Talking Under Water

In this month's episode of Talking Under Water the hosts provide some highlights of news in the past month before going into a deep dive on the state of the water industry across all verticals: drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, residential, commercial and industrial water.

In this month's episode of Talking Under Water co-hosts Bob Crossen and Katie Johns dive into recent industry news, including the EPA's PFAS CERCLA proposal, the Jackson, Mississipi Water Crisis and recent funding for both drought resiliency in the West and SRFs. Additionally, the hosts share an interview with Steve Drangsholt, account executive with Trinnex. Johns and Drangsholt spoke about smart water and how the digital transformation is impacting the water industry. They also dive into machine learning and digital twins, and Drangsholt shares how you can bring digital transformation to your workplace. Timestamps: Cold open | 0:00 Host intro and episode summary | 0:38 EPA's proposal to add PFOS and PFOA | 1:25 Jackson, Mississippi, Water Crisis | 6:34 Funding for drought resiliency in the West | 7:15 SRF funding update | 8:08 Steve Drangsholt Introduction | 9:10 What is Trinnex? | 9:36 Current smart water trends | 11:10 Mitigating digital risks | 14:40 Impact of Increasingly Intense Weather | 17:09 Machine Learning & Digital Twins | 18:57 How digital twins can improve infrastructure | 26:29 Advice for implementing smart water practices | 28:41 Keeping the human element | 31:06 Interview ends | 32:47 Housekeeping | 33:02 Outro | 33:52

In this month's episode of Talking Under Water co-hosts Bob Crossen and Katie Johns discuss a recent funding announcement for water storage and conveyance projects in the West and share a PFAs regulation update from Radhika Fox, assistant administrator for the EPA Office of Water. They also touch on SeaLab, a new tidal pool built on the Middle River that will be used by students at St. Mark's Episcopal School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to teach them about global water and sustainability issues. And, this month's interview is with Maura Jarvis, who is the assistant manager of the public outreach team for the Philadelphia Water Department and is the 2022 US Water Prize winner for Rising One Water Leader. Jarvis and Crossen talked about her career, why water is so important and what one water means to her. Timestamps: Cold open | 0:00 Host intro and episode summary | 0:38 Water storage and conveyance project funding | 1:15 Clean Water Act Anniversary | 3:07 Update on PFAS regulations for water and wastewater | 3:54 Maura Jarvis interview introduction | 6:42 Maura Jarvis' career path and successes | 7:33 What One Water means to Maura | 11:45 Representation matters for One Water | 13:59 Interview ends | 17:15 Housekeeping | 17:53 Outro | 19:27

In this month's episode of Talking Under Water co-hosts Bob Crossen and Katie Johns give an overview of the Jackson, Mississippi, Water Crisis and touch base on the latest proposal from the EPA, which relates to adding PFAS chemicals to Superfund. Additionally, this month's interview is with Jeff Cornell, global PFAS practice lead for Black & Veatch. Crossen and Cornell talked about all things emerging contaminants, particularly as it relates to PFAS, but Cornell also shares an exhaustive list of just how many things are on his and the industry's radar as it relates to water contamination. Timestamps: Cold Open | 0:00 Host Introductions | 0:25 Episode Summary | 0:36 Water Crisis in Jackson Mississippi | 1:10 EPA Proposes Adding PFOA, PFOS to Superfund | 3:43 Interview with Jeff Cornell begins | 6:43 Overview of emerging contaminants in water and wastewater | 6:54 The CERCLA designation is complex and vast | 19:55 Viewing emerging contaminants with a one water lens | 21:20 Exciting technologies to address emerging contaminants | 25:11 What's the roadmap for addressing emerging contaminants | 30:13 Interview ends | 34:38 Housekeeping | 35:01 End | 35:36

