Water Values Podcast

David Mussington, Executive Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security at the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), gives a phenomenal interview covering cybersecurity issues relevant to water and wastewater utilities (and other critical infrastructure sectors, too!), including identifying resources, aid, and funding opportunities for water and wastewater utilities. In this session, you’ll learn about: David’s impressive background in cybersecurity  What CISA is and what it does How CISA assists and supports owners and operators of critical infrastructure  The risks cyber threats pose to critical infrastructure systems The changing nature of cyber threats Why cybersecurity is more than just water and wastewater service, it impacts the entire economy How utilities can assess what assets are exposed and at risk, and why they need to The forms of cybersecurity aid that CISA provides for free Why critical infrastructure entities need to ensure their vendors take cybersecurity precautions David’s tips for some simple cybersecurity steps Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: David’s LinkedIn profile CISA’s water and wastewater website TWV #252: Cybersecurity for Water Utilities with Dentons Partner Kyle Miller TWV #212: Cybersecurity Basics with Consolidated Utility District’s Mike Sumner 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!

Doug Hatler comes on for his second appearance on The Water Values Podcast. Doug provides an impassioned interview on PFAS and the need to eradicate it, along with identifying levers to achieve eradication. Plus, Reese Tisdale discusses the California water conservation mandate on our Bluefield on Tap segment. In this session, you’ll learn about: Catching up with Doug since his last podcast appearance Doug’s goal of eradicating PFAS not just from the environment but from society Doug’s take on the challenges facing PFAS eradication Doug’s view on why rushing to clean up PFAS before addressing the production of PFAS is not the best approach Doug’s prescient thoughts on PFAS remediation technology and its relation to regulation  How the potential overturning of the Chevron decision might affect PFAS regulation [NOTE: The interview was recorded prior to the issuance by the SCOTUS of the Loper Bright Enterprises and Relentless opinions that overturned Chevron] Current state of PFAS destruction/remediation technology Where are we on the global PFAS eradication continuum Doug’s leave behind message on where PFAS eradication and its costs fit into larger societal pressures and demands Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Doug’s LinkedIn profile Environmental Business Ventures’ 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!

Jonathan Haswell, Chief Business Officer at OceanWell, delivers a fascinating discussion on OceanWell’s first of a kind approach to desalination. Jonathan discusses the advantages of the “water farms” OceanWell seeks to deploy, including the significant environmental and energy benefits in this can’t miss interview. Plus, Reese Tisdale returns before our summer hiatus for a Bluefield on Tap segment, covering the recent announcement of DuPont splitting into three companies. In this session, you’ll learn about: Jonathan’s unique background and how the water sector found him just 2 years ago OceanWell’s new approach to desalination An overview of the technology How OceanWell provides environmental benefits and reduced energy consumption compared with conventional desalination The depth at which the necessary hydrostatic pressure is found The distance from shore the necessary depth is typically found The onshore infrastructure needed The outreach process to engage with stakeholders The “first of a kind” risk and how OceanWell addresses the risks How OceanWell leveraged non-water technologies to develop its product  Why OceanWell believes “water dissolves conflict and creates value wherever it goes” Why OceanWell chose California to develop its desalination solution Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Jonathan’s LinkedIn profile OceanWell’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!

INTERA’s Western Water Resources Lead David Jordan provides a terrific look at the nuts and bolts of long-range water planning, including a discussion about how it has evolved over time, the impact of technology on planning, a success story, and much more. In this session, you’ll learn about: David’s unique background in the water sector What long-range water planning is The time horizons typical for long-range water planning How long-range water planning has evolved over time The relationship between population growth and conservation The role of AI and machine learning in long-range water planning How utilities make investment decisions given uncertainty and limited capital How regulatory frameworks layer in to long-range water planning The role of stakeholder involvement in long-range water planning The success story of Albuquerque’s long-range water planning efforts Why long-range water planning is like your 401(k) P3s and long-range water planning Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: David’s LinkedIn profile INTERA’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!

Snehal Desai, Xylem’s Senior Vice President and Chief Growth and Innovation Officer, joins us for a phenomenal discussion about PFAS. Snehal addresses the EPA’s recently promulgated PFAS rule and dives into present treatment options, including several PFAS treatment success stories, and where PFAS treatment technology is headed. In this session, you’ll learn about: Sne’s extensive experience and varied roles in the water industry How a clear signal from regulators on PFAS helps industry participants The lead-in time for PFAS rules The purpose of the 3 year monitoring timeline The period of time in which utilities need to get solutions in place How PFAS rule implementation mirrors other environmental rule roll-outs The solutions currently available to treat PFAS How “mobile” solutions are developing The three categories of technological development Sne sees coming in PFAS remediation Why PFAS remediation needs to be tailored to the characteristics of the water being treated Examples of PFAS remediation (& the importance of talking about remediation!) Sne’s take on the biggest challenges of PFAS rule compliance Snehal’s insights into treating wastewater effluent streams for PFAS remediation Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Snehal’s LinkedIn profile Xylem’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 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!

