Top Ops

Top Ops is the “college bowl” of the water industry. Teams of one, two or three water operators or lab personnel from all AWWA Sections compete against each other in a fast-paced question-and-answer tournament. The deadline to register for ACE26 competitions will be announced. (exceptions will only be granted for those whose section competitions take place after this date).

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Congratulations to the 2025 Winners!

First Place: Turbidity Chasers, Indiana Section
Second Place: City of Elgin, Illinois Section
Third Place: Str8 Drippin’, Chesapeake Section
Fourth Place: City of Alcoa, Kentucky-Tennessee Section

View Full Final Results

Thank You to Our 2026 Sponsor

FAQ

Top Ops Rules

What is Top Ops?

Top Ops is the “college bowl” of the water industry. Teams of one, two or three water operators or lab personnel from all AWWA Sections compete against each other in a fast-paced question-and-answer tournament. A moderator poses a broad range of technical questions and math problems, and the team scoring the most points in the championship round is awarded the Top Ops Championship.

Where is it held?

The Top Ops Competition is held annually during AWWA’s Annual Conference and Exposition.

Help! My Section’s contest occurs after the registration deadline. Can my team still register for this year’s competition?

The competition coordinators realize that your Section normally sends a team/competitor. But do not wait until you have determined whether or not you are able to travel and have completed your hotel and airline reservations. Because of signage, supplies and other information, make competition registration your top priority. It is free and only takes a minute or two.

To register: Contact competitions@awwa.org to confirm your eligibility and obtain access to the registration link.

Will information be provided on-site before the Preliminaries?

Yes; all Team Captains are required to attend a mandatory meeting on Monday morning before the preliminaries. All teams will be notified of the time and place of this meeting.

May anyone enter the competition?

You must be an individual, active operator member of AWWA, an employee of a utility member, or organization member of AWWA. Please review the Eligibility Requirements in Top Ops Rules for more specific information.

Who writes the Top Ops questions?

The Top Ops Subcommittee creates the questions from AWWA publications. The group is under the oversight of the AWWA Distribution and Plant Operations Division, Operator Involvement Committee. Every year the committee sends some of the questions from its bank to the Association of Boards of Certification, which selects, validates and creates rounds.

ABC is dedicated to protecting public health and the environment by advancing the quality and integrity of environmental certification programs through innovative technical support services, effective information exchange, professional and cost-effective examination services and other progressive services for certifying members.

How do I sign up our team for the Top Ops Competition?

Contact competitions@awwa.org to confirm your eligibility and obtain access to the registration link. Please note: There is NO onsite registration available. A certain number of rounds of questions are created in advance of the contest based on pre-registered teams. Additional, last-minute teams cannot be accommodated.

What is the reference list used for Top Ops competitions?

Please view the latest Top Ops reference list below.

Reference List

Can I videotape at Top Ops?

All videotaping is strictly forbidden to protect the integrity of Top Ops, including photographing the questions on the audience screen. Anyone who violates this rule may be asked to leave the room.

Hall of Fame

Denver, Colorado

2025

1st Place: Turbidity Chasers, Indiana Section
2nd Place: City of Elgin, Illinois Section
3rd Place: Str8 Drippin’, Chesapeake Section
4th Place: City of Alcoa, Kentucky-Tennessee Section

Anaheim, California

2024

1st Place: Tulsa Terminators (Steve Thomas, Curt Ellis, Lainee Carner), Southwest Section
2nd Place: Str8 Drippin, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (Robert Nally, Glenn Johnson, Robert Holmberg), Chesapeake Section
3rd Place: Chloramine Machines (Riley Smith, Mark Edwards, Matt Walker), Skagit, Washington, Public Utilities District, Pacific Northwest Section
4th Place: Reservoir Dawgs (Aaron Caudillo, Monica Vasquez, Mark Taylor), Sacramento Suburban Water District, California/Nevada Section

Toronto, Canada

2023

1st Place: Turbidity Chasers, Indiana Section
2nd Place: Straight Dripping, Chesapeake Section
3rd Place: East Bay MUD, California/Nevada Section
4th Place: Purcerville Mud Dogs, Virginia Section

San Antonio, Texas

2022

1st Place: The East Bay Ozonators from CA/NV

Denver, Colorado

2019

1st Place: Birmingham Prime Movers (AL-MS)
2nd Place: Water Buoys (Florida)
3rd Place: EBMUD Ozonators (Cal-Nevada)

Las Vegas, Nevada

2018

1st Place: Birmingham Prime Movers
2nd Place: Palm Coast Water Buoys
3rd Place: FW & PCOA Region 9
4th Place: Denver Water Wise Guys

