[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0YTtaHv-3eU]

On Tuesday, 12 teams from across the state of Indiana gathered for the State of Indiana Wastewater Challenge to compete in five events. Teams were comprised of four members making a total of 48 contestants total.

According to Brian Davison, Warsaw wastewater utility manager and chairman of the Indiana Water Environment Association, this is the first year the event has been hosted in Warsaw. Davison stated the event goes through an annual rotation of southern, central and northern Indiana plants and that the Warsaw Wastewater plant, which only recently ended construction, volunteered to host the event.

In addition to the use of the facilities, Davison said contestants were also provided information on what the Warsaw area is like. Booths from many local business leaders such as DePuy Synthes, Zimmer and Biomet were set up on site for the day.

Members of the Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory also offered a view of the city’s much loved “World’s Oldest Fire Engines” and ML Motorsports provided a race car for the teams to view.

The events were comprised of tests in safety, lab, operations and maintenance, residuals and collections. For winning any of the five events, a team is awarded 100 points. The team with the most points is declared the winner. Among the activities teams were tested in were mock safety drills,

According to Davison, the major incentives for teams to compete is the ability to acquire new knowledge, compete in the national competition and to win the trophy and “bragging rights” granted from winning the event.