Hazen’s Dr. Bill Becker Receives 2026 A.P. Black Research Award
(WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 11, 2026) – Hazen and Sawyer’s Dr. Bill Becker was recently named the recipient of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) 2026 A.P. Black Research Award.
Established in 1967, the A.P. Black Research Award recognizes individuals who have contributed outstanding lifelong research on water science and water supply to the industry—positively impacting engineering projects, innovations, utilities, professionals, and students.
This prestigious award will be presented to Bill at the 2026 AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE), where he will also deliver a keynote presentation covering research from throughout his career on the cyclical nature of water, ranging from the effects of environmental factors to source water quality, filtration, water reuse, and advancing the performance of drinking water treatment and distribution systems.
“I am extremely honored to receive this award,” said Bill. “So many of my mentors, colleagues, and friends are past recipients, and to join that group is truly humbling.”
Bill is both a nationally respected water quality expert and a cherished mentor in the water industry. The leader of the Drinking Water Practice group at Hazen for more than 20 years, Bill is currently a Vice President at the Firm and an adjunct professor at Columbia University. He was previously a Scholar-in-Residence and co-director of the Water Reuse Program at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Throughout a career that spans more than 40 years, Bill has taught thousands of operators, engineers, and graduate students, authored more than 200 technical presentations and publications, directed several Water Research Foundation projects on a variety of drinking water topics, and consulted for more than 100 utilities of all sizes across the country. He is a Life Member of AWWA and has been an active contributor and leader within the organization throughout his career. He was also recently appointed to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board.
“This is a lifetime achievement for Bill,” said Chris Owen, Hazen’s Director of Drinking Water and Reuse Innovations. “He is keenly aware of the needs of utilities, the industry, and the research community. It is inspiring to see his dedication to Hazen and our clients as well as to applied research, teaching, and mentoring our next generation of water quality scientists and engineers.”
Related Content: Learn more about Hazen’s presence at ACE 2026 and see the full agenda of our experts presenting technical sessions, panels, workshops, and more here.
"Bill applies 'first principles' in everything he does. By bringing complex water challenges back to the basics, he's able to construct solutions that are innovative, fundamentally correct, and extraordinarily robust, embodying each of the key aspects of the A.P. Black Research Award. Bill is a foundational cornerstone at Hazen, and in our industry, when it comes to building solutions to future drinking water challenges." - Erik Rosenfeldt, Hazen's Drinking Water Practice Lead
Bill looks forward to continuing to support utilities of all sizes in solving their water quality and treatment challenges, and to helping advance progress and innovations for sustaining communities and the environment.
“Knowing that we are truly helping to protect public health and the well-being of people throughout the country is a hugely rewarding aspect of my work,” said Bill. “I look forward to working to help the industry move forward in a pragmatic, sustainable manner.”
For more information about Bill’s recognition and the history and past winners of the A.P. Black Research Award, visit the AWWA website.