In this month's episode of Talking Under Water co-hosts Bob Crossen and Katie Johns discuss the movement of EPA's proposal for PFOA and PFOS to be listed as a hazardous substance under CERCLA and a $132 million investment in the national estuary program. The hosts also share an interview with Glenn Barnes, who is the director of Water Finance Assistance and works with numerous small utilities throughout the United States. Crossen and Barnes talked about the challenges facing small systems, how they are trying to adapt to the new normal, and how workforce concerns are nearing a tipping point. Cold open | 0:00 Host Intros | 0:32 Episode summary | 0:43 OMB finishes review of PFAS CERCLA proposal | 1:12 $132M investment for National Estuary Program | 4:08 Introducing Glenn Barnes | 6:00 Just how many small systesm are there in the U.S.? | 6:32 What small utilities are thinking about day to day | 9:11 Small town public workers wear too many hats | 11:38 How small utilities are looking at infrastructure funding | 14:30 Inflation and rising costs hit small utilities hardest | 17:42 Issues at the top of small systems' minds | 20:13 The future of small systems in the U.S. | 22:18 Interview wrap up | 26:02 Housekeeping | 26:52

In this month's episode of Talking Under Water, co-hosts Bob Crossen and Katie Johns discuss the PFAS health advisory limits announced by the U.S. EPA last month and share some of the conversations surrounding that news Additionally, they touch on the recent announcement of NOAA funding opportunities through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Finally, we share an interview with Dr. Sera Young, professor of anthropology and global health at Northwestern University. Johns spoke with her about water scarcity and the Water Insecurity Experiences Scales, also known as WISE scales. Timestamps: Cold open | 00:00 Host introductions & episode summary | 01:03 EPA announces PFAS Health Advisory Levels | 01:54 NOAA climate funding news | 06:36 Interview introduction & start | 8:30 Career path and current work | 9:19 Why measure experiences of water? | 12:51 Biggest takeaways from water insecurity research | 17:20 How do we increase visibility of this issue? | 19:23 How to measure water insecurity | 21:59 Why breaking down silos can address the issue | 23:41 Goals for the future of the measurement of water insecurity | 26:10 Interview wrap up| 27:37 Housekeeping | 28:40

In this month's episode of Talking Under Water co-hosts Katie Johns and Bob Crossen discuss the Action Plan on Global Water Security that Vice President Harris announced earlier this month, in addition to the research American Water conducted on Americans' perception of water infrastructure. Finally, this month's interview is with Millicent Pitts, executive director of Ocean Exchange. Crossen and Pitts spoke about one water, circular economy and trends as it relates to technologies and frameworks for discussing water issues as a global community in addition to a local one.

In this month's episode of Talking Under Water the co-hosts highlight the recent DoD memo that temporarily halted the burning of PFAS as a disposal method and touch on the complexities of Build America Buy America. Additionally, they discuss new grant funding to the State Revolving Funds from the US EPA. Finally, they share an interview with Jesse Mains, the stormwater management division chief for the City of Alexandria and Brian Rahal, the division's senior civil engineer. Co-host Katie Johns spoke with them about how Alexndria is managing flood mitigation work, how flooding affects wastewater and drinking water and green infrastructure solutions to flood mitigation.

In this month's episode of Talking Under Water, hosts Katie Johns and Bob Crossen talk about a new documentary, “FLINT,” that will be released on Friday, April 29. Additionally, they discuss an EPA memo regarding accelerating nutrient pollution reductions. Finally, the interview this month is with Maria Lehman, president-elect of the American Society of Civil Engineers and director of US Infrastructure for GHD. Johns talked with Maria about regulations, including the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act, PFAS, lead service line replacement and more.

In this month's episode of Talking Under Water, hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Katie Johns and Bob Crossen — in conjunction with Women's History Month and International Women's Day — share two interviews with stellar women in water on their career journeys and advice to the next generation. Johns spoke with Jennifer Kelly Lachmayr, who recently concluded her service as past president of NEWEA and is an active vice president at Arcadis. Del Ciello spoke with Melissa Jones, group president for commercial water solutions for Pentair. Plus, the hosts share a little about what this episode means to them as co-hosts and where you can find even more women in water Q&As in celebration throughout the month. This marks our 50th numbered episode of Talking Under Water. Finally, the hosts bid farewell to co-host Lauren Del Ciello as she leaves the podcast and starts a new adventure.

