City of Norman staff will compete on a national stage this summer after victories had at the multi-day Southwest Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Conference.

The 3-state conference was hosted in Norman during the second week of October to provide water classes and training by experts in the water profession. City staff coordinated a golf outing at Westwood Park followed by a meet and greet at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History to welcome visitors and showcase the Norman community. The conference also included a tour of the National Weather Center, various competitions and an awards ceremony. 

“It was a privilege to host our peers and partner organizations for this year’s conference in our community,” said Chris Mattingly, City of Norman Utilities Director. “It was an extra special treat for staff to win another Water Taste Contest and we’re exponentially proud of our women’s water hydrant building team who will move forward to compete nationally in the Hydrant Hysteria Competition.”

Norman competed regionally against utility authorities from Arkansas and Louisiana in the Water Taste Contest, after claiming first place in a statewide contest in May 2024. City of Norman staff oversee a treatment plant capable of treating 17 million gallons of water per day. In Fiscal Year 2024, the plant sent out 3.8 billion gallons of award-winning water to residents.

“We take great pride in providing safe and quality water to our community members,” said Rachel Croft, Vernon Campbell Water Treatment Plant Manager. “We will now be representing Norman at a national level and we’re very excited about that!”

A “Hydrant Hysteria” competition – a timed water hydrant building competition – took place on October 14 at the Norman Embassy Suites Conference Center. In a close Men’s Division competition, staffers Luke Cutsinger, Joe Rodriguez, Ryan Loveless and Brad Weeks represented the City of Norman. In the Women’s Division, staffers Jackie Atnip and Brandi Barnett took first place with a time of 3:34:47 minutes. They will represent the Southwest Section at the AWWA Conference in Colorado in June of 2025.

Ken Giannone of Utilities Engineering at the City of Norman was also recognized for 25 years of AWWA membership, for which he received the Silver Water Drop Award; and Jeff Powell of Line Maintenance Services at the City of Norman was honored with the Southwest Section AWWA Heroism Award for his acts of bravery in saving a customer from a dog attack while on the job.

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