January 2025 E-Newsletter

Issue #171

Section Election Results

New Trustees Take Office In May

Your ballots have been counted and these new Section officers will begin their term in May. Election results will be officially approved by the current Section Board of Trustees at the virtual Winter Meeting on February 4.

Virtual Section Board of Trustees Meeting

February 4 on Zoom

The virtual Winter Section Board of Trustees Meeting is scheduled for 10am on February 4.

Contact the Section Office if you would like to either attend or speak at this virtual meeting. Agenda is available online.

Excellence In Engineering Awards

Call for Entries

The PNWS Engineering Committee has opened the call for entries for the 2025 Excellence in Engineering Awards. These awards recognize excellence in engineering for water supply, treatment, conveyance, and planning projects. Persons, agencies, consultants, contractors, and water utilities who have recently completed a water project for a water supply utility or agency in Idaho, Oregon or Washington may apply.

Categories Projects may be submitted in the "Large Project" (>$8M construction), "Small Project" (

Streamlined Application Process. Electronic nominations will be limited to a 3-page project narrative providing a brief description of the project and why it demonstrates "Excellence in Engineering" with the opportunity to submit additional supporting material as applicants see fit.

To be considered for the 2025 Awards, the Committee will be looking for outstanding water-related engineering projects which have shown:

•             Innovative technologies or approaches

•             Overcoming challenges

•             Sustainability elements (includes resource sustainability or cost effectiveness)

•             System resilience considerations (seismic, flood, system redundancy, etc.) 

The entry deadline for the 2024 Excellence in Engineering Awards is February 7, 2025. 

Wine for Water 2025

In Walla Walla

You are invited to Wine for Water 2025 on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at The Foundry Vineyards in Walla Walla.

Come taste award-winning wines while supporting the Section's philanthropies - Water For People, Education & Training Fund, and Water Equation. Tickets are $80 per person or $150 for two. Your ticket includes dinner, two drink tickets per person and networking with your industry peers.

Apply for a PNWS Scholarship

To Attend a College or University

Last year our Section awarded over $50,000 in scholarships to 12 students who were attending a college or university for careers in the water industry.

Students in relevant degree programs, including PNWS members and their families are encouraged to apply. Relevant fields of study include engineering, water resources, water or environmental technology, public administration, and environmental health. Scholarships are available for students second year of community college work or equivalent, entering their junior or senior years of undergraduate work, or engaging in graduate work leading to a degree in a relevant field or advancement in the waterworks industry.

Applications will be accepted through March 7. Recipients will be notified prior to our Section Conference.

January 15 - Recruit, Train and Retain a Utility Management Training Event

February 26 - 21st Annual Inland Empire Truck Rodeo

May 7-9 - 2025 PNWS Section Conference

That's it for this month! Please send your news or information for inclusion in the February edition to the Section office.



Sincerely,