A talented group of workers at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) took their diverse skills to the test and earned the top prize in a competition among national water utilities. 

The MWRD’s Second City Sewer Crew team placed first at the 2025 Wastewater Operations Challenge Invitational, held Aug. 11-14, at the One Water Ohio Technical Conference in Cleveland, Ohio. The team placed in all five Operations Challenge events, garnering first place in the Lab and Process events, third place in the Maintenance, Safety, and Collections events, and first place overall among all teams competing.

Competing against top-tier teams from across Ohio and beyond, the Second City Sewer Crew showcased exceptional skill, teamwork and dedication in this high-stakes competition hosted during the prestigious One Water Ohio four-day technical conference attended by more than 1,600 water professionals and featuring more than 200 exhibitors.

“These wins underscore the extraordinary expertise and commitment our team brings to ensuring clean water and public health,” said MWRD President Kari K. Steele. “It’s not just a competition—it’s a celebration of the unsung heroes who keep our infrastructure resilient and communities protected.”

Comprised of MWRD’s seasoned professionals—John Kargbo, Dave Garza, Lynn Kohlhaas, and Thomas Sinickas—the team was supported by coaches Matt McGregor, Conor Heffernan, and Sean Salmi. This group demonstrated stellar execution across diverse Operations Challenge events, including laboratory, process control, collections, safety and maintenance, earning top scores and minimal penalties  

“As a team, we’ve been working hard to collaborate and address every detail so we can execute flawless runs in competition.  I’m proud of my teammates and the progress we’ve made to get to this point,” said Team Captain Lynn Kohlhaas, a Principal Engineer in the MWRD’s Maintenance and Operations Department.

“Each of our teammates has a different position at the MWRD and brings a unique skill set to the table. Over the past few years, we have learned from each other and fused our diverse strengths together so we can be more efficient at each event. There are teams out there who are bigger and stronger than us, so we must be smarter and faster,” added Coach and Alternate Team Member Conor Heffernan, an Environmental Research Scientist in the MWRD’s Monitoring and Research Department.

This victory builds on the legacy of the Second City Sewer Crew’s strong performances in previous competitions, including notable showings at the Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) Operations Challenge in Chicago and New Orleans, with which they share a tradition of success. 

Looking ahead, the team is setting its sights on future challenges—aiming to represent MWRD in Division I at WEFTEC in September and continue raising the standard in wastewater operations and public service.