Edwards will receive the Borchardt-Glysson Water Treatment Innovation Prize on February 21, 2017, at the Borchardt Conference, a Triennial Symposium on Advancements in Water and Wastewater Treatment at the University of Michigan (U-M) and will deliver a lecture “Sustainable Water Distribution Systems of the Future: Fixing Old Mistakes and Avoiding New Ones.”
Edwards is recognized for his invaluable contributions to the fields of water treatment and public health and to society at large. “With fundamental research expertise in water chemistry, he is widely considered to be the foremost authority on corrosion in water distribution systems and building plumbing,” wrote one nominator. Another wrote that “the impact of his research was that the federal environmental laws were changed that have protected untold numbers of young children from the hazard of lead in their drinking water, many of them living in underserved communities.”
The Borchardt-Glysson Water Treatment Innovation Prize is awarded to an individual whose accomplishments in the water or wastewater treatment fields have been nationally and internationally recognized. The prize selection committee used five criteria to evaluate the candidates, including their overall record of accomplishments, their role in developing innovative technologies, their potential for continued contributions to the field, the quality of nomination and supporting documents, and the added leadership and prestige to the Borchardt Conference.
This new prize consists of a $10,000 cash award and reimbursement for travel to attend the Borchardt Conference. It was recently established through a generous gift by Tom (BSE CE ’60, MSE ’61) and Greta Newhof to the College of Engineering of the University of Michigan. The donors chose to recognize Professors Borchardt and Glysson by selecting the name of the prize.
Jack A Borchardt (1916-1987) was a Professor of Civil and Sanitary Engineering at U-M from 1948 until his retirement in 1982. He devoted his life to his students, to the university, and his profession of sanitary engineering. Professor Borchardt was a devoted educator, a technical innovator in the water and wastewater treatment field and a promoter of public health.
Eugene A. Glysson (1926-2014) was a professor in the U-M Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering for over 40 years. He performed research and taught classes in solid-waste management and water and wastewater engineering. He was known for his devotion to students, the engineering profession and community service including Chi Epsilon, the Civil Engineering Honor Society.