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

2017

1st Place: Palm Coast Water Buoys of Palm Coast, Florida Section
2nd Place: Birmingham Prime Movers, Alabama/Mississippi Section
3rd Place: Fort Worth Panthers, Texas Section
4th Place: City of Alcoa, Kentucky/Tennessee Section

Chicago, Illinois

2016

1st place: Palm Coast Water Buoys of Palm Coast, Florida Section
2nd place: Fort Worth Panthers, Texas Section
3rd place: Birmingham Prime Movers, Alabama/Mississippi Section
4th place: Aquitards, Illinois Section

Anaheim, California

2015

1st place: WSSC, Chesapeake Section
2nd place: Water Buoys, Florida Section
3rd place: Team Birmingham, Alabama/Mississippi Section
4th place: Smooth Operators, California/Nevada Section

Boston, Massachusetts

2014

1st place: Palm Coast Water Buoys, Florida Section
2nd place: Smooth Operators, California/Nevada Section
3rd place: Novae, Virginia Section
4th place: Monroe County, New York Section

Denver, Colorado

2013

1st place: Team Birmingham, Alabama/Mississippi Section
2nd place: ACWD Smooth Operators, California/Nevada Section
3rd place: Tacoma Water, Pacific/Northwest Section

Dallas, Texas

2012

1st place: Team Birmingham, Alabama/Mississippi Section
2nd place: City of Palm Coast, Florida Section
3rd place: Halifax Water, Atlantic Canada Section

Washington, D.C.

2011

1st place: Palm Coast Water Buoys, Florida Section
2nd place: Tacoma Water, Tacoma, Washington
3rd place: H2Ohio; Columbus, Ohio

Chicago, Illinois

2010

1st place: Birmingham Water Works; Birmingham, Alabama
2nd place: Patuxent; Laurel, Maryland
3rd place: Palm Coast Water Buoys; Palm Coast, Florida

San Diego, California

2009

1st place: Palm Coast Water Buoys; Palm Coast, Florida
2nd place: Schmutzdeckers; Salem, Oregon
3rd place: Fort Worth Pride, Fort Worth, Texas

Atlanta, Georgia

2008

1st place: Palm Coast Water Buoys; Palm Coast, Florida
2nd place: Fort Worth Pride, Fort Worth, Texas
3rd place: Team Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama

Toronto, Ontario

2007

1st place: Schmutzdeckers; Salem, Oregon
2nd place: Palm Coast Water Buoys; Palm Coast, Florida
3rd place: H2Ohio; Columbus, Ohio

San Antonio, Texas

2006

1st place: Palm Coast Water Buoys; Palm Coast, Florida
2nd place: Team Birmingham; Birmingham, Alabama
3rd place: H2Ohio; Columbus, Ohio

San Francisco, California

2005

1st place: Ft. Worth Pride; Ft. Worth, Texas
2nd place: Palm Coast Water Boys; Palm Coast, Florida
3rd place: City of Deltona, Florida

Orlando, Florida

2004

1st place: City of Deltona, Florida
2nd place: Flocculators; Henderson, Nevada
3rd place: Houston/American Water Company; Houston

Anaheim, California

2003

1st place: Houston/American Water Company; Houston, Texas
2nd place: Team Kentucky; Bardstown, Kentucky
3rd place: Glacier Brewd; Anchorage, Alaska

New Orleans, Louisiana

2002

1st place: Team Kentucky; Bardstown, Kentucky
2nd place: California/Nevada Mud Slingers; Alameda County (California) Water District
3rd place: Fairfax County (Virginia) Water Authority

Washington, D.C.

2001

1st place: Team Florida Water; Deltona, Florida
2nd place: H2O Hillbillies; Frankfort, Kentucky
3rd place: Houston Pilots, Houston

Denver, Colorado

2000

1st place: Houston Pilots; Houston
2nd place: City of Alcoa, Tennessee

Chicago, Illinois

1999

1st place: Florida Water Services Co; Deltona, Florida
2nd place: Houston Pilots; Houston, Texas
3rd place: California/Nevada Section AWWA

Dallas, Texas

1998

1st place: Little Roger and the Delta Water Kings; Contra Costa Water District, California
2nd place: Anne Arundel County, Maryland
3rd place: The Drips; United Water, New Jersey

Atlanta, Georgia

1997

1st place: Little Roger and the Delta Water Kings; Contra Costa Water District, California
2nd place: The Optimizers; JMM Operational Services, Texas
3rd place: Florida Water Services Co.; Florida Section AWWA

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