Oxford County Public Works wins Technical Innovation Award

Oxford County Public Works has won the 2026 Ontario Public Works Association (OPWA) Technical Innovation Award in the $10-$50 million category. The award was presented at the OPWA Annual Conference and Awards Luncheon in Mississauga on May 13, 2026.

Oxford County received the award for upgrades at the Drumbo Wastewater Treatment Plant. The main objective was to increase the plant’s capacity by converting the treatment process from a Sequential Batch Reactor to a Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) system, all within the existing compact site. Through innovation and collaboration, the Public Works team was able to engineer a solution that increased treatment capacity by 32%, demonstrating smart design, effective teamwork, and long-term planning for critical wastewater infrastructure. Oxford County staff worked closely on the project with the contractor (ASCO Construction) and the consultant (R.V. Anderson Associates Limited).

The project demonstrates technical innovation by upgrading a critical municipal facility within severe space constraints, using advanced MBR technology for increased capacity and operational flexibility. Find more information about the Drumbo Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades on Speak Up! Oxford.