Water Values Podcast

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               

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               

Albert Cho, Vice President and General Manager at Xylem, provides an insightful look at how digital technologies enhance the operational and financial resilience of utilities. Al discusses the benefits digitally enabled utilities have realized during the pandemic, provides examples of how utilities have gained financial efficiencies in the pre-pandemic deployment of capital and how those examples demonstrate that digital technologies play a significant role in helping utilities navigate the financial challenges ahead. In this session, you’ll learn about: How digital technologies are performing during the COVID-19 pandemic How digital enhanced operational resilience in the early stage of response How utilities using digital technologies fared versus utilities using analog technologies How digital technologies impact utility financial resilience Why Al thinks the utility operational response in the first wave of the pandemic was miraculous (no massive failures, etc.) Why the biggest risk to utilities lies ahead in the form of financial impacts Why digital technologies can play a significant role in mitigating the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic How Al distinguishes between “old smart water” and “new smart water” The tie between digital technologies and improved cash flow The significant savings realized by the City of South Bend, Indiana, by using digital technologies to optimize existing system assets Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Albert’s LinkedIn page Xylem’s website Xylem’s LinkedIn Page TWV #084: Using Big Data to Improve Water Utility Revenues with Valor Water President Christine Boyle 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!