Texas Border Business
McALLEN, Texas – McAllen Public Utility (MPU) proudly brought home multiple statewide honors from the 2025 Texas Water Conference. Texas Water, which is sponsored by both the Texas American Water Works Association (Texas AWWA) and the Water Environment Association of Texas (WEAT), is widely recognized as the premier water and wastewater conference in the Southwest Region of the United States. The awards highlight the utility’s unwavering commitment to professional development, public education, operational excellence, and industry leadership. The recognitions underscore the innovative and dedicated work by MPU staff at all levels and reflect the organization’s deep-rooted culture of service, stewardship, and technical excellence.
“We are honored and humbled to be recognized by WEAT and TAWWA with these prestigious awards,” said Mark Vega, P.E., General Manager of McAllen Public Utility. “These accolades belong to the incredible MPU team whose passion for service, education, and operational excellence strengthens our organization and benefits the community every day. These awards show what we’ve always believed — that what we do truly matters, and our people are what make MPU exceptional.”
WEAT Exemplary Employer (Public Sector) Award
MPU was recognized with the 2025 WEAT Exemplary Employer Award, celebrating its support for employee involvement in both WEAT and the Water Environment Federation (WEF), particularly among young professionals. MPU’s intentional support includes sponsoring memberships for staff, encouraging active participation in industry events, and promoting leadership opportunities.
Today, more than half of MPU’s water and wastewater operators are active WEAT members, with the organization setting an ambitious goal of reaching 100% membership by the end of 2025. This commitment fosters professional development, continuous learning, and deeper engagement with peers across Texas, ultimately enhancing utility operations and service to the public.
TAWWA and WEAT Watermark Award for Communications Excellence: McAllen Public Utility Water Education Camps
The Watermark Award was awarded to MPU’s Water Education Team — Katia Falcon and Yesenia Tijerina — for their outstanding community outreach and education through the MPU Water Education Camps. These camps, hosted throughout 2024, offered local youth a hands-on, STEAM-focused curriculum centered on water science, conservation, and careers in the water utility sector.
Held at the MPU Water Education Classroom, the camps provided an inclusive environment for exploration, creativity, and environmental awareness. Through engaging experiments, facility tours, and real-world applications, campers developed a lifelong respect for water and the natural environment. The camps are not only fun and educational but serve as an important pipeline for future professionals in water-related careers.
WEAT Outstanding Operator of the Year Award: Daniel Lara
MPU’s own Daniel Lara, an “A” Licensed Operator at the North Wastewater Treatment Plant, was named the 2025 WEAT Outstanding Operator of the Year. With a career spanning 36 years, Lara’s leadership, technical expertise, and commitment to reclaimed water production have been instrumental to the plant’s efficiency and success.
Managing the 15-million-gallon-per-day plant, Lara ensures regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and mentorship to new operators. His dedication to excellence and his role in mentoring the next generation of operators embody the core values of WEAT and the water industry.
Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers (5S): Michael Gonzalez
MPU’s Michael Gonzalez was inducted into the exclusive Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers (5S), an honor reserved for individuals who have provided “outstanding, meritorious service above and beyond the call of duty.” Induction into this society reflects Gonzalez’s commitment to growing the water industry by recruiting and mentoring new WEAT members and promoting professional involvement.
This award symbolizes his exceptional leadership and deep-rooted commitment to advancing the water profession across Texas.
These honors reflect McAllen Public Utility’s holistic approach to service: one that values technical expertise, community engagement, employee development, and environmental responsibility. MPU thanks WEAT and TAWWA for their recognition and remains committed to its mission of delivering safe, reliable, and sustainable water services for all McAllen residents.
These honorees will be recognized at the McAllen Public Utility Board meeting of April 15, 2025.
WEAT is a professional organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing Texas’s water resources, with a membership of about 4,200 professionals made up of scientists, engineers, utility managers, operators, and regulators who work to protect and enhance Texas’s water resources. WEAT aims to be the leading organization for wastewater operators’ education in Texas.