In this month's episode of Talking Under Water, hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Katie Johns and Bob Crossen discuss ASDWA releasing a state implementation framework for lead service line inventories, as well as upcoming water-focused social media events to participate in. Finally, the interview this month is with Donnell Duncan, associate vice president for Arcadis, and Megan Yoo-Schneider, client-account leadership for Accenture. Together, they co-chair Water Environment Federation's (WEF) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. Johns spoke with Duncan and Yoo-Schneider about the WEF committee's initiatives and goals, the importance of DE&I to the industry and how age plays into DE&I. Next month marks our 50th numbered episode of Talking Under Water. In honor of the big 5-0, we want to hear from you. Send us your favorite water jokes for consideration for the March episode cold open intro (also in honor of World Water Day!) and get in on the action with us. Email us at talkingunderwater@sgcmail.com.

In this month's episode of Talking Under Water, hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Katie Johns and Bob Crossen discuss national news regarding the U.S. EPA finalization of the Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5) and its implications for water systems. The hosts also touch on the launch of a new EPA video challenge — “Companies Crushing Pollution” — and share how to get involved. Finally, the interview this month is withNate Allen, executive director for WaterStart. Crossen spoke with Allen about innovation and how tactical decisions can be part of a grander One Water Strategy. Cold Open | 0:00 Host Introductions | 1:06 Special Announcement: One Water Media | 2:04 EPA finalizes the UCMR 5 | 4:15 Companies Crushing Pollution video challenge | 7:04 Interview with Nate Allen begins | 9:31 What is WaterStart? | 9:43 Giving smaller solutions providers exposure | 11:16 Technology trends and innovations in water and wastewater | 13:00 Relieving the regulatory burden placed on utilities | 15:55 How small tasks can become big problems | 18:22 WaterStart's role in the One Water conversation | 21:19 Tactical decisions for One Water strategies | 24:02 Trends for 2022 and WaterStart's next steps | 24:59 Why having a working example is vital to innovation adoption | 28:09 Interview with Nate Allen ends | 30:24 Housekeeping | 30:57 Outro | 33:23

Wrapping up 2021, Talking Under Water hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Bob Crossen and Katie Johns present the third annual special State of the Industry episode. The hosts touch briefly on the recent passage of the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act; however, the bulk of the conversation focuses on the State of the Industry. Del Ciello, Crossen and Johns each share key snippets and trends from their individual brands/markets (Water Quality Products, Water & Wastes Digest, Storm Water Solutions) regarding what they have been seeing through State of the Industry surveys and subsequent reports, which dive deep into the the wastewater, storm water and water quality sectors respectively. Finally, the hosts dig into a discussion on cross-sector overlap. In January, the podcast will be back with the regular format of news discussion plus a guest interview. Timestamps: Cold Open: 0:00 Host introduction: 0:46 Episode overview: 1:03 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law overview: 2:12 Municipal water and wastewater breakdown and headwinds: 3:28 Storm water breakdown: 4:41 Residential and commercial water breakdown: 5:33 State of the Industry overview State of the Industry for Water Quality Products: 7:19 State of the Industry for Water & Wastes Digest: 9:53 State of the Industry for Storm Water Solutions: 14:17 Supply chain disruption: 17:54 Staffing, recruiting and retention: 23:17 Funding, regulation, and permitting: 29:04 Inflation: 33:34 Housekeeping: 37:28 Outro: 39:05 End: 39:51

In this episode of Talking Under Water, One Water, One Podcast, hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Katie Johns and Bob Crossen highlight conversations with four women in water on their career journeys, women in leadership, diversity in the workplace, the role of mentorship and more. Plus, the podcast guests share advice for young professionals entering the water industry. For this episode, Johns interviewed Mariyana Spyropoulos, a member of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Chicago's Board of Commissioners. Del Ciello spoke with Sivan Zamir, senior director of Xylem's Innovation Labs. Crossen spoke with ​​Felicia James, associate vice president and asset management lead for Carollo Engineers and Haley Goddard, project engineer and young professionals facilitator for Carollo Engineers.

