

Water Values Podcast
Dave McGimpsey
The Water Values Podcast series is presented in collaboration with Bluefield Research. This podcast series explores water issues from a variety of perspectives with the goal of uncovering the true value of water. Each episode will delve into one aspect of water, such as water utilities, water treatment, water resources, water reuse, and more.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 5, 2025 • 44min
Navigating the Water Sector Start-Up Lifecycle with Jim Good
Jim Good, Founder and President of Parkview Advisors (and longtime water sector veteran), relays his tips and insights on the water sector start-up lifecycle. Plus, Reese Tisdale is back for a Bluefield on Tap segment that delves into recent trends relevant to federal expenditures on water. In this session, you’ll learn about: Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Thank You! Thanks to each of you for listening and spreading the word about The Water Values Podcast! Keep the emails coming and please rate, review and subscribe to The Water Values Podcast on Apple Podcasts if…

Jul 1, 2025 • 46min
Collaborative Delivery Explained with Leofwin Clark
Leofwin Clark, Education Director for the Water Collaborative Delivery Association, takes us on a journey from the inception of collaborative design up through present day, and highlights unique aspects of the different flavors of collaborative design. Plus, Reese Tisdale discusses Bluefield’s recent research covering upcoming water investments and use in data centers in our Bluefield on Tap segment. In this session, you’ll learn about: Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Thank You! Thanks to each of you for listening and spreading the word about The Water Values Podcast! Keep the emails coming and please rate,…

Jun 3, 2025 • 45min
Disinfection in Latin American Water Reuse with Shimon Constante
Shimon Constante returns to The Water Values Podcast by filling us in on disinfection in the Latin American markets for water reuse. I’ve always found Latin America to be intriguing, and Shimon provides great details and examples for how disinfection in water reuse is playing out in Latin America. Plus, Reese Tisdale discusses the latest research on the investor-owned utilities market in our Bluefield on Tap segment. In this session, you’ll learn about: Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Thank You! Thanks to each of you for listening and spreading the word about The Water…

May 6, 2025 • 40min
Smart Stormwater with OptiRTC CEO David Rubinstein
OptiRTC CEO David Rubinstein brings his A game to discuss how smart stormwater systems improve outcomes for communities. Plus, Reese Tisdale comes on for a Bluefield on Tap segment addressing the ten-year forecast for water and wastewater treatment CAPEX. In this session, you’ll learn about: Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Thank You! Thanks to each of you for listening and spreading the word about The Water Values Podcast! Keep the emails coming and please rate, review and subscribe to The Water Values Podcast on Apple Podcasts if you haven’t done so already. And don’t…

Apr 1, 2025 • 38min
Water Use in Data Centers and Microelectronics Manufacturing with Rod McNelly
Rod McNelly, Vice President and General Manager of Water Solution and Services Segment for North America with Xylem, shares insights on water use in data centers and microelectronics manufacturing gleaned over his 38 years in the industrial water industry. Plus, Reese Tisdale discusses the recently released American Society of Civil Engineers infrastructure grades for water, wastewater and stormwater in our Bluefield on Tap segment. In this session, you’ll learn about: Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Thank You! Thanks to each of you for listening and spreading the word about The Water Values Podcast! Keep…

Mar 4, 2025 • 41min
Innovation in Water Well Drilling with Jack Clark
Veteran water well driller Jack Clark explains his innovative approach to the water well drilling industry and the practical aspects of water well drilling. Plus, Reese Tisdale discusses a potential blockbuster transaction for the water industry in our Bluefield on Tap segment. In this session, you’ll learn about: Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Thank You! Thanks to each of you for listening and spreading the word about The Water Values Podcast! Keep the emails coming and please rate, review and subscribe to The Water Values Podcast on Apple Podcasts if you haven’t done so…

Feb 4, 2025 • 47min
Water Conflict with Dr. Frank Galgano and Dr. David Stuckenberg
Two experts on water conflict, Dr. Frank Galgano and Dr. David Stuckenberg, discuss the basics of water-related disputes, provide historical examples of water playing a role in armed conflict, and address current hot spots and the geopolitical implications of water conflict. Plus, Reese Tisdale discusses the details of the long-awaited Eversource spin-off of Aquarion and what it might mean for the water sector. In this session, you’ll learn about: Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Thank You! Thanks to each of you for listening and spreading the word about The Water Values Podcast! Keep the…

