The WEAT Ronald B. Sieger Biosolids Management Award shall be presented to a WEAT member (s), an engineering firm, a specific project, a municipality, or a specific municipal or industrial facility that has made significant accomplishments in the field of biosolids technology and management practices within the boundaries of the State of Texas.

Ronald B. Sieger graduated from Iowa State University with a B.S. Degree in Civil Engineering and held professional engineering registrations in Texas, Arkansas, and California. At the time of his death in 2006, he was Vice President and Principal Technologist for CH2M HILL, involved with wastewater and residuals projects worldwide as part of the CH2M HILL Global Residuals Technology Team. He was recognized internationally as an expert and leading authority on wastewater biosolids, as well as the related disciplines of water reuse, odor mitigation, and collection system master planning.

Generous in sharing his technical knowledge with others in the water environment arena, Mr. Sieger was involved with many professional associations. He served the Water Environment Federation (WEF) at the national level as Vice-chair of the Residuals and Biosolids Committee, Co-chair of the Bioenergy Subcommittee, and one of the Coordinators for the WEF National Biosolids Partnership. He served as Program Chair for two very successful Residuals and Biosolids Specialty Conferences and presented technical papers at several national specialty conferences. He served as a member on the Practice Committee for WEF’s Manual of Practice (MOP) 8 and MOP 11 and as a member of the Awards Committee for WEF. He was a reviewer for several applications for grants as well as a reviewer of ongoing research projects for the Water Environment Research Foundation. As a member of the International Water Association Biosolids Committee, he attended international conferences to assess the latest technology and focused on bringing the latest and most practical ideas and technology to our U.S. technologists.

Over the years, he enthusiastically contributed his time and talents in numerous capacities to the Water Environment Association of Texas (WEAT), serving as President, Director for WEF, long-time member and multi-term Chair of the Program Committee, three-term Chair of the Research Committee, Chair of the Audit Committee, member of the Long Range Planning Committee, Chair of the WEAT Residuals and Biosolids Committee, and member of the WEAT Nominating Committee. He wrote a column for the WEAT magazine on consultant issues, presented a multitude of papers at state conferences and specialty conferences, and was a featured speaker on many occasions. He consistently recruited WEAT members to attend meetings and conferences and become active on committees. He was always a mentor and resource for new members, a strong advocate for WEAT programs, and deeply cared for the Association and its membership. With foresight to recognize the direction the Association should take and the ability to plot the course to get there, he exemplified the leadership and dedicated service that has helped ensure WEAT’s growth and success.

In honor of his dedication and extraordinary personal service to WEAT and WEF, he received the prestigious WEF Arthur Sidney Bedell Award in 2000. In 2006, he was honored with WEAT’s Pillars of the Profession Award in recognition of his distinguished preeminence in the water environment profession, his meaningful and substantial contributions toward the improvement of the water environment, and his positive impact on the success and growth of the industry in the State of Texas.

For the North Texas Section (NTS) of WEAT, Mr. Sieger held all the executive offices through President, as well as Chair of the Specialty Conference Committee and Chair of the Audit Committee, originated the NTS newsletter, and served as Chair of the Newsletter Committee for over ten years, winning a Watermark Award for his work. He originated the NTS Photography Committee and the History Committee and helped organize several other standing committees within the Section. He was a featured speaker at many NTS meetings and presented technical papers at several NTS specialty conferences. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the NTS Scholarship Fund and initiated a program for NTS to recognize achievement of wastewater operators.

He was actively involved with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Texas Water Utilities Association, the American Water Works Association, and the American Academy of Environmental Engineers. He contributed to and authored numerous technical papers and articles across several technologies. He was recognized with numerous awards and honors throughout his career including Samuel A. Greeley Award (ASCE) for Best Technical Paper, American Academy of Environmental Engineers Diplomate, Who’s Who in America, Chi Epsilon (civil engineering honorary association), and the ABC Excellence in Construction Award for the Dallas Grit Removal Project. Throughout his career, Mr. Sieger maintained a positive and professional attitude while performing untold services at the National, State, and Regional levels of WEF. There are few water environment professionals who have had as wide of a geographical and technical discipline impact on an industry as Ron Sieger.