Sign up to compete or cheer on competitors at these Texas WaterTM 2026 events!
Best-Tasting Drinking Water Contest
Wednesday, April 29, 1:30 pm-3 pm, Exhibit Hall (Top Ops Area)
The Best Tasting Drinking Water Contest brings together entries representing utilities across Texas. A panel of celebrity judges will grade the samples. Along with Texas bragging rights, the winning entrant competes at AWWA ACE26 in Washington, D.C. in June.
Sign up for Best Tasting Drinking Water Contest
Biosolids Beauty Contest
Tuesday, April 28, 3 pm-3:30 pm, Exhibit Hall
Enter the Biosolids Beauty Contest! Raise awareness and provide recognition for the great work utilities do in producing this valuable nutrient-rich resource. Categories include Class B, Class AB, Class A, Most Creative Presentation, and People’s Choice.
Sign up for Biosolids Beauty Contest
Hydrant Hysteria
Tuesday, April 28, 9:30 am-4 pm, Exhibit Hall
Wednesday, April 29, 9:30 am-4 pm, Exhibit Hall
Hydrant Hysteria is a fast-paced competition where two member teams assemble a specified hydrant as quickly as they can. This year, Hydrant Hysteria will be for Texas bragging rights only as there is no national competition being held at AWWA ACE in 2026.
Sign up for Hydrant Hysteria
Junior Meter Challenge
Tuesday, April 28, 1 pm-2 pm, Exhibit Hall
The Junior Meter Challenge Contest matches students from high school environmental programs, for a test of their meter-assembling skills and dexterity in the Exhibit Hall from 1 to 2 p.m. Please support these future water professionals by attending on Tuesday.
Meter Challenge
Tuesday, April 28, 2 pm-4:30 pm, Exhibit Hall
Contestants race to assemble a 5/8-inch meter from loose parts and test for leaks. The winner represents Texas at AWWA ACE26 in Washington, D.C. in June. Registration for Meter Challenge is open until February 16, 2026.
Sign up for Meter Challenge
Operations Challenge
Tuesday, April 28, 8 am–Wednesday, April 29, 2:45 pm
Wednesday, April 29, 2:45 pm: Awards Ceremony
Watch the nation’s best operators and maintenance staff compete in the Operations Challenge Competition at Texas Water. This multi-day competition challenges utility teams to test their knowledge in different aspects of their day-to-day responsibilities. The Operations Challenge is composed of five individual events that carry over to nationals. In addition, Texas has created additional exhibition events to provide other opportunities for teams to compete. The competitions include:
Freese and Nichols Process Control Event: Teams will complete a written test consisting of short math and process scenario questions, electronic multiple-choice questions, and process simulation using GPS-x software. This event is also available for YP Teams to compete in pairs of two! YPs can Contact Jeff Sober at 214-883-6263 or jlsober@garverusa.com with any questions or to participate.
Hartwell Environmental Laboratory Event: This year, the lab event will include taking total phosphorus and soluble phosphorus readings as well as chlorine residuals.
STV - Walter Chiang Maintenance Event: The purpose of this event is to test the skills of a maintenance team to respond to trouble at a sanitary sewer lift station that has resulted in an alarm. Teams must remove an in-service pump and replace the impeller, and put it back in service as fast as possible.
AECOM Collection System Event: Teams are required to cut out a section of an 8-inch PVC sewer pipe with water flowing through it, drill and install a 4-inch ADS tee in the replacement pipe, cut and install the replacement section with couplings. Building a Victaulic pipe tree is also required.
Carollo Safety Event: Teams will be required to rescue an unconscious worker from a simulated lift station. Team members will set up a retrieval system, perform a permit-required confined space entry, rescue the downed worker, and replace some faulty check valves.
Gupta Electrical Event: A race to troubleshoot a lift station control panel and power supply. Teams must work through relays to determine where the problem is before it’s too late!
Seepex Exhibition Event: Competitors will race to replace the stator and rotor in a Seepex Smart Conveying Technology (SCT) pump.
Victaulic Exhibition Event: A race to put together a style 31 coupling tree arrangement using Victaulic couplings, pipes, and drill drivers.
Grundfos Exhibition Event: Timed race for competitors to remove and replace a Grundfos pump cartridge.
Awards Ceremony: Awards for the Operations Challenge Competition, as well as the Three Municipal Treatment Plant of the Year awards and Operator of the Year Award, will be handed out at the Operations Awards Ceremony on Wednesday at 2:45 pm in the Convention Center.
Sign up for Operations Challenge
Pipe Tapping Contest
Wednesday, April 29, 9:30 am-4 pm, Exhibit Hall
Four-person teams from across the state compete to determine who will represent Texas at the National Pipe Tapping Competition at AWWA ACE26 in Washington, D.C. in June.
Sign up for Pipe Tapping
Ardurra Fastest Saw Cut, Open to All!
Tuesday, April 28, 3:30 pm-5 pm, Exhibit Hall, Ops Challenge Area
Who can saw through sewer pipe the fastest? Come test your pipe-cutting skills and compete for a plaque and bragging rights within a division: Ops Challenge Competitor or Men and Women’s Open Division. There will also be a team relay saw cut for teams of 3, with the fastest 4 teams advancing to the playoffs! This competition will be at 3:30 pm on Tuesday, April 28. See flyer on page 18 of the Conference Preview for more information.
Top Ops
Wednesday, April 29, 9:30 am-1:30 pm, Exhibit Hall
The Top Ops competition is widely regarded as the “Super Bowl” of the water industry. It challenges competitors’ technical knowledge and problem-solving abilities with complex math and operational questions. Some topics covered are water treatment plant processes, distribution, groundwater, lab procedures, maintenance, and safety. It aims 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 winning team advances to the National Top Ops Competition at AWWA ACE26 in Washington, D.C. in June.
Sign up for Top Ops