Water Values Podcast

WaterSmart Software’s Dana Haasz provides a riveting discussion of how WaterSmart Software has evolved over the last six years. Dana has held a wide variety of roles in the water sector, and that experience shines through in this terrific interview. In this session, you’ll learn about:  How utilities shifted their conservation efforts from a customer service focus to a water resources planning focus How WaterSmart Software has evolved by responding to customer needs How data use and collection have improved in water utilities Where we are on using AMI data in rate design The importance of customer engagement on rate issues WaterSmart Software’s entrepreneurial journey to the point of its recent acquisition The pain points that led WaterSmart Software to the acquisition decision Dana’s thoughts on convergence in the utility sector How WaterSmart Software navigated the “valley of death” for a water tech start-up Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include:  Dana’s LinkedIn page VXsmart Utility Usage Analytics & Dynamic Customer Engagement  Press Release on VertexOne’s Acquisition of WaterSmart Software TWV #068: Speeding Technology Adoption Among Utilities with FATHOM CEO Trevor Hill TWV #034: A Smarter Way to Deliver Water with Peter Yolles 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 and review The Water Values Podcast on iTunes and Stitcher 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!

Jim Schlaman, Black & Veatch’s Director of Planning and Water Resources, provides a fascinating peek behind the curtain on the latest thinking on climate change planning and adaptation. In this session, you’ll learn about: The current state of climate change adaption and resilience planning Why climate change planning is not a theoretical conversation anymore Why coastal utilities are on the front lines of climate change How a utility can get started with climate change planning Why a vulnerability assessment is the building block for utility planning Why digitalization is important not just for technical planning but also for justification to the community A trove of information Black & Veatch gleaned from its Strategic Direction report and underlying survey of utilities Why Jim is optimistic about water utilities rising to the climate change plan Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Jim’s LinkedIn page Black & Veatch’s Water website Black & Veatch’s 2020 Strategic Directions: 2020 Water Report download webpage TWV #133: Resiliency and Regionalism with Southern California with Jeffrey Kightlinger TWV #090: Planning for Water Resources in the Face of Climate Change 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 and review The Water Values Podcast on iTunes and Stitcher 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!

Jim Schlaman, Black & Veatch’s Director of Planning and Water Resources, provides a fascinating peek behind the curtain on the latest thinking on climate change planning and adaptation. In this session, you’ll learn about: The current state of climate change adaption and resilience planning Why climate change planning is not a theoretical conversation anymore Why coastal utilities are on the front lines of climate change How a utility can get started with climate change planning Why a vulnerability assessment is the building block for utility planning Why digitalization is important not just for technical planning but also for justification to the community A trove of information Black & Veatch gleaned from its Strategic Direction report and underlying survey of utilities Why Jim is optimistic about water utilities rising to the climate change plan Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Jim’s LinkedIn page Black & Veatch’s Water website Black & Veatch’s 2020 Strategic Directions: 2020 Water Report download webpage TWV #133: Resiliency and Regionalism with Southern California with Jeffrey Kightlinger TWV #090: Planning for Water Resources in the Face of Climate Change 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 and review The Water Values Podcast on iTunes and Stitcher 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!

Rich Razgaitis, founder of FloWater, details his mission to eliminate single-use plastics and drive consumers back to the tap for their drinking water. In this session, you’ll learn about: How Rich’s background in pharmaceuticals influenced his career arc from delivering treatment to proactively engaging in prevention in the health and wellness space Rich’s mission and vision to put an end to single use plastics and drive consumers back to the tap How FloWater hopes to “own” the last 6’ of pipe How Rich sees FloWater as fostering the democratization of water How FloWater can help build trust in tap water and promote tap water systems Rich’s thoughts on driving consumers back to the tap Why legislating behavior is not the answer to eliminating single-use plastic bottles Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Rich’s LinkedIn page FloWater’s website TWV #099: Fertilizer and Water Quality with Mark Slavens TWV #095: Plumbing, Pipes, and Plastics: Working Towards Safer Drinking Water with Andrew J. Whelton, Ph.D.  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 and review The Water Values Podcast on iTunes and Stitcher 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!

Rich Razgaitis, founder of FloWater, details his mission to eliminate single-use plastics and drive consumers back to the tap for their drinking water. In this session, you’ll learn about: How Rich’s background in pharmaceuticals influenced his career arc from delivering treatment to proactively engaging in prevention in the health and wellness space Rich’s mission and vision to put an end to single use plastics and drive consumers back to the tap How FloWater hopes to “own” the last 6’ of pipe How Rich sees FloWater as fostering the democratization of water How FloWater can help build trust in tap water and promote tap water systems Rich’s thoughts on driving consumers back to the tap Why legislating behavior is not the answer to eliminating single-use plastic bottles Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Rich’s LinkedIn page FloWater’s website TWV #099: Fertilizer and Water Quality with Mark Slavens TWV #095: Plumbing, Pipes, and Plastics: Working Towards Safer Drinking Water with Andrew J. Whelton, Ph.D.  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 and review The Water Values Podcast on iTunes and Stitcher 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!

