Water Values Podcast

Wayne Griffith, now the Acting Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of DC Water, Ben Grumbles, the Executive Director of Environmental Council of the States, Christine Boyle, Vice President of Business Incubation for Xylem, and Dave McGimpsey, water, energy and utility Partner at Dentons engage in a panel discussion surrounding water technology and its role in finding solutions for utilities. In this session, you’ll learn about: DC Water’s Strategic Plan How DC Water uses technology to assist customers DC Water’s Blue Plains Facility Why the US needs a national water policy that affords State and local governments flexibility to achieve policy goals Why innovation at the State and local government levels are needed to address water quantity and water quality concerns How interplay between grey infrastructure and nature based solutions Examples of collaboration and conflict between States The connection between the “Conservation Conundrum” and data science Digitization and data aggregation leading to real-time decision making How utilizing digital strategies can leverage nature-based solutions and reduce grey infrastructure costs Convergence in the energy and water sectors Changing the utility paradigm What the panel sees for the future of water technology implementation Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Wayne Griffith’s LinkedIn profile Ben Grumbles bio on the ECOS website Christine Boyle’s LinkedIn profile  Dave McGimpsey’s bio on Dentons’ website Moderator Linda Willard’s bio on Dentons’ 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!

After a 5 year hiatus, Patricia Sinicropi, Executive Director of the Water Reuse Association, relates the exciting and substantial changes seen in the water reuse sector over the last 5 years. Plus, Reese Tisdale breaks down the Xylem agreement to acquire Evoqua in our Bluefield on Tap segment. In this session, you’ll learn about: How water reuse and recycling has changed over the past 5 years How the IIJA has impacted water reuse What the drivers for water recycling are and how it differs in various regions of the country How businesses are influencing the move toward water reuse Some examples of businesses achieving “water positive” facilities How the Water Reuse Association (WRA) promotes water reuse in the business community The inaugural Industrial Water Reuse Champion Award WRA’s 2023 Water Reuse Symposium in Atlanta, GA, from March 5-8, 2023 Details on El Paso’s new DPR facility and the public’s positive reaction to it Advances in potable reuse technologies Colorado’s DPR rulemaking Los Angeles’ recycling of wastewater What’s next for water reuse and the WRA? Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Patricia’s LinkedIn profile Water Reuse Association’s website Water Reuse Symposium in Atlanta on March 5-8, 2023 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!

John Richard Saylor, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Clemson University, provides a fascinating look at lakes and things you didn’t know about them. He provides examples of unique lakes around the world and offers a warning about natural resources and the human tendency to deplete them. In this session, you’ll learn about: The unique circumstances that brought Prof. Saylor to lake research Prof. Saylor’s lake research and some fascinating aspects of lakes How lakes store carbon dioxide and can cause an explosion of the lake What causes thermal stratification of lakes What Carolina Bays are and the mystery behind how they were formed Subglacial lakes and how chemosynthesis drives lake ecology How subglacial lakes were formed and were discovered Why glaciers are the “master builder” of lakes Several ways that lakes die The story of the Aral Sea (which in reality is a lake) and its warning for the Great Salt Lake How salt lakes form Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Prof. Saylor’s Clemson University profile John Richard Saylor’s webpage Amazon page for Prof. Saylor’s Book: Lakes: Their Birth, Life and Death

Water rock star Adel Hagekhalil imparts a powerful vision for leadership in the water sector through the lens of his work at Metropolitan. Plus, Reese Tisdale kicks off our Bluefield on Tap segment by providing his top 5 water issues to be on the lookout for in 2023. In this session, you’ll learn about: How Adel’s life has changed since he was last on in 2019 Why Metropolitan declared a regional drought emergency and what it means How Metropolitan is experiencing a “Second Mulholland Moment” The programs Metropolitan is developing and implementing to promote conservation and create sustainable supplies How Adel promotes an inclusive and cooperative approach through his “We are one” program What Adel means by building a “virtual aqueduct” How Adel coalesced support from a divided board The biggest surprises Adel encountered after coming to Metropolitan The 5 principles Adel adopted in his business plan for Metropolitan  Why embracing partnership, not partisanship, is so important on water issues Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Adel’s LinkedIn profile Metropolitan’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!

An all-star panel of water leaders, including Alyson Watson, Tony Parrott, and Robert Puente, discuss the year that was in water and share insights and perspectives on the water sector. In this session, you’ll learn about: Our panelists’ discussion of affordability in the face of inflation How SAWS addressed fairness in rate design during 2022 Louisville MSD’s affordability and equity programs Woodard & Curran’s experience creating efficiencies in system operations and capital planning that promote affordability Louisville MSD’s success in regionalism initiatives SAWS’s challenges with regionalism Alyson’s perspective on water technology and adoption in 2022 and the “adoption hurdle”  How SAWS demonstrated ROI for its smart meter program and overcame the “adoption hurdle” Louisville MSD’s use of technology in capital planning, integration of assets into real time operations, and implementation of AI  Key takeaways for the year 2022 from each panel member Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Robert’s bio on the SAWS website Tony’s LinkedIn profile Alyson’s LinkedIn profile

