COMPETITIONS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12–THURSDAY, APRIL 13 Operations Challenge

Wednesday, April 12, 8 am-3:00 pm

Thursday, April 13, 8 am-2:45 pm

Thursday, April 13, 2:45 pm-3:45 pm: Awards Ceremony

Watch the nation’s best operators and maintenance staff compete in the Operations Challenge Competition at Texas WaterTM 2023. The competition returns in person this year and is open to any team that would like to sign up; teams of two to four can compete in as many as seven events. Sign up your utility today! The competition takes place in the Exhibit Hall on Wednesday and Thursday. This multi-day competition showcases each team’s knowledge and skills in Process Control (Sponsored by Freese and Nichols), Laboratory Event (Sponsored by Hartwell Environmental), Maintenance (Sponsored by CP&Y), Collection System (Sponsored by AECOM), Safety (Sponsored by Carollo), and our three exhibition events: Electrical (Sponsored by Gupta), Vaughan Exhibition Event (Sponsored by Vaughan), and Victaulic Exhibition Event (Sponsored by Victaulic).

Awards for the Operations Challenge Competition, as well as the Three Municipal Treatment Plant of the Year awards and Operator of the Year Award will be handed out at the Operations Awards Ceremony at 2:45 pm in the Exhibit Hall in the Meter Challenge area.

Non-Utility teams and any person in attendance at the show can sign up and compete in the Exhibition Events where two divisions are available. Division I represents past teams who have competed in all events, and Division II represents new teams competing in any event for the first time. Competitors can receive up to 10 TCEQ CEU hours, t-shirts, entry into the technical sessions and exhibit halls, and bragging rights! The top Texas Teams earn a free trip to the National WEFTEC competition. Contact Jeff Sober at 214-883-6263 or jlsober@garverusa.com or register at www.txwater.org.

Hydrant Hysteria

Wednesday, April 12, 9:30 am-4 pm, Exhibit Hall

Thursday, April 13, 9:30 am-4 pm, Exhibit Hall

Hydrant Hysteria is a fast-paced competition where two member teams assemble a specified hydrant as quickly as they can. The Section winners will compete at AWWA ACE23 in Toronto in June. Registration has closed.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12

Junior Meter Challenge Contest

1 pm-2:30 pm, Exhibit Hall

The Junior Meter Challenge Contest matches students from high school environmental programs for a test of their meter-assembling skills and dexterity. Please support these future water professionals by attending on Wednesday.

Meter Challenge

2:30 pm-4:30 pm, Exhibit Hall

Contestants race to assemble a 5/8-inch meter from loose parts and test for leaks. The winner represents Texas at AWWAACE23 in Toronto in June. Limited to 12 competitors. Visit www.txwater.org to sign up.

Texas Shoot Out

3 pm-5 pm, Exhibit Hall, Ops Challenge Area

Who is the fastest draw on cutting a piece of 8-inch SDR 35 pipe with a hand saw? It’s time to show who really has the quickest hands in Texas at the annual Texas Shoot Out. This competition is designed to demonstrate elements of the Operations Challenge’s Collection event. The event is open to all. The $5 entry fee proceeds go to Curtis Smalley Memorial Fund. First place in all events will receive a plaque. Contact Grace Sober at gdsober@ lan-inc.com for more information and to sign up.

THURSDAY, APRIL 13

Top Ops

9:30 am-1:30 pm, Exhibit Hall

Water operations personnel can impress their coworkers and dazzle their bosses with their technical knowledge by competing in this quiz show-style event. The winning team advances to the National Top Ops Competition in June at AWWAACE23 in Toronto. Visit www.txwater.org to sign up.

Pipe Tapping Contest

9:30 am-4 pm, Exhibit Hall

Four-person teams from across the state compete to determine who will represent Texas at the National Pipe Tapping Competition at AWWAACE23 in Toronto. Visit www.txwater.org to sign up.

Best Tasting Drinking Water Contest

1:30 pm-3 pm, Exhibit Hall

The Best Tasting Drinking Water Contest brings together entries representing utilities across Texas. A panel of celebrity judges will grade the samples. Along with Texas bragging rights, the winning entrant competes at AWWA ACE23 in Toronto in June. Visit www.txwater.org to sign up.

The Texas Water 2023 room block at the Hilton AmericasHouston hotel is sold out. The Hilton may have rooms at their regular rate. You can contact them at 713-739-8000 or access their website here

Please check availability at the alternate hotels below.

Texas Water does not have room blocks, special rates or arrangements with the below hotels, but all are within a short walking distance to the George R. Brown Convention Center. No transportation is being provided by Texas Water 2023. Rates may be higher so if you make a reservation at another hotel, note your cancellation date and check back often to see if more rooms become available at the Hilton at the conference rate: https://book.passkey.com/go/TEXASwater23

Marriott Marquis Houston - Adjacent to George R. Brown Convention Center

1777 Walker Street, Houston, Texas 77010 +1 713-654-1777

Website

Embassy Suites by Hilton Houston Downtown

1515 Dallas St, Houston, TX 77010 (713) 739-9100

Website

Courtyard Houston Downtown/Convention Center 916 Dallas Street, Houston, Texas, 77002 832-366-1600

Website

COVID Statement - Subject to change

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Texas Water™ 2023 has been making the necessary adjustments to ensure participant safety is our top priority. Together, with the George R. Brown Convention Center and local hotels and venues, we are following current guidance and information shared by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Harris County and the City of Houston. Attendees are encouraged to take any necessary steps to protect themselves and others when attending conference events including being vaccinated, wearing masks and distancing when appropriate.

Residence Inn by Marriott Houston Downtown/ Convention Center

904 Dallas St, Houston, TX 77002 (832) 366-1000

Website

SpringHill Suites by Marriott Houston Downtown/ Convention Center

914 Dallas St, Houston, TX 77002 (713) 655-0002

Website

See special information below regarding booking more than 5 hotel rooms.*

*Texas Water negotiates hotel rates to provide reasonable rates for conference attendees. As part of this agreement, Texas WaterTM 2023 assumes financial responsibility for any unsold rooms at the hotels where we have contracts.

The following policy will apply to anyone who books more than 5 hotel rooms at the negotiated Texas Water rate. Any person, group, company or organization that reserves more than 5 rooms at the Texas Water Conference rate agrees that they will cancel any rooms they do not plan to use earlier than the normal cut-off date for room reservations. The cut-off date for reservations in excess of 5 rooms is February 27, 2023.

By registering for Texas WaterTM 2023 at the conference rate, and/or within the Texas Water negotiated room block, any person, group, company or organization agrees that if they fail to cancel the rooms by the cutoff date above, they will assume full responsibility to pay for any unused rooms at the full conference rate including all taxes and other fees in the event the rooms go unsold and the hotel acts to hold Texas WaterTM 2023, TAWWA and/or WEAT, responsible for any unused rooms under the terms of the contract. Please direct any questions regarding this policy to info@txwater.org.