Operator Contests

If you have never attended or participated in any of these popular operator contests, you don’t know what you’re missing!  Not only are they exciting opportunities to showcase operator ingenuity, know-how and skills, but they demonstrate the effectiveness and professionalism among those in the water supply sector.

Following tradition at every AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition, ACE10 will feature the high-energy Pipe Tapping Contest, where top utility teams from Section-level contests race to tap a cement-lined, ductile iron pipe;  the fast-paced Meter Madness Contest, which pits competitors against the clock to assemble a water meter from a bucket of parts; and the challenging Top Ops Contest, which tests the everyday know-how of water treatment operators in a "college bowl" format.

Also not to be missed, the World Water Cup, an international drilling and tapping competition, is a world-class event involving the top team in each of three countries: The U.S., The UK, and The Netherlands.

To access event information and resources to compete, click on the following links:

NOTE: The Tapping, Top Ops and Meter Madness operator contests are subject to AWWA's Competition Sponsorship Policy (PDF), which aims to ensure fair access to sponsorship opportunities.

World Water Cup

The World Water Cup is the international tier of speed drilling and pipe tapping. This world-class competition features the current champions from the United States, United Kingdom and the Netherlands in a heated race to see which team can claim the world championship of drilling and tapping. The three teams compete by utilizing every one of the three countries’ unique tapping methodologies. The fastest team is determined by a composite of all three times to take the title.

Learn more and access resources! 

Special Demonstration at ACE10

ACE10 will also feature a special tapping and meter assembly contest demonstration at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 20 at the historic Chicago Water Tower at 800 N. Michigan Ave, which is just a short walk from the Sheraton Hotel & Towers and the Hotel Intercontinental.

Please join us as we provide a taste of what the days ahead will bring regarding the pipe tapping and meter assembly contests as ACE09 championship teams and two teams from the City of Chicago conduct live demos of the popular contests.

Demos will start promptly at 8:30 a.m. and should be completed within an hour, so don't be late!

Since its survival of the Great Fire, the Chicago Water Tower became one of Chicago’s main symbols. The tower became functionally obsolete many years ago, although the pumping station still pumps water for the city. In May of 1969, during the year of its centennial anniversary, the Chicago Water Tower was selected by the American Water Works Association to be the first American Water Landmark. It now houses a visitor information center and has become one of the major tourist attractions in Chicago.