Evan Thomas, an environmental engineering professor at the University of Colorado – Boulder, details the fascinating story of Virridy and how Virridy promotes water security through remote sensing. Plus, Reese Tisdale joins us for the final Bluefield on Tap of 2022. In this session, you’ll learn about: How a bioastronautics Ph.D. became an environmental engineering professorWhy Evan founded Virridy to facilitate water security in drought prone regions in AfricaHow Evan identified the date gap that Virridy filledHow the sensing technology worksHow Virridy connects sensing data to satellite dataHow Virridy leverages predictive analytics and machine learning to “pre-position” water supplies and food suppliesHow and why Virridy imported its technology to the U.S.The needs Virridy’s sensory and satellite linked technology fill in the U.S.How Virridy facilitates demand response programs by electric utilitiesWhere Evan sees sensing technology and data usage in driving water policyHow Virridy’s technology fits in the water-energy-food security nexusHow Virridy provides basic water security through carbon credits and climate financing Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Evan’s LinkedIn profileVirridy’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!

Manny Teodoro returns to discuss his new co-authored book, The Profits of Distrust. Manny lends his keen insights and explains the tenets of the book in a clear and concise manner. His findings, all backed by substantial evidence, will definitely surprise you and should cause utility leaders to sit up and take notice. In this session, you’ll learn about: Manny’s COVID experience moving during the pandemic and starting a new jobWhy Manny and his co-authors wrote The Profits of DistrustThe relationship between the increase in commercial water consumption and the decrease in the trust in government and institutionsThe populations that distrust government most, which in turn causes those populations to buy commercial waterThe socio-economic class that drinks tap waterThe socio-economic class that drinks commercial waterWhat it means when a consumer “exits” tap waterWhy utility leaders need to worry about consumers that exit tap waterWhy the silence of the customer base has an ethnic accentWhy utilities need to operate with excellence, openness and equity to rebuild trust Key components of the co-authors’ plan to achieve excellence, openness and equity Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Manny’s LinkedIn profileManny’s websiteThe Profits of Distrust at the Cambridge University Press 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!

Austin Alexander, Vice President of Sustainability and Social Impact at Xylem, lays out key features of Xylem’s new report, Net Zero: The Race We All Win. Austin delves into simple ways to start on the path to net zero and enhancers to achieve net zero in the water industry. Plus, Reese Tisdale joins us for another Bluefield on Tap segment talking desalination. In this session, you’ll learn about: Austin’s journey to the water sector (it started in middle school!)Austin’s work on decarbonizing the water sectorXylem’s new report, Net Zero: The Race We All WinWhy net zero is not a scary termHow to take the first step toward net zeroSimple strategies utilities can take to reduce their carbon footprintEasy ways to integrate decarbonization into capital planningHow to use what you have smarterHow most electric related emissions can be reduced 50% at cost savings or at least cost savingsStrategies for making the net zero story tangible to decision makers and the publicExamples of utilities around the world that are experiencing success and making progress toward net zero Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Austin’s LinkedIn profileXylem’s websiteLink to download the Net Zero: The Race We All Win 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!

MentorAPM Co-founder & CEO, Tacoma Zach, takes us on a fantastic ride covering asset management and how it helps utilities manage their most important assets. In this session, you’ll learn about: Tacoma’s work history domestically and internationally, including interesting perspectives on the impact of different governments and financial systems on project successWhat asset management isHigh level overview of ISO 55000 Why making risk-based decision is so important to asset managementWhy the water sector needs asset managementHow “level of service” impacts asset managementWhy “minimum level of service” trips people upTacoma’s car analogy. Trust me – it’s fantastic!How asset management helps utilities optimize their spendingHow to get good, quality data for asset management decision-making Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Tacoma’s LinkedIn profileMentorAPM’s websiteInternational Organization for Standards’ ISO 55000 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!

Melissa Kelly, Staff Director and Attorney for the Center for Land, Environment, and Natural Resources at the University of California, Irvine School of Law, and Caroline Koch, Water Policy Director for WaterNow Alliance, provide an enlightening discussion on localized water infrastructure. Plus, Reese Tisdale joins us for another Bluefield on Tap segment. In this session, you’ll learn about: Melissa’s work with the Center for Land, Environment, and Natural Resources (CLEANR)Caroline’s work with the WaterNow AllianceWhat we mean by localized water infrastructureDiscrete examples of localized water infrastructure projects in multiple geographies in the U.S.:Turf replacement in NevadaGreen infrastructure project in WisconsinSource water protection project in ArkansasThe One Water nature of localized water infrastructure projectsHow to provide incentives to undertake localized water infrastructure projectsHow localized water infrastructure projects supplement rather than replace centralized systemsHow localized water infrastructure projects support workforce development at favorable wagesWhat barriers prevent broader implementation of localized water infrastructure projectsHow to overcome the barriers to greater deployment of localized water infrastructure Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Kelly’s LinkedIn profileCaroline’s LinkedIn profileCLEANR’s websiteWaterNow Alliance’s websiteLink to download the Tap into Resilience: Pathways for Localized Water Infrastructure report 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!