Water Values Podcast

Mae Stevens, Chair of the Water Practice at Banner Public Affairs, delivers a terrific interview discussing some of the ins and outs of Capitol Hill, unpacking the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and providing tips to ensure the water sector gets its due from Congress. In this session, you’ll learn about: Mae’s background on The Hill and in water policyThe Congressional aide program and quick tips on how to get a job on The HillThe Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (i.e., IIJA, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, or BIL)How SRF funding levels have been increasedThe new water funding programs created by the BILWhy the BIL is just a drop in the bucket of needed water infrastructure fundingHow to keep water infrastructure top of mind with legislators and the general publicThe difference between “authorized” versus “appropriated” fundingThe challenges and opportunities as BIL funding gets rolled outWhy legislators need to hear your voice! Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Mae’s LinkedIn profileBanner Public Affairs’ 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!

Alexander Loucopoulos, a partner with Sciens Water, provides an overview of Sciens Water’s well-thought out market and investment strategy. Alexander also makes the case that water is a great investment and that we need more people investing in water. In this session, you’ll learn about: The story of how Alexander and Sciens Water landed in the water sectorWhy Alex chose to approach water investments in the mid-market private equity space with a focus on real assetsHow water offers the ability to earn private returns while making a positive impact on people and communitiesAlexander’s thoughts on the current economic climate and the water mid-market’s capital attraction possibilitiesThe themes that Sciens Water supports with its water investments: 1) water utility consolidation; 2) recycle/reuse; and 3) deep infrastructure (targeting prestressed concrete tanks)The overlay strategies Sciens Water uses to enhance its core water investmentsHow Sciens Water uses digital solutions to bring efficiencies to small systems through scaleThe types of utility systems Sciens Water is consolidatingWhy the water sector is a great place to invest Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Alexander’s LinkedIn profileSciens Water’s websiteCentral States Water Resources’ 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!

Dr. Stephanie Smith, Product Segment Manager for Xylem’s Laboratory Solutions for North America, presents a great opportunity for water in solving the climate crisis. Stephanie explores practical methods for the water sector to address its climate impacts and also provides her position to get water higher on the policy agenda. In this session, you’ll learn about: Stephanie’s awesome story of how she came to the water sectorHow Stephanie views the climate crisis as a huge opportunityHow the Integrated Panel on Climate Change was formed and what it doesWater’s role in climate changeHow the water sector has a business opportunity to help solve climate changeThe link between nonrevenue water and greenhouse gas emissionsHow digital tools play a role in the solution to climate changeWhy utilities cannot afford not to make changesWhy data needs to support changes rather than relying on the generalities of climate changeHow to get water on the policy agendaStephanie’s great leave behind message Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Stephanie’s LinkedIn profileXylem’s website for YSIThe United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’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!

Emily Simonson, the Director of Strategic Partnerships of the US Water Alliance, shares findings, insights and strategies distilled from the US Water Alliance’s recent report entitled Catalyzing Community-Driven Utility Consolidations and Partnerships. Plus, Reese Tisdale joins us for another Bluefield on Tap segment discussing The Digital Water Revolution. In this session, you’ll learn about: Emily’s background and how she gravitated to the water sector Why the US Water Alliance chose to tackle the issue of fragmentation and consolidation in the water utility sector The recent report by the US Water Alliance on community based consolidations Why utility consolidations are so difficult Why consolidation opportunity for utilities are incredibly customizable How the US Water Alliance assembled the team of experts and stakeholders to address the consolidation issues What some of the roadblocks to consolidation are Strategies to overcome the roadblocks Some of the policy tools that can be deployed to achieve consolidation goals How political will-building for consolidation can be fostered in “Step Zero” Why the US Water Alliance is working toward a rate calculator to help forecast what rates might be as a result of consolidation How the US Water Alliance is continuing the momentum from the report Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Emily’s LinkedIn profile US Water Alliance’s website US Water Alliance’s Report: Catalyzing Community-Driven Utility Consolidations and Partnerships 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!

Aaron Tartakovsky, CEO & Co-founder of Epic Cleantec, provides an outstanding overview of water reuse systems, their benefits and how centralized and decentralized components of a water system support and strengthen each other. In this session, you’ll learn about: Epic Cleantech’s origin story in the onsite water reuse spaceThe policy background driving onsite reuseHow onsite reuse supplements centralized treatment systemsWhy and how San Francisco implemented its requirement for onsite reuse systemsHow onsite water reuse regulation is spreading across the United StatesHow onsite reuse diversifies supply and enhances resiliency of water supplyHow onsite reuse helps recapture waste heat from wastewaterHow the waste heat provides significant energy savingsOvercoming the “Yuck!” factorIndividual home vs. district water reuse systemsWhere the U.S. is on the spectrum of water reuse around the globeAaron’s thoughts on what the U.S. can do better in the policy arena to promote better water stewardship Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Aaron’s LinkedIn profileEpic Cleantech’s websiteSan Francisco’s water reuse regulationsNBC News story on Epic Cleantec 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!