In this month's episode of Talking Under Water, hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Katie Johns and Bob Crossen discuss the National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) new five principles for advancing water equity and new regional roundtables on WOTUS announced by the U.S. EPA and U.S. Department of Army. Finally, the interview this month is with Renée Willette, vice president of programs and strategy for the US Water Alliance. Ahead of Imagine a Day Without Water, recognized annually on October 21, Crossen spoke with Willette about what is new in the One Water sphere for the US Water Alliance; the impact of extreme weather on how the industry and the public talk about water; and how listeners can engage with Imagine a Day Without Water. Timestamps: Cold Open: 0:00 Host Introduction: 0:54 Episode Summary: 1:08 NAWC adopts five water equity principles: 1:49 EPA & Army announce WOTUS round tables: 4:35 Introducing Renée Willette: 6:22 What's new in One Water and were are we heading?: 6:59 How has the perception of water changed during the pandemic?: 9:40 How climate and extreme weather events impact The Value of Water campaign: 13:34 How climate stress and extreme weather become water discussion points: 18:40 Getting involved in Imagine A Day Without Water: 21:25 What's next for US Water Alliance?: 23:11 Housekeeping: 26:48 End: 29:06

In this month's episode of Talking Under Water, hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Katie Johns and Bob Crossen touch on a water crisis in Lebanon related to high fuel prices. The hosts also dig into the impacts of Hurricane Ida on all aspects of water, from drinking water to wastewater and storm water Finally, the interview this month is with Scott Wilson, president and CEO of Regenesis. Del Ciello spoke with Wilson about PFAS, the impact on groundwater, a rise in consumer awareness and how PFAS is a One Water issue. Timestamps: Cold Open: 0:00 Host Intro: 0:53 Lebanon fuel crisis is causing a drinking water crisis: 1:38 Host discussion on Lebanon drinking water crisis: 2:39 Hurricane Ida wreaks havoc on eastern U.S.: 5:19 Host discussion on Hurricane Ida: 7:55 Introducing Scott Wilson interview: 11:11 What is/are PFAS?: 11:52 Where can PFAS be found?: 15:13 Putting PFAS' creation in context: 17:15 The lack of analytical tools at the time of PFAS' creation: 18:16 How does PFAS impact groundwater professionals compared to surface water?: 19:10 How is PFAS contamination a One Water issue?: 28:25 Interview ends: 31:44 Housekeeping: 32:07 End: 34:26

In this month's episode of Talking Under Water, hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Katie Johns and Bob Crossen touch on recent news from the US Water Alliance — another One Water advocate like this podcast — announcing a new CEO. The hosts also cover progress on the U.S. Investment and Jobs Act, following months of bipartisan negotiations between the Biden Administration and a bipartisan group of Senators. Then they dig into a discussion on the relationship between recent increasing extreme weather events and water. Finally, the interview this month is with Ronit Erlitzki, director of business development and innovation for AdEdge Water Technologies, and RJ Cavagnaro, director of marketing for AdEdge Water Technologies. Crossen spoke with Ronit and RJ about small systems trends in requested treatment tech, packaged systems and contaminants of most concern. Timestamps: Cold open: (0:00) Host intro: (1:32) US Water Alliance announces new CEO Mami Hara: (2:37) US Senate passes $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill: (3:16) Hurricane and wildfire update: (4:49) Interview with Ronit Erlitzki and RJ Cavagnaro begins: (7:19) Trends in small systems bid specifications: (8:05) The growing trend toward packaged systems: (12:23) Drivers behind the trends in small systems treatment: (14:04) The evolution of treatment technology for small systems: (19:22) Rain water, water harvesting and water runoff for small systems: (28:02) The sincerity of commercial and corporate water reuse: (30:44) Interview ends: (32:58) Housekeeping: (33:32) End: (35:28)

In this month's episode of Talking Under Water, hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Katie Johns and Bob Crossen touch on federal water news, including potential WOTUS updates, the confirmation of Radhika Fox to the U.S. EPA Office of Water and movement on federal infrastructure funding. Finally, the interview this month is with Brad Clements, senior corporate account manager, Lodging segment for Nalco Water. Del Ciello spoke with Clements about sustainable hotel water management and how One Water principles can play a role. Timestamps: Cold Open: (0:00) Host Introduction: (0:43) Waters of the United States: (1:38) Senate Confirms Radhika Fox to lead EPA Office of Water: (3:45) INVEST in America Act: (5:44) President Biden and Senators reach $1.2T infrastructure package compromise: (7:01) Introducing Brad Clements interview: (8:52) Effect of drought and barriers to efficient hotel water management: (10:18) Costs associated with hotel water: (14:24) How water quality impacts cooling tower management: (18:41) Considerations when choosing where to target water savings initiatives: (22:48) Recognizing that no two systems are alike: (25:40) Customer awareness surrounding sustainable hotel water management (26:50) How one water plays into sustainable hotel water management: (29:46) Interview ends: (32:50) Housekeeping: (32:59) End (35:40)

