The W. Wesley Eckenfelder Industrial Waste Management Medal

Sponsored by AquAeTer

The W. Wesley Eckenfelder Industrial Waste Management Medal is awarded to the Grand Prize winner in the Industrial Waste Practice category. The medal was established in 2012 in honor of the late W. Wesley Eckenfelder, Jr., Sc.D., P.E., BCEE (1926 - 2010).

A man whose passion for his field was part of everything he did, W. Wesley Eckenfelder, Jr., was a pioneer in the field of wastewater treatment and an authority in industrial wastewater management.

Dubbed the "Godfather" of industrial wastewater management by colleagues and students, Wes' career began in 1952 when he joined the civil engineering department at Manhattan College. His teaching career spanned more than 30 years and included positions at the University of Texas at Austin and Vanderbuilt University. He was also the founder of several environmental engineering firms, received numerous awards from professional societies, and authored more than 30 books.

His contributions to industrial waste management included the development and application of activated sludge technology.

To keep his name alive and his work a part of the field for many years to come, Wes' many students, colleagues, and friends have honored him by establishing the W. Wesley Eckenfelder Memorial Fund. Wes was involved in many aspects of environmental engineering and industrial waste management, and the Fund sponsors or co-sponsors several awards.