Jan 7, 2025 • 38min
Why Privately Held English Water Utilities Are Struggling (and Nationalization Isn’t the Answer) with Branko Terzic
Recently, there has been talk in England about nationalizing England’s private water utilities. Former Wisconsin PSC Commissioner and FERC Commissioner, Branko Terzic, makes the case that England’s water utilities are not struggling because they are private, but rather because of a regulatory failure. Plus, Branko delves into how and why the U.S. system of utility regulation developed and much more.
In this session, you’ll learn about:
Branko’s background as a utility engineer, appraiser, consultant, regulator and executive
How and why England privatized its water utilities
Economist Stephen C. Littlechild’s role in English water privatization
Why England’s water rates skyrocketed after privatization but electric, gas and telephone utilities all fell
Why the United States has a predominantly publicly owned system of water utilities (in contrast to predominantly privately owned electric, gas and telephone utilities)
Why English regulation of water utilities has struggled
Why high leveraging and capital structure of English water utilities created problems
How poor regulation created capital structure problems and low water quality problems
Typical capital structure of U.S. utilities
Why most U.S. utilities capital structure typically has 40-50% equity despite debt being the cheaper capital
Why interest rates for debt and equity capital increase as debt’s share of the capital structure increases
What ringfencing is
Branko’s thoughts on fixing the English regulatory scheme
An overview of how water concessions work
A brief history of Enron’s foray into private water
Why market fragmentation is holding U.S. water systems back
Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include:
Branko’s LinkedIn profile
Branko’s website
Thank You!
Thanks to each of you for listening and spreading the word about The Water Values Podcast! Keep the emails coming and please rate, review and subscribe to The Water Values Podcast on Apple Podcasts if you haven’t done so already. And don’t forget to tell your friends about the podcast and whatever you do, don’t forget to join The Water Values mailing list!

Dec 17, 2024 • 38min
The Year in Water 2024 with Reese Tisdale
Reese Tisdale of Bluefield Research offers up his grades on Bluefield’s predictions for the water sector in 2024 and identifies some of the unanticipated water issues that made headlines in 2024. Reese also peeks around the corner for what lies ahead for water in 2025. In this session, you’ll learn about: Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Thank You! Thanks to each of you for listening and spreading the word about The Water Values Podcast! Keep the emails coming and please rate, review and subscribe to The Water Values Podcast on Apple Podcasts if you…

Dec 3, 2024 • 32min
Algae-Based Wastewater Treatment with Martin Gross
Martin Gross, the CEO of Gross-Wen Technologies, provides a phenomenal look at algae-based wastewater treatment, its benefits and its eco-friendly byproducts.
In this session, you’ll learn about:
Martin’s dual-Ph.D. background
How Martin determined that algae was ideal for wastewater treatment
The basics of algal wastewater treatment
The difference between algae treatment and bacterial treatment
The climate benefits of algal water treatment
The lower energy consumption of algal wastewater treatment compared to bacterial treatment
The beneficial algae byproducts produced after harvesting
The resilience of algae systems
Why and how algae blooms are harmful
How algae harvesting in algae treatments systems helps avoid algae blooms
Algae treatment system footprints
How algae treatment systems “bolt on” to conventional treatment systems to help achieve nitrogen and phosphorous removal
The types and sizes of systems that are ideal for algal wastewater treatment
How algae treatment works in industrial settings, including food and beverage producers, and municipal wastewater treatment
Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include:
Martin’s LinkedIn profile
Gross-Wen Technologies’ website
Thank You!
Thanks to each of you for listening and spreading the word about The Water Values Podcast! Keep the emails coming and please rate, review and subscribe to The Water Values Podcast on Apple Podcasts if you haven’t done so already. And don’t forget to tell your friends about the podcast and whatever you do, don’t forget to join The Water Values mailing list!