In this month's episode of Talking Under Water, hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Katie Johns and Bob Crossen provide a brief update on the progress of the Lead and Copper Rule Revision, which is now undergoing community roundtables to gather feedback. The hosts also explore current water scarcity issues in the U.S., including Lake Mead's declining water levels and the impact of water scarcity on the entire water cycle ranging from surface water to groundwater. Finally, the interview this month is with Scott Slater, CEO of Cadiz Inc. about water scarcity and how it affects the economy, relates to water equity and more. Timestamps: Cold Open - Gameshows: (0:00) Host Intro: (0:44) Lead & Copper Rule update: (1:33) Drought in the Western U.S.: (5:28) The connection between agriculture water use and water wells: (9:06) Introducing Scott Slater, CEO of Cadiz Inc.: (13:07) Biggest challenges regarding water scarcity in the Western U.S.: (13:59) Factors contributing to water scarcity: (19:17) Water scarcity's impact on the economy: (23:22) How water scarcity affects water equity: (28:23) Aquifer storage as a water scarcity solution: (35:54) Interview ends: (39:51) Housekeeping: (39:58) End: (42:40)

In this month’s episode of Talking Under Water, hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Katie Johns and Bob Crossen discuss the recent Senate passage of the Drinking Water & Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021, and touch on a new U.S. EPA web-based app to help communities identify potential sources of pollution to recreational waters. They also unpack recent survey results conducted by Water Quality Products, Storm Water Solutions and Water & Wastes Digest on water industry attitudes towards live event attendance. Finally, the interview this month is with Rajan Ray, digital solutions leader for CDM Smith, on emerging technologies that are advancing the engineering and design phases of projects in the water and wastewater industry.

In this episode of Talking Under Water, One Water, One Podcast, hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Katie Johns and Bob Crossen discuss how the recently announced American Jobs Plan may impact the water sector before diving into two industry expert interviews regarding the current legislative landscape for water infrastructure priorities. The interviews this month are with Nathan Ohle, CEO for the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) and Shellie Chard, water quality division director for the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality. Ohle and Chard testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works March 17, highlighting the need for investment in water and infrastructure. Both represent different facets of the water industry yet stress the need for collaboration.

n this episode of Talking Under Water, One Water, One Podcast, hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Katie Johns and Bob Crossen discuss the latest coronavirus relief package — the American Rescue Plan — and its impact on the water industry. We’ll also dig into the results of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 2021 Infrastructure Report Card as pertains to water infrastructure. Finally, the interview this month is with Rich “Raz” Razgaitis, co-founder and CEO for FloWater. Johns spoke with Razgaitis about microplastics and how the issue impacts all aspects of the water industry from consumer to municipality workers. Show Notes: Congress adopts $1.9 trillion stimulus, securing first major win for Biden EPA Action Notices Extend Lead & Copper Rule Revision Effective Date US House Passes Stimulus Bill, Includes Water Assistance ASCE Infrastructure Report Card: Drinking Water, Wastewater & Storm Water Grades Storm Water Earns ‘D’ on ASCE Report Card for America’s Infrastructure Timestamps: Cold open: (0:00) Host introduction: (0:28) American Rescue Plan Act effect on water industry: (1:45) An update on the status of the Lead & Copper Rule Revision: (4:46) ASCE Drinking Water & Wastewater Grade briefing: (6:09) ASCE Storm Water Grade briefing: (7:42) Unpacking the ASCE Report Card grades: (9:02) Introducing Rich “Raz” Razgaitis: (12:34) Defining microplastics in water: (13:17) Threats microplastics pose to humans and the environment: (14:23) The impact of microplastics on water, wastewater and storm water treatment: (18:30) Are regulations on the horizon for microplastics?: (20:50) Why banning single-use plastics doesn’t always work: (23:49) How tap water is a crucial element in solving the microplastics problem: (26:04) Microplastics regulations for wastewater and stormwater facilities?: (27:19) What can water industry professionals do to address microplastics: (29:02) Housekeeping: (35:03) End: (37:52)

