Antioch Water Treatment Plant Superintendent to receive statewide award
Marcus Woodland to be honored as Exemplary Operations Supervisor
By Jaden Baird, PIO, City of Antioch
ANTIOCH, CA — The City of Antioch announces that Marcus Woodland, Superintendent of the Antioch Water Treatment Plant (WTP), has been selected by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) to receive the Exemplary Operations Supervisor Award. He will be formally recognized at the Water of the West Conference in San Diego this April.
The award recognizes outstanding leadership, operational excellence, and dedication to public health in water utility operations.
Woodland’s leadership was instrumental during the construction and startup of Antioch’s Brackish Water Desalination Project. Throughout complex upgrades and plant shutdowns, he ensured strict compliance with public health standards, requiring proper disinfection and bacteriological testing before treatment processes were returned to service. His attention to detail and insistence on operational readiness protected both system reliability and water quality for the community.
In one instance, Woodland directed a shutdown and inspection after plant staff noticed abnormal filter flow readings following construction work. A foreign object was discovered lodged in a flow meter, an issue that could have caused long-term performance problems and potential public health concerns if not corrected. His leadership ensured the issue was resolved before the system resumed operation.
Woodland also led improvements that strengthened long-term plant maintenance and reliability. His team implemented design changes to the membrane clean-in-place system to allow multiple tanks to operate simultaneously and accelerated critical repairs to sedimentation basin equipment at Plant B to ensure full treatment capacity during renovations at Plant A.
In addition to operational leadership, Woodland played a key role in hiring, training, and mentoring operators as the facility expanded to include reverse osmosis treatment systems. He worked closely with staff and equipment vendors to ensure operators fully understood new processes and equipment, often requiring additional training to ensure the highest operational standards.
During a complex raw water pipeline tie-in that required the shutdown of both of the City’s treatment plants, Woodland coordinated extensive preparation, including operational testing, distribution system planning, and collaboration with neighboring agencies to secure backup water supplies. His oversight and planning allowed the City to maintain service despite an outage that extended well beyond the planned timeline.
Woodland stepped into the role of WTP Superintendent during the height of the desalination project’s construction—his first appointment as a full-time permanent superintendent. His leadership during this challenging period was widely regarded as a key factor in the project’s successful completion.
“Marcus Woodland’s recognition by the CA-NV AWWA reflects his outstanding leadership and technical expertise,” said Scott Buenting, Director of Public Works. “Marcus has played a pivotal role during the complex construction and startup of the Brackish Water Desalination Project. The success of our Water Treatment Plant is a direct result of his commitment to operational excellence and to providing safe, reliable drinking water to our community. We are proud to see his dedication recognized at the state level.”
The American Water Works Association is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to improving water quality and supply through education, standards development, and professional recognition of water professionals. The Exemplary Operations Supervisor Award honors individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership in water utility operations and a strong commitment to public service.
Woodland’s recognition highlights the City of Antioch’s continued commitment to protecting public health and investing in reliable, high-quality water infrastructure.
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