Water Values Podcast

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!

374Water’s Marc Deshusses provides unique insights on supercritical water oxidation and its ability to destroy PFAS. Marc also discusses his early efforts to harness the power of supercritical water oxidation, overcoming technological obstacles, and the path towards commercialization. In this session, you’ll learn about: What supercritical water oxidation isWhat supercritical water oxidation does (hint: it will not only remove stains from your laundry, it will eviscerate your laundry)How Marc applied for and received funding in 2013 from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Reinvent the Toilet ChallengeThe history of technical challenges for supercritical water oxidation that blocked prior commercialization attemptsThe best applications for supercritical water oxidationThe undesirable compounds in biosolids that supercritical water oxidation treats Why landfill operators don’t like biosolids deposited in their landfillsThe outputs of supercritical water oxidation: clean water, waste heat and resource recovery (including phosphorous)How supercritical water oxidation treats and destroys PFAS and other emerging contaminantsWhy supercritical water oxidation is, in Marc’s view, the best option to treat and destroy PFAS Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Marc’s LinkedIn profile374Water’s websiteEPA Announcement on Proposed Rule Designating PFAS as a Hazardous Substance under CERCLA 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!

The AWWA’s Barb Martin (Director of Engineering and Technical Services) discusses the fantastic opportunity to participate in the inaugural Transformative Water Leadership Academy. Reese Tisdale also appears for a Bluefield on Tap segment discussing the Jackson, MS, crisis and the SouthWest Water-Corix tie up. In this session, you’ll learn about: What the Transformative Water Leadership Academy (TWLA) isWhy it’s necessaryThe details of the program – what is required, time commitment (it’s not overwhelming!), the size, and other issuesWhat the AWWA and WaterNow Alliance are looking for in TWLA candidatesWhy diversity is important for the applicant poolThe types of skills participants will developThe “faculty” of the TWLAOpportunities to volunteer for the programHow the TWLA will promote the triple bottom line of social, environmental and financial performanceHow to apply – September 15, 2022 is the application deadline for the inaugural cohortInformation about The Water Values Podcast scholarship for the TWLA Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Barb’s LinkedIn profileTransformative Water Leadership Academy (TWLA) websiteApplication for the TWLA Program 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!

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!