Regional
NEWEA Spring Regional
Sea Crest Beach Resort, Falmouth, MA · May 17–20, 2026
2nd place overall · Qualified for WEFTECRising Sludge took second place overall against New England's top teams, earning a trip to the national competition.
Rising Sludge
Rhode Island's Operations Challenge team competes at three events each season: the NEWEA Spring Regional, our own Rhody Rumble, and the WEFTEC national competition.
Rhode Island tune-up
Rhody Rumble
Crowne Plaza, Warwick, RI · 2026
Rhode Island’s own Operations Challenge tune-up: two days of competition, a trade show, and team camaraderie before the national event.
National
WEFTEC National
New Orleans, LA · Sept 26–30, 2026
9th in Division 1 · 3rd in LabRising Sludge's 11th straight year at WEFTEC, and its first in Division 1. The team reached its top-10 goal with 353.86 points.
WEFTEC 2026 Results
As a first-year Division 1 team — with a first-time competitor, Alex Medeiros, and a first-time coach, Pete Rojas — Rising Sludge is proud to have reached its goal of finishing in the top 10. The team also earned a podium finish in Lab, placing third.
| Event | Place | Time / Score | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lab | 3rd | 458.15 | 91.61 |
| Safety | 6th | 371.56 | 78.13 |
| Process | 8th | 1,680 | 48.21 |
| Maintenance | 11th | 532.03 | 72.59 |
| Collections | 12th | 143.36 | 63.33 |
Team CaptainCourtney Iava-Savage
Team MembersShaun Collum, Eric Lemoi, Alex Medeiros
CoachPete Rojas
What is the Operations Challenge?
Dubbed the “Wastewater Olympics,” Operations Challenge is a fast-paced, hands-on competition for wastewater treatment professionals. Four-person teams compete in five specialized events, each simulating a real-world challenge from daily plant operations. Top regional finishers earn the right to represent their state on the national stage at WEFTEC.
NEWEA Spring Regional→Rhody Rumble→WEFTEC National
The Five Events
1
Maintenance
Perform maintenance and operation of a Vaughan submersible conditioning pump.
2
Collection Systems
Simulate connecting a 4″ PVC lateral sewer to an existing 8″ PVC sewer pipe.
3
Safety
Respond to an unconscious worker at the bottom of a confined space.
4
Process Control
A 30-minute written wastewater skills test and a 15-minute process simulator.
5
Laboratory
Competitors showcase precision laboratory and analytical skills essential for monitoring, evaluating, and controlling wastewater treatment processes.
Sponsor Team Rising Sludge
Sponsoring the team puts your company in front of thousands of water industry professionals while helping send Rhode Island's top operators to the national stage. Pick a level below to get started.
1000 MGD Level
$1,000
- Certificate of appreciation
- Logo & website link on ricwa.org, 12 months
- Logo on team jerseys at WEFTEC & the regional
500 MGD Level
$500
- Certificate of appreciation
- Logo & website link on ricwa.org, 6 months
- Logo on team jerseys at WEFTEC & the regional
250 MGD Level
$250
- Certificate of appreciation
- Logo & website link on ricwa.org, 3 months
