AMTA Awards And AMTA/AWWA MTC16 Awards

The 2016 Membrane Technology Conference and Exposition were held in San Antonio, TX; the Awards Luncheon and AMTA Membership Meeting took place on February 3, 2016. During the Luncheon Awards Ceremony and AMTA Members Meeting, the following awards were presented:

AMTA 2016 Hall Of Fame Awards: Recognizes pioneering and/or lifetime contribution by an individual to the field of membrane technology.

• Paul Culler received the award in recognition of Paul’s contribution to advancement of the use of membrane processes as a founder of Basic Technologies, Inc. (BTI) and the early developer of partial demineralization, now referred to as membrane softening that reshaped the membrane industry. In appreciation for his support of the American Membrane Technology Association and his participation in the AMTA Historical interviews.
• Jaren Leet received the award in recognition of Jaren’s contribution to advancement of the use of membrane processes as a founder of Aqua Media, Inc., an OEM that pioneered the use of early reverse osmosis technology providing ultrapure water to the semiconductor industry, in appreciation for his support of the American Membrane Technology Association and his participation in the AMTA Historical interviews.
• Dean Spatz received the award in recognition of Dean’s contribution to advancement of the use of membrane processes as a founder of Osmonics, Inc., a pioneering manufacturer of reverse osmosis membranes, membrane equipment, components, and controls that shaped the membrane industry. In appreciation for his support of the American Membrane Technology Association and his participation in the AMTA Historical Interviews.

AMTA 2016 Outstanding Member Award: Recognizes outstanding contributions to membrane technology by an individual who is a member of AMTA.

• Dow Water & Process Solutions received the award in recognition of their resolute support of AMTA through their participation as sponsors and presenters throughout the years as well as for their assistance with the Mobile Modules at the 2015 WEFTEC Conference in Chicago.

2015/2016 AMTA-ADC Fellowship Awards were given to three students. This Fellowship made possible as the result of a gift to AMTA by the Affordable Desalination Collaboration (ADC). The ADC was founded with a mission to advance the knowledge and understanding of desalination cost, energy, and promising advances in these areas. The recipients were:

• Sarah Dishinger, University of Colorado, Boulder; received the award for her studies on: “Nanopore Tuning in Lyotropic Liquid Crystal Membrane Materials for Optimized Water Transport”
• Paula Monaco; Texas Tech University received the award for her studies “Research Plan: Evaluating the use of antimicrobial feed spacers versus traditional feed spacers for the inhibition of biofilm development on reverse osmosis membrane surfaces in the presence of real wastewater sources”
• Samantha Jeffery; University of Central Florida received the award for her studies "Investigating Nanofiltration Membrane Processes for Removing Trace Chemicals of Emerging Concern”

Recognition Of Service Awards: These awards are presented to acknowledge Outgoing Board Members who have made significant contributions to furthering the mission of AMTA. The recipients were:

• Dennis Livingston, Ovivo USA, LLC, received the award in recognition of his efforts on the AMTA Industry Collaboration and Technology Transfer Committees and as editor for several issues of AMTA’s Newsletter, “Solutions” and his service as an AMTA Director from 2014 until 2016.
• Tom Seacord, Carollo Engineers, Inc., received the award in recognition of his efforts on the AMTA Newsletter Committee, his work with ADC to bring a donation to AMTA, and his energy to spearhead the formation of the Northwest Membrane Operator Association (NWMOA) during his tenure and service as an AMTA director from 2001 until 2016.
• Bob Yamada, San Diego County Water Authority, received the award in recognition of his efforts on the AMTA Industry Collaboration Committee and his service as an AMTA Director from 2014 until 2016.

AMTA Presidential Awards: These awards are presented at the discretion of the President of AMTA to acknowledge individuals who have made significant contributions to furthering the mission of AMTA.

