BA water plant operators compete in regional Top Ops Competition in quiz bowl format

Source: City of Broken Arrow

Broken Arrow water plant operators Jedediah Beloncik and Richard Mercer recently competed in the Annual Top Ops competition at a conference held by the Southwest Section of the American Water Works Association in Tulsa.

The City of Broken Arrow competed against the City of Oklahoma City, the City of Tulsa, and the Beaver Water District of Arkansas.

Top Ops is a competition where operators use their knowledge in a quiz-bowl format, answering questions about distribution, maintenance, laboratory, basic science, water treatment processes and safety.

"Even though this was our first year in the event, I think this was a great experience for our team," Utilities Director Charles Vokes said. "They are already studying and getting ready to win next year’s competition!"

The purpose of the AWWA ACE Top Ops Competition is to recognize and promote excellence and professionalism in all aspects of water operations by establishing a competition that gives operators the opportunity to showcase their talents.

The AWWA ACE Top Ops Competition is a competitive, question-and-answer tournament where a moderator asks a broad range of technical questions to the participating teams and they have limited time to answer. Strategy is involved since points are awarded for correct answers, deducted for incorrect answers, and no change occurs to the score for not answering a question.

Broken Arrow’s operators were new to the competition this year and although falling in fourth place, competed against some of the best operators in the Section.

"Having Jedediah Beloncik and Richard Mercer be the first operators to represent the City of Broken Arrow in the Top Ops competition makes me very proud," Verdigris River Water Treatment Plant Manager Lou Ann Fisher said.

The operators look forward to competing again next year in Rogers, Ark. and hope to pick up some other Broken Arrow operators to compete as well.