In this episode of Talking Under Water, One Water, One Podcast, hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Katie Johns and Bob Crossen explore how the Biden administration may impact the water sector and provide updates on the Lead & Copper Rule revisions discussed in last month’s episode. The hosts also briefly share water industry efforts and resources pushing diversity and inclusion. Finally, the interview this month is with Andrea Hall, senior director of diversity and inclusion for Brown & Caldwell. Crossen spoke with Hall about diversity and inclusion, creating safe spaces to have challenging conversations, and the importance of confronting issues about race, diversity and inclusion.

In this episode of Talking Under Water, One Water, One Podcast, hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Katie Johns and Bob Crossen discuss recent updates to the Lead and Copper Rule for the first time in 30 years and potential impacts on the water industry at large. The conversation also unpacks the recent Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s assessment of the State of the Bay, which declined slightly from 2018. Finally, our interview this month is with Dorothée Chabredier, principal for Amane Advisors. Del Ciello spoke with Chabredier about trends in water investment, including an increased interest in sustainable investing. Chabredier explains the categories in sustainable investing, which have the greatest growth and how water businesses can optimize their business models to benefit from sustainable investing. She also shared her water wish list for 2021 and beyond.

Wrapping up 2020, Talking Under Water hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Bob Crossen and Katie Johns present the second annual special State of the Industry episode. The episode features snippets from conversations with multiple industry leaders reflecting on the state of the industry from their perspective segments of the water industry, including the wastewater sector, residential/commercial drinking water treatment sector, and storm water and erosion control sectors. Del Ciello, Crossen and Johns weave the interview clips with discussion delving into the issues explored, including market impact of COVID-19, smart technology, consumer focus on water access/quality, regulatory issues down the pipeline and more. A special thanks to all of this month's podcast guests for sharing their industry insights, including Derek Berg, president of the Stormwater Equipment Manufacturers Association; Adam Dibble, president of the International Erosion Control Association; Colin Sabol, senior vice president and president for Xylem’s Measurement & Control Solutions; Kristina Surfus, NACWA managing director of government affairs; and Samuel Karge, president, North America Water Treatment for A.O. Smith. Timestamps: Cold open: (0:00) Host introduction: (0:41) Thoughts from Derek Berg on industry outlook: (1:45) Adam Dibble shares his experiences about digital evolution in the industry: (5:24) Colin Sabol explains how utilities are finding new uses for existing equipment: (11:05) Kristina Surfus notes water equity, water affordability and water access will be policy cornerstones moving forward: (14:45) Sam Karge discussing the challenges of evermore stringent regulations: (20:15) Sam Karge asks if the health and wellness trend will continue after the pandemic: (24:31) Host wrap up the episode(28:22) End: (31:47)

In this episode of Talking Under Water, One Water, One Podcast, hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Katie Johns and Bob Crossen highlight conversations with two women in water on their career journeys, women in leadership, diversity in the workplace, the role of mentorship and more. Plus, the podcast guests share advice for young professionals entering the water industry.

In this special episode of Talking Under Water, One Water, One Podcast, hosts Bob Crossen, Lauren Del Ciello and Katie Johns share the final interview in the four-part Value of Water Series. The series aims to share diverse voices and perspectives on solving water access, equity and affordability issues starting with the role of one water before digging into the utility perspective, a community group perspective and finally a perspective from the ground floor on water access. In this episode, Lauren interviews Carmen George, research & MEQ manager for the Community Outreach & Patient Empowerment (COPE) program. The program is a partnership with the Navajo Nation Community Health Representative Outreach Program to improve the lives of those living with chronic diseases in Navajo Nation. The program has also been significantly involved in water access issues in the community, especially in light of current circumstances. Lauren and Carmen discuss COPE’s mission and barriers to clean drinking water access. Additionally, the conversation digs into the role of education in long-term change for water access and use, as well as how the “one water” approach can be a sustainable, long-term method to meet these access and education obstacles.