• Dr. Irving Moch received the award in recognition of extraordinary leadership in the fields of desalination and membrane treatment, including more than fifty years of service with DuPont Permasep, and his own firm, I. Moch & Associates, countless volunteer hours assisting the AMTA Board as a Director, as well as scholarly authorship and editing for publications, conferences and industry standards. (Note: this Award was presented prior to the MTC16 Conference in August 2015)
• David MacNevin, Tetra Tech, received the award in recognition of his leadership and dedicated service to the American Membrane Technology Association in serving as the Editor of the AMTA Newsletter, SOLUTIONS, for two issues, with special honors for volunteering on short notice.
• Mike Snodgrass, Ovivo USA, LLC, received the award in recognition of his leadership and dedicated service to the American Membrane Technology Association in assisting with the Mobile Modules at WEFTEC and serving as the Editor of the AMTA Newsletter, SOLUTIONS, for one issue with specials honors for volunteering on short notice.

AMTA/AWWA 2016 Membrane Facility Award:

• Orange County Water District’s Groundwater Replenishment System in Fountain Valley, California was presented with this year’s Membrane Facility of the Year Award. The award recognizes an outstanding water/wastewater facility that uses any membrane technology with high efficiency in an environmentally friendly approach. The Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) is the world's largest water purification system for indirect potable reuse and helps increase Orange County, California’s water independence by providing a locally controlled, drought-proof supply of high-quality water. The award is inscribed “in recognition of this outstanding water reuse facility which utilizes membrane technology in an efficient and environmentally beneficial manner. In appreciation of their dedication to the education of their operating staff and the public regarding the benefits of this innovative technology.”

AMTA/AWWA 2016 “Robert O. Vernon "Operator Of The Year”

• Robert Hildreth of the Colorado River Municipal Water District in Big Spring, Texas was presented with this year’s Robert O. Vernon Operator of the Year Award. The award recognizes outstanding contributions by a plant operator working at a membrane filtration, desalination or water reuse facility that resulted in significant, long-term improvement in water production and/or water reuse. Robert was cited for his remarkable job of learning a new process and taking ownership and pride as the Plant Supervisor for the Raw Water Production Facility. The award is inscribed: “in recognition of his commitment and dedication as Colorado River Municipal Water District’s Raw Water Production Facility Supervisor and for overcoming challenges faced in the startup and commissioning of the Raw Water Production Facility, as well as his commitment in streamlining and optimizing the operation of the plant”

AMTA/AWWA 2016 Water Quality Person Of The Year

• Jim Lozier of CH2M in Tempe, AZ was presented with this year’s Water Quality Person of the Year Award. The award recognizes outstanding contributions by an individual in government, academia, research or other to water supply improvement. The award is inscribed: “in recognition of his service as Vice President and Global Technologies for CH2M, specializing in membrane based water and wastewater treatment, desalination and water reuse and for his internationally recognized leadership in membrane technology through his publications and presentations on the use of membrane processes in both municipal and industrial markets.”

AWWA/AMTA MTC16 Best Membrane Treatment Of Water Exhibit Award

• Ovivo USA, LLC in Austin, TX was presented with this year’s Membrane Exhibit of the Year Award. The award recognizes and honors the organization that highlights the importance of membrane technology with an exhibit booth at MTC.

About The American Membrane Technology Association
Formed in 1972, the American Membrane Technology Association (AMTA) has over 940 members and is headquartered in Stuart, FL; this nonprofit scientific and educational association vision is solving water supply & quality issues through the widespread application of membrane technology. AMTA's mission is to promote, advocate and advance the understanding and application of membrane technology to create safe, affordable and reliable water supplies, and to treat municipal, industrial, agricultural and waste waters for beneficial use.

About The American Water Works Association
Established in 1881, the American Water Works Association is the largest nonprofit, scientific and educational association dedicated to managing and treating water, the world’s most important resource. With approximately 50,000 members, AWWA provides solutions to improve public health, protect the environment, strengthen the economy and enhance our quality of life.