Water rock star Alaina Harkness, Executive Director of Current and CEO/Principal Investigator of Great Lakes ReNew, provides a phenomenal look at water’s place in economic development, building regional partnerships, and so much more. Plus, Reese Tisdale discusses hydrogen in this month’s Bluefield on Tap segment. In this session, you’ll learn about: Alaina’s background in foundation work and economic development Current’s mission and why it was formed How Alaina scaled Current up What Alaina means by ‘Blue Economy’ How Alaina linked water and economic development Why Alaina thinks now is the time to accelerate investment in the water sector, especially in the Great Lakes How water has morphed from an afterthought to a driver in economic development How the Great Lakes ReNEW came together to create regional partnerships How R&D, Commercialization, and Work Force elements came together to form the basis of the regional partnerships How the Great Lakes ReNEW’s workforce development initiative is coming together What’s in store for Great Lakes ReNEW How the cooperative grant structure from the National Science Foundation works Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Alaina’s Linkedin Profile Current’s website Great Lakes ReNEW’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 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!

Growing up, I always sensed that my father was deeply involved in a significant legal case, although my understanding of it was limited as I was less than 5 years old at the time. It wasn’t until much later in life, when I attended an American Bar Association Water Law Conference, that I truly grasped the importance of the Boldt Decision. Now, as this pivotal ruling marks its 50th anniversary, I felt compelled to capture my father’s thoughts on the case. In this session, you’ll learn about: The background on the Boldt Decision (United States v. Washington, 384 F.Supp. 312 (W.D. Wash. Feb. 12, 1974) Why the Indian Tribes brought suit The parties involved in the Boldt lawsuit The bodies of water affected by the Boldt Decision How and why different agencies of the State took different positions on the lawsuit Words matter: why the language “usual and accustomed grounds and stations” from the 1850’s era treaty was so important How the court determined the Indian Tribes were engaged in commercial fishing at the time of the treaty Why Native Americans testified on both sides of the case (for the State and for the Tribes) How the United States argued that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service could assist the Indian Tribes in regulating fishing Why Judge Boldt determined that the State could not regulate Indian fishing The appellate process for the Boldt Decision The effects on commercial fishing of the Boldt Decision How the media covered the Boldt Decision Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: University of Washington Law School’s webpage on the Boldt Decision Historylink website article on the Boldt Decision The Backlash to Boldt: Article on the National Museum of the American Indian 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 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!

WWF’s Allen Townsend provides an illuminating discussion on Science Based Targets and corporate water stewardship. Allen explains current guidance status, the entities involved, and where science based targets for nature and corporate water stewardship are headed. Plus, Reese Tisdale updates us on IIJA funding status during this month’s Bluefield on Tap segment. In this session, you’ll learn about: Allen’s background and the book that galvanized his decision to focus on the water sector Allen’s work on the World Wildlife Fund’s Freshwater and Food Team What the Science Based Target Network (SBTN) is What the Freshwater Hub is WWF’s Corporate Water Stewardship Program SBTN’s 5-step framework for attaining science based targets for nature Using targets as a compass Where SBTN is in the process of piloting the program and revising guidance Why being an early adopter for companies is important How watershed basin-based approaches to water stewardship yield enhanced results How to get involved in corporate water stewardship Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Allen’s LinkedIn page World Wildlife Fund’s website Science Based Target Networks Freshwater Hub 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 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!

Ten years ago, Matthew Klein was the first ever guest of The Water Values Podcast. Matt, now CEO and Chief Futurist at Aqualaurus Group, returns to discuss the discipline of strategic foresight and how it can benefit the water industry. In this session, you’ll learn about: Matt’s water journey over the past 10 years How and why Matt decided to become a water futurist through the discipline of strategic foresight Why Matt started the Water Foresight Podcast Why the water industry needs strategic foresight How water foresight helps anticipate, frame, and shape the probable futures Matt’s hypothesis on water culture The main benefits of a utility adopting a foresight mindset How utility vendors can benefit from water foresight The lenses through which strategic foresight anticipates, frames, and shapes the future Examples of using water foresight to anticipate forthcoming changes Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Matthew’s LinkedIn page Water Foresight podcast Buzzsprout website Aqualaurus 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!

Today’s podcast episode features Greg Pierce, Professor of Urban Planning at UCLA, Research and Co-Executive Director at UCLA’s Luskin Center for Innovation, Director of UCLA’s Water Resource Lab, and Director of UCLA’s Human Right Water Lab. During this conversation, Greg addresses water equity issues affecting mobile home parks, emphasizing the importance for anyone concerned about small systems to also prioritize the issues faced by these communities, i.e., mobile home park water systems. Plus, Reese Tisdale makes an appearance to discuss Eversource’s decision to divest Aquarion on this month’s Bluefield on Tap segment. In this session, you’ll learn about: Greg’s unique journey to the water industry and WASH research focused on the United States How Greg defines mobile home parks and how mobile home parks compare and contrast with manufactured housing Why mobile home parks are an important barometer for measuring WASH issues How mobile home parks typically receive and manage water services The challenges mobile home park water systems face in complying with Safe Drinking Water Act regulations The technical, managerial, and financial challenges faced by mobile home park water systems Why it’s difficult to gather data on how much mobile home park residents pay for water services Why neighboring water systems often decline to provide water services to mobile home parks How water equity issues in mobile home parks are emblematic of broader inequity issues facing mobile home parks including general infrastructure, heat, fire, ramifications of climate change, stigma, and more What “premise plumbing” means for mobile home parks and why it’s a problem Potential solutions and policy initiatives to improve water equity in mobile home parks Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Greg’s LinkedIn page Greg’s email address Greg’s X handle UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation’s website NIST 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 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!