Iowa Water Environment Association - IAWEA

09/24/2025

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of a legend of our industry. Harris Seidel passed away on Friday, September 19, at age 102 years.
Whether or not you knew the man or ever even heard of him, you have indeed been affected by him in your career as a water professional. If you hold an IDNR certification for wastewater treatment, water treatment, or water distribution, you can call yourself a professional and thank Harris for spearheading the effort to improve standards, perception, and respect of wastewater treatment facilities and operators.
The link to his obituary is https://www.soderstrumfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Harris-F-Seidel?obId=45490181.

View Harris F. Seidel's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

09/24/2025

Online registration is OPEN for the 2025 IAWEA Operator/Pretreatment Conference October 21-22 at the Newton DMACC campus!! Go to https://iawea.regfox.com/2025-iawea-operatorpretreatment-conference to register today!

Get tickets online for 2025 IAWEA Operator/Pretreatment Conference here.

09/23/2025

WEFTEC 2025
Operations Challenge September 29-30, 2025
DMMWRA IAWEA RECLAIMERS

Are you heading to Chicago for WEFTEC 2025?
Come watch your DMMWRA/IAWEA Reclaimers compete for the top Operations Challenge Team in the world! They will be competing against 57 other teams from across the US, Cananda and around the world.
They have been getting ready, practicing hard and now all they need is for you to come and cheer them on!!!
Come see us do what we do best! Here is our schedule.

Monday September 29
9:30am - Process Control Event
2:00pm - Laboratory Event

Tuesday September 30
8:30am - Safety Event
10:00am - Collection Event
11:30am – Vaughan Maintenance Event
5:30pm – 7:30pm - Operations Challenge Awards | Hilton Chicago International Ballroom

The team would like to thank all the sponsors for making this possible! Thank you!
https://www.iawea.org/
https://www.gowpi.org/
https://www.electricpump.com/
https://vessco.com/
https://www.bolton-menk.com/
https://www.asidsm.com/
https://www.hdrinc.com/
https://www.snyder-associates.com/
https://www.cdmsmith.com/en/
https://www.bgagurney.com/

08/29/2025

The IAWEA Region 5 Fall Meeting will be Wednesday, October 29 at the Iowa Rural Water building in Newton, Iowa. Click the link for information and registration. Deadline to register is October 22nd.

Get tickets online for 2025 Region 5 Fall Meeting here.

06/05/2025

Some pictures from the Women in Water social last night. It was a wonderful time for networking, sharing stories and experiences, and having fun! Thank you to the organizers of this event.

06/05/2025

We would like to congratulate all of our WEF award recipients who were recognized at the banquet last night. This year, we had two inductees into the Iowa Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers (5S). Congratulations to Craig Hennager and Craig Just! The recipient of the Arthur Sidney Bedell award for extraordinary personal service to the association was Bob Ranson. Nathan Brockman was selected as the William D Hatfield award recipient for outstanding performance and professionalism in operating a water pollution control facility. Andrew Bentz received the Laboratory Analyst Excellence Award for outstanding performance and contributions to the water quality analysis profession. We sincerely honor and appreciate these individuals for their efforts and dedication to our industry. Please join us in celebrating their achievements!

06/05/2025

The winners from yesterday’s vendor scavenger hunt. Thanks to all who participated!

06/04/2025

At the Awards Luncheon, we recognized the recipients of the IAWEA Harris F. Seidel Education Award and the Mark McGuire Golden Manhole Award. Craig Hennager received the Seidel Education Award, and Patrick Beane & Blake Jorgensen were inducted into the Iowa Golden Manhole Society. Congratulations to Craig, Patrick, and Blake!

The Seidel Education Award recognizes individuals for their educational contributions in the areas of water pollution control and environmental sciences. The Golden Manhole Award recognizes individuals for their contributions to Collection Systems Operations and Maintenance activities. Please join us in celebrating this year’s recipients!

06/04/2025

Today kicked off with a welcome from Ottumwa’s mayor, Rick Johnson. The morning session included presentations from IDNR, the IAWEA Government Affairs Committee, an Iowa wastewater design standards update by Jay Brady & Mike Roth, a PFAS biosolids panel, and an interactive group ethics activity. Lots of productive, thought-provoking topics and discussions this morning!

06/03/2025

The Welcome Reception in the main lobby & outdoor plaza of the Bridge View Center is under way! Come join us for drinks, appetizers, and good company until 9pm. The YP & Friends trivia social will begin at 7:30pm in rooms 4 & 5. What a fun way to catch up with IAWEA friends!

06/03/2025

Thank you to the Ottumwa Water Pollution Control Facility for hosting a fascinating tour of their plant, and for starting the excitement ahead of the 2025 IAWEA Annual Conference in Ottumwa, Iowa!

06/03/2025

The first event of the 2025 IAWEA Annual Conference is underway! This year’s golf tournament is a Benefit for Xicotepec Project of Rotary District 6000. Great day for golfing, and a great way to kick off the conference!