In this special episode of Talking Under Water, One Water, One Podcast, hosts Bob Crossen, Lauren Del Ciello and Katie Johns share the third interview in the four-part Value of Water Series. The series aims to share diverse voices and perspectives on solving water access, equity and affordability issues starting with the role of one water before digging into the utility perspective, a community group perspective and finally a perspective from the ground floor on water access. In this episode, Katie interviews Kirsten Shead and Brenda Coley, co-executive directors of the Milwaukee Water Commons.They talk about the efforts of the Milwaukee Water Commons and water equity in the city of Milwaukee and beyond. The series will conclude next week, Oct. 30, with an interview between Lauren and Carmen George, research & MEQ manager for the Community Outreach & Patient Empowerment (COPE) program discussing water access. The TUW hosts are committed to elevating conversations surrounding issues of water access, equity and affordability and the role of one water in driving change. We encourage you to reach us at talkingunderwater@sgcmail.com to share your thoughts and start a dialogue.

In this special episode of Talking Under Water, One Water, One Podcast, hosts Bob Crossen, Lauren Del Ciello and Katie Johns share the second interview in the four-part Value of Water Series. Each Friday in October, TUW is releasing a special episode in conjunction with the Value of Water Campaign – a US Water Alliance campaign – and Imagine a Day Without Water, which is October. 21. The series will share diverse voices and perspectives on solving water access, equity and affordability issues starting with the role of one water before digging into the utility perspective, a community group perspective and finally a perspective from the ground floor on water access. In this episode, Bob interviews OJ McFoy, the general manager for Buffalo Sewer Authority, about the affordability programs that they have implemented in Buffalo, New York.

This special episode of Talking Under Water is the first in a four-part series digging into the value of water. We are releasing a special series each Friday in October in conjunction with the Value of Water Campaign—a U.S. Water Alliance campaign—and Imagine a Day Without Water, which is October 21. The series will focus on sharing diverse voices and perspectives on solving water access, equity and affordability issues, starting with the role of one water before digging into the utility perspective, a community group perspective and finally a perspective from the ground floor on water access.

In this episode of Talking Under Water, One Water, One Podcast, hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Katie Johns and Bob Crossen discuss a trifecta of water-positive news, including new water technology investment in Cleveland aimed at creating a “blue economy,” the U.S. EPA’s proposed 2020 Financial Capability Assessment for the Clean Water Act, and a major tech company’s commitment to replenish more water than it consumes. Finally, our interview this month is with Yu-Chun Su, Technical Director, Environmental & Water Resources Engineering at Lockwood, Andrews and Newnam. Katie spoke with Yu-Chun about best practices to prevent and control source water contamination, as well as long-term impacts across the water sector ranging from storm water to residential water quality.

In this episode of Talking Under Water, One Water, One Podcast, hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Katie Johns and Bob Crossen discuss water sustainability goals driven by diverse industries including jeans manufacturers and unpack Chicago’s new equity-focused lead service line replacement program and its broader impacts. Finally, they share an interview with Ralph Exton, chief marketing officer and chief digital officer for Suez Water Technologies and Solutions. Crossen spoke to Exton about the acceleration in adoption of digital technologies in 2020 and the impact of that trend in 2021 and beyond. The podcast hosts also preview a special series. Talking Under Water will present the regular October episode to listeners early at the start of the month and each subsequent Friday the hosts will release a special episode in conjunction with the Value of Water Campaign—a U.S. Water Alliance campaign—and Imagine a Day Without Water, which is October 21. The series will focus on sharing diverse voices and perspectives on solving water access, equity and affordability issues, starting with the role of one water before digging into the utility perspective, a community group perspective and finally a perspective from the ground floor on water access. The first episode of the series will drop October 9 and we can’t wait to share these conversations with you. The Talking Under Water hosts are committed to elevating conversations surrounding issues of water access, equity and affordability and the role of one water in driving change.

In this episode of Talking Under Water, One Water, One Podcast, hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Katie Johns and Bob Crossen celebrate National Water Quality Month. They also dig into California’s new definition of microplastics in water, discuss recent research on the relationship between COVID-19 and wastewater, and explore the U.S. Water Prize 2020 winners. Finally, they share an interview with Patrick Shields, general manager for the West Basin Municipal Water District in Los Angeles, California. Crossen speaks to Shields regarding challenges water scarcity places on his facility and how West Basin overcomes them through multiple programs and imported water sources.

