Water Values Podcast

Shimon Constante returns to The Water Values Podcast by filling us in on disinfection in the Latin American markets for water reuse. I’ve always found Latin America to be intriguing, and Shimon provides great details and examples for how disinfection in water reuse is playing out in Latin America. Plus, Reese Tisdale discusses the latest research on the investor-owned utilities market in our Bluefield on Tap segment. In this session, you’ll learn about: Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Thank You! Thanks to each of you for listening and spreading the word about The Water…

OptiRTC CEO David Rubinstein brings his A game to discuss how smart stormwater systems improve outcomes for communities. Plus, Reese Tisdale comes on for a Bluefield on Tap segment addressing the ten-year forecast for water and wastewater treatment CAPEX. In this session, you’ll learn about: Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: 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…

Rod McNelly, Vice President and General Manager of Water Solution and Services Segment for North America with Xylem, shares insights on water use in data centers and microelectronics manufacturing gleaned over his 38 years in the industrial water industry. Plus, Reese Tisdale discusses the recently released American Society of Civil Engineers infrastructure grades for water, wastewater and stormwater in our Bluefield on Tap segment.  In this session, you’ll learn about: Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Thank You! Thanks to each of you for listening and spreading the word about The Water Values Podcast! Keep…

Veteran water well driller Jack Clark explains his innovative approach to the water well drilling industry and the practical aspects of water well drilling. Plus, Reese Tisdale discusses a potential blockbuster transaction for the water industry in our Bluefield on Tap segment.  In this session, you’ll learn about: Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: 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…

Two experts on water conflict, Dr. Frank Galgano and Dr. David Stuckenberg, discuss the basics of water-related disputes, provide historical examples of water playing a role in armed conflict, and address current hot spots and the geopolitical implications of water conflict. Plus, Reese Tisdale discusses the details of the long-awaited Eversource spin-off of Aquarion and what it might mean for the water sector. In this session, you’ll learn about: Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Thank You! Thanks to each of you for listening and spreading the word about The Water Values Podcast! Keep the…

Recently, there has been talk in England about nationalizing England’s private water utilities. Former Wisconsin PSC Commissioner and FERC Commissioner, Branko Terzic, makes the case that England’s water utilities are not struggling because they are private, but rather because of a regulatory failure. Plus, Branko delves into how and why the U.S. system of utility regulation developed and much more. In this session, you’ll learn about: Branko’s background as a utility engineer, appraiser, consultant, regulator and executive How and why England privatized its water utilities Economist Stephen C. Littlechild’s role in English water privatization Why England’s water rates skyrocketed after privatization but electric, gas and telephone utilities all fell Why the United States has a predominantly publicly owned system of water utilities (in contrast to predominantly privately owned electric, gas and telephone utilities) Why English regulation of water utilities has struggled Why high leveraging and capital structure of English water utilities created problems How poor regulation created capital structure problems and low water quality problems Typical capital structure of U.S. utilities Why most U.S. utilities capital structure typically has 40-50% equity despite debt being the cheaper capital Why interest rates for debt and equity capital increase as debt’s share of the capital structure increases What ringfencing is Branko’s thoughts on fixing the English regulatory scheme An overview of how water concessions work A brief history of Enron’s foray into private water Why market fragmentation is holding U.S. water systems back Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Branko’s LinkedIn profile Branko’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!

Reese Tisdale of Bluefield Research offers up his grades on Bluefield’s predictions for the water sector in 2024 and identifies some of the unanticipated water issues that made headlines in 2024. Reese also peeks around the corner for what lies ahead for water in 2025. In this session, you’ll learn about: Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: 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…

Martin Gross, the CEO of Gross-Wen Technologies, provides a phenomenal look at algae-based wastewater treatment, its benefits and its eco-friendly byproducts. In this session, you’ll learn about: Martin’s dual-Ph.D. background  How Martin determined that algae was ideal for wastewater treatment The basics of algal wastewater treatment The difference between algae treatment and bacterial treatment The climate benefits of algal water treatment The lower energy consumption of algal wastewater treatment compared to bacterial treatment  The beneficial algae byproducts produced after harvesting  The resilience of algae systems Why and how algae blooms are harmful  How algae harvesting in algae treatments systems helps avoid algae blooms Algae treatment system footprints How algae treatment systems “bolt on” to conventional treatment systems to help achieve nitrogen and phosphorous removal The types and sizes of systems that are ideal for algal wastewater treatment How algae treatment works in industrial settings, including food and beverage producers, and municipal wastewater treatment Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Martin’s LinkedIn profile Gross-Wen Technologies’ 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!

Alex Shannon, Senior Vice President and West Region Business Line Leader, provides a phenomenal interview focusing on valuing water, spending water infrastructure funds efficiently, and analyzing the issues from multiple perspectives: economics, OneWater, local politics, and more. Tune in for some of Alex’s great insights. In this session, you’ll learn about: Alex’s transformation from economist to the water economist  How Alex’s economics background meshes well with the water sector The benefits of dynamic economic modeling of capital improvement plans (CIPs) and master plans for water utilities How to maintain a dynamic CIP and master plan Alex’s thoughts on how artificial intelligence (AI) will affect dynamic CIPs and master plans The three major variable inputs for dynamic CIPs and master plans OneWater and the value proposition for water Why water quality is top of mind for Alex How water quality and OneWater approaches differ from large systems to small systems Alex’s thoughts on overcoming local politics to creatively solve water issues Where Alex has seen IIJA and IRA funds going to water infrastructure issues How Alex has seen water utilities overcome affordability challenges Alex’s thoughts on what’s in the future for water utility infrastructure Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Alex’s LinkedIn profile WSP’s water supply & distribution web page 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!

Isaac Pellerin, Vice President of Marketing at 120Water, dives into the data on lead service line (LSL) inventories and explains what you need to know about the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI). Plus, Reese Tisdale provides an update on the flow of funds coming out of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in this month’s Bluefield on Tap segment. In this session, you’ll learn about: Isaac’s unique road to the water sector  How 120Water’s business model has evolved from its initial inception  The current state of utility LSL inventories based on the approximately 8,000 utilities submitting via the 120Water software platform  The unknown percentage and lead percentage in the LSL inventories The difference between LSL percentages between urban and rural utilities  The LCRI and its 5 focus areas Isaac’s thoughts on assisting rural utilities achieve LCRI compliance  What the 10-year LSL replacement deadline really means  The significance of lowering the lead action level and the change in tap sampling requirements  What Isaac thinks utilities should be aware of about the LCRI  What “potholing” is What should be on utilities’ to-do list for LCRI compliance  Why it’s important to eliminate as many unknowns as possible in the next LSL inventories due in 2027 Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Isaac’s LinkedIn profile 120Water’s website Registration for 120Water’s webinar on LCRI Compliance 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!