Alan Tucker, Information Technology Program Manager with Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, provides a compelling case for collaboration in the utility technology space. In this session, you’ll learn about: Alan’s background and how he came to the water sectorAlan’s thoughts on state of innovation and data usage in the water utility industryAlan’s work on Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District’s digital twinThe paradox between speed of technological advancement and utility adoptionWhy Alan thinks its unfair to peg utilities as slow to adopt technologySome of the organizational obstacles that hinder technology adoptionCandidate attraction challengesWhy technology for technology’s sake is a recipe for failureWhat Alan thinks will drive technology adoptionMaking the pivot from reactive to proactive decision-makingWhy collaboration is key to achieving technological advancement in utilities Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Alan’s LinkedIn profileMetropolitan St. Louis Sewer District’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!

Mike Sumner, the Director of Information Technology for the Consolidated Utility District of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, provides cybersecurity basics and tips. Mike entertains with his description of the Oldsmar, Florida, water utility cyberattack and its context occurring during Super Bowl week. In this session, you’ll learn about: Mike’s background in cybersecurity in the auto and utility industriesA comparison of cybersecurity issues in the auto and utility sectorsPassword/passphrase basicsWhat hackers are afterWhy data security is so importantWhy layers of cybersecurity provide greater protectionThe different types of cyberattacksAn analysis of the Oldsmar, Florida, cyberattack and its timing vis-à-vis the Super BowlWhat a honeypot website isWhy your cybersecurity plan needs to include “people, process, and technology”Why cybersecurity testing and auditing is importantWhy a VPN is an important cybersecurity toolWhy a firewall is importantMike’s suggestions for getting a basic cybersecurity plan together Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Mike’s LinkedIn profileConsolidated Utility District’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!

Kendall Dix, National Policy Director for the Gulf Coast Center for Law & Policy, comes on to discuss his recent article for the People’s Policy Center advocating for elimination of water rates. In this session, you’ll learn about: Kendall’s background Why Kendall wrote his article advocating for elimination of residential water ratesWhy residential water rates are typically regressiveWhy Kendall believes water usage is inelasticHow Kendall proposes to replace water utility revenuesHow Ireland essentially is already doing thisWhy Kendall believes the relationship between water availability/shortages and water rates support his view that water rates should be eliminatedHow to overcome the public’s reticence to pay more taxesKendall’s perspective on how his proposal applies to investor-owned utilities Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Kendall’s LinkedIn profile Kendall’s Twitter handle: @kendixLink to Kendall’s article: Water For All 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!

Katrina Donaghy, founder of Civic Ledger and Water Ledger and blockchain leader, comes on to discuss blockchain and how it can benefit the water sector. In this session, you’ll learn about: Katrina’s background in Australian disaster response and how it transitioned her into the utility spaceKatrina’s work in the “utility of the future” space for a major utilityA lay explanation of blockchainThe connection between data and blockchainHow blockchain helps interoperability of data across enterprises (i.e., how blockchain frees data from data silos)How blockchain helps the water sectorHow blockchain brings trust, accountability and transparency to dataWhat needs to happen before a company/market can engage in blockchainWhy blockchain will not solve “bad data”Why blockchain is not an answer for every situationKatrina’s problem first, tech second approach to determining when blockchain should be usedHow blockchain can help the tragedy of the commons involving waterHow blockchain serves the public interest and strengthens property rightsBlockchain’s role in democratizing information and making markets more efficientWhy the agricultural water sector is ripe for blockchain (and how blockchain is used in Australian water markets) Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Katrina’s LinkedIn profileCivic Ledger’s websiteWater Ledger’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!

Bryan Stubbs, the President and Executive Director of the Cleveland Water Alliance, provides a compelling case for the water tech model that embraces economic development while nestled along the shores of the Great Lakes where 21% of the world’s fresh surface water resided. In this session, you’ll learn about: Bryan’s entrepreneurial background in sustainable economic developmentHow Cleveland Water Alliance promotes the water economy in the Cleveland areaHow the Cleveland Water Alliance has fostered job growth in the Cleveland areaBryan’s explanation of innovation test beds for water technologiesHow the municipal utility test bed is trying to identify lead service lines without breaking groundHow mobile test beds allow greater technology testing and further reachHow the Cleveland Water Alliance has expanded into a regional player involving multiple geographiesHow a Data as a Service model helped accelerate the technology testingThe role of legal and insurance in building trust and making sure all risks are considered and adequately addressedThe process for accepting companies into the Cleveland Water Alliance’s programsHow Cleveland Water Alliance has developed buy-in with market participants and built up trust with utilities and other market participantsBryan’s perspective on climate change and its impact on water tech innovation and the impacts on the Great Lakes Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Bryan’s LinkedIn profileCleveland Water Alliance’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!