In this episode of Talking Under Water, One Water, One Podcast, hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Katie Johns and Bob Crossen share an interview with Lisa Brand, CTO for LG Sonic. Brand touches on the importance of water quality monitoring in developing long-term, sustainable surface water treatment solutions, the impact algal blooms have on the U.S. economy and the role smart, sustainable solutions may play in water management moving forward. The hosts also discuss a new U.S. EPA action under the Toxic Substances Control Act prohibiting long-chain PFAS, a new report covering groundwater depletion on the west coast and a new 20-year clean water plan in Northeast Ohio.

In this special stay-at-home episode of Talking Under Water, One Water, One Podcast, hosts Katie Johns, Lauren Del Ciello and Bob Crossen share an interview with Keisha Brown, partnership liaison for Corvias. Brown is involved in bring the Clean Water Partnership to several community-based organizations. She explains what the Clean Water Partnership is, why it has been effective and what to expect next.

In this episode of Talking Under Water, One Water, One Podcast, hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Katie Johns and Bob Crossen discuss virtual events in the water industry amid COVID-19 concerns. The hosts also touch on the impacts of the recent Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (PPPFA) and the Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement Act. Finally, our interview this month is with Cynthia Koehler, the executive director of the WaterNow Alliance. The discussion explores the Tap Into Resilience Initiative. It also touches on green infrastructure and the coronavirus stimulus packages.

In this special stay-at-home episode of Talking Under Water, One Water, One Podcast, hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Katie Johns and Bob Crossen share an interview with Will Sarni, founder and CEO forWater Foundry. In the interview, Crossen and Sarni discuss equity and affordability during this time of crisis and the struggle that imposes on utilities. About the Podcast Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Water & Wastes Digest (WWD), Water Quality Products (WQP) and Storm Water Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, point of use, point of entry, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and on-site interviews with experts for WWD, WQP and SWS. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com. Contact the Talking Under Water podcast editors by emailing talkingunderwater@sgcmail.com or engaging with them on Twitter @TUWpodcast. Join the conversation by commenting or using the hashtag #talkingunderwaterpod on social media.

In this month’s episode of Talking Under Water, One Water, One Podcast, hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Katie Johns and Bob Crossen discuss reopening building water systems following prolonged closures and how water professionals can work with their communities. The hosts also explore major water infrastructure packages on the horizon, including America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 and the Drinking Water Infrastructure Act of 2020. Finally, they share an interview with Ed Quilty, CEO of Aquatic Informatics, on the evolution of smart water.

In this special stay-at-home episode of Talking Under Water, One Water, One Podcast, hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Katie Johns and Bob Crossen provide an overview of The County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund Supreme Court case and its potentially far reaching impacts on the water and wastewater industry for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. Hear from Nathan Gardner-Andrews, general counsel for the National Association of Clean Water Agencies; Jesse Richardson, professor of law and lead land use attorney for West Virginia University and attorney for National Ground Water Association (NGWA) and the Water Systems Council; and from Jay Stone, who is chief engineer and a senior associate at Belt Collins based in Honolulu, Hawaii, about the impacts this decision could have across municipal, residential and storm water sectors.

In this month's episode of Talking Under Water, One Water, One Podcast, Lauren Del Ciello, Katie Johns and Bob Crossen host the first-ever completely remote podcast of TUW. They reflect on the Flint Water Crisis, which will have its 6 year anniversary on April 25, and discuss the WaterSense Renewal. Additionally, Crossen shares that the AWWA ACE Show, originally scheduled to take place in June in Orlando, has been canceled. Finally, Crossen and Johns discuss their COVID-19 business impact survey results before diving into an interview with Nicole McLellan and Art Umble from Stantec to discuss the coronavirus’s impact on the water industry.

In this month's episode, hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Katie Johns and Bob Crossen give an overview of Coronavirus and what it means for their respective industries. For water quality professionals, it means adjustments for in-home installs; municipal employees will still go to work, but the dangers with the virus have less to do with influent and effluent; and storm water professionals are gearing up for remote work changes. Finally, Del Ciello interviewd Kathleen Burbidge