Kathryn Sorensen, Director of Phoenix Water, provides a riveting discussion of water equity in Phoenix, including rate design and customer base considerations, and she also describes an innovative water storage and sharing arrangement between Phoenix and Tuscon. Plus, Reese Tisdale of Bluefield Research comes on for another Bluefield on Tap segment to discuss the latest developments in the market. In this session, you’ll learn about:  Kathryn’s background as Director of Phoenix Water How Phoenix Water approaches water equity How Phoenix Water’s rate design promotes water equity Phoenix Water’s water recycling and reuse efforts How water reuse ties into water equity The innovative Phoenix-Tucson water storage and sharing agreement Kathryn’s insights on how to deal with the politics that affect water systems Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include:  Kathryn’s Twitter Handle: @PHXWaterDir Phoenix Water’s website “Landmark Water Agreement Between Tuscson and Phoenix” (Article dated 2014.12.05) TWV #133: Resiliency and Regionalism in Southern California with Jeffrey Kightlinger TWV #112: Customer Assistance Programs and Their Expanding Importance with Stacey Isaac Berahzer                                 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 and review The Water Values Podcast on iTunes and Stitcher 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!

Kathryn Sorensen, Director of Phoenix Water, provides a riveting discussion of water equity in Phoenix, including rate design and customer base considerations, and she also describes an innovative water storage and sharing arrangement between Phoenix and Tuscon. Plus, Reese Tisdale of Bluefield Research comes on for another Bluefield on Tap segment to discuss the latest developments in the market. In this session, you’ll learn about:  Kathryn’s background as Director of Phoenix Water How Phoenix Water approaches water equity How Phoenix Water’s rate design promotes water equity Phoenix Water’s water recycling and reuse efforts How water reuse ties into water equity The innovative Phoenix-Tucson water storage and sharing agreement Kathryn’s insights on how to deal with the politics that affect water systems Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include:  Kathryn’s Twitter Handle: @PHXWaterDir Phoenix Water’s website “Landmark Water Agreement Between Tuscson and Phoenix” (Article dated 2014.12.05) TWV #133: Resiliency and Regionalism in Southern California with Jeffrey Kightlinger TWV #112: Customer Assistance Programs and Their Expanding Importance with Stacey Isaac Berahzer                                 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 and review The Water Values Podcast on iTunes and Stitcher 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!

Cynthia Koehler, Executive Director of WaterNow Alliance, provides a great and energetic interview discussing WaterNow Alliance and its new program Tap Into Resilience. Cynthia’s reservoir of knowledge shines in this great interview that has something for everyone. Plus, Eric Bindler of Bluefield Research comes on for another Bluefield on Tap segment before our summer hiatus. Next episode drops the first Tuesday in August. In this session, you’ll learn about: Cynthia’s background as a water utility board member and as a lawyer What WaterNow Alliance is and does The Tap Into Resilience program offered by WaterNow Alliance Why WaterNow Alliance was formed Why our utilities need to think differently about resilience and programs that foster resiliency Why and how decentralized water projects can benefit the local economyCynthia’s insights on how resilience and water equity work together Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Cynthia’s LinkedIn page WaterNow Alliance’s website The Tap Into Resilience website TWV #020: What Path Will Water 4.0 Follow? With Professor David Sedla TWV #155: Water Equity in Louisville with Tony Parrott and Sharise Horne 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 and review The Water Values Podcast on iTunes and Stitcher 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!  

Cynthia Koehler, Executive Director of WaterNow Alliance, provides a great and energetic interview discussing WaterNow Alliance and its new program Tap Into Resilience. Cynthia’s reservoir of knowledge shines in this great interview that has something for everyone. Plus, Eric Bindler of Bluefield Research comes on for another Bluefield on Tap segment before our summer hiatus. Next episode drops the first Tuesday in August. In this session, you’ll learn about: Cynthia’s background as a water utility board member and as a lawyer What WaterNow Alliance is and does The Tap Into Resilience program offered by WaterNow Alliance Why WaterNow Alliance was formed Why our utilities need to think differently about resilience and programs that foster resiliency Why and how decentralized water projects can benefit the local economyCynthia’s insights on how resilience and water equity work together Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Cynthia’s LinkedIn page WaterNow Alliance’s website The Tap Into Resilience website TWV #020: What Path Will Water 4.0 Follow? With Professor David Sedla TWV #155: Water Equity in Louisville with Tony Parrott and Sharise Horne 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 and review The Water Values Podcast on iTunes and Stitcher 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!  

David Duncan of Smart Earth Technologies provides a fascinating discussion of pre-paid water and the multitude of benefits it can offer utilities. You’ll never think about pre-paid water the same after hearing this riveting interview. In this session, you’ll learn about:  Dave’s background in technology and utility deployment of technology How pre-paid water works Why pre-paid water provides utilities with financial resiliency Why pre-paid water dovetails with conservation efforts The technical requirements to implement a pre-paid water solution How rate structures might differ using pre-paid rates How digital technologies impact utility financial resilience Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: David’s LinkedIn page Smart Earth Technologies’ website TWV #147: The Power of Digital Water with Cindy Wallis-Lage