day of your commitment. Details are provided in the sign up. Please note that you are committing for the full time slot you sign up for. You are not able to take breaks to attended meetings or sessions. There is a scheduled break for lunch and convenience breaks as needed.
 
How do I know what to sign up for? Start by looking at opportunities available during your favorite event. If you are unfamiliar with each event, browse the Operations Challenge YouTube playlist and the Operations Challenge Resource Center to learn more about each event. Once you decide on the event you would like to judge, watch the Event Tutorial to become familiar with specifics of that event.
 
What is provided for volunteers? A limited edition Operations Challenge Official T-shirt and Hat, a boxed lunch if you are volunteer for a shift that covers the lunch period, friendships that will last a lifetime, and the knowledge that you contributed to the sectors most respected and successful professional development opportunity for water professionals.
 
What else do I need to know before I sign up? To volunteer for Operations Challenge you need be registered for WEFTEC. Registration information will be published in Spring 2024. 
 
How do I sign up? Sign ups to judge for each event are sent out in the Summer. Opportunities will be listed by event. If you are not already on our volunteer email list, please fill out this form to be added. 

If you have any additional questions, please email OpsChallenge@wef.org.

The Operations Challenge Committee has put together these helpful step-by-step Event Tutorials. Please use these tutorials in conjunction with the Event Descriptions on the Team Resource Center. Any questions about a specific event should be directed through that events page on the Team Resource Center. 

Collections Event Tutorial

Vaughan Maintenance Event Tutorial

Laboratory Event Tutorial

Safety Event Tutorial

Check out event highlights over the years and view the event tutorials on the Operations Challenge Youtube playlist.

The 2021, 2022, and 2023 Operations Challenge Awards were Livestreamed and can be viewed on Facebook, no Facebook account needed to view. 

2020 Operations Challenge teams competed virtually on the GoToWebinar platform. The recordings are available to watch for free. 

We all love Operations Challenge. Show your love by including Operations Challenge in your email signature. Identify your affiliation, Competitor, Volunteer, or Supporter, or use just the Operations Challenge logo. 

An active WEF membership and membership in your local WEF Member Association is required to participate in Operations Challenge. 

The Professional Operator membership is designed for operators and technicians directly involved in water reuse, wastewater treatment, collection systems, or laboratory operations. The cost is $75/year, plus local WEF Member Association dues for U.S. and Canada.

Additional details about member benefits and how to join can be found here. The membership fees can also be included when you pay for your Operations Challenge registration, however, please also include a copy of the completed WEF PO Member Application with your registration form.

If you are currently a member but do not know your member number, please contact WEF Customer Service at 1-800-666-0206 (toll-free) or 1-571-830-1545 (globally).

Find out the full history of Operations Challenge. Since the event's inception in 1988, WEF's magazines have chronicled the details of each competition. The links below connect to PDF articles of the full coverage. Each entry is marked by the year, city of the competition, and the Division 1 winning team.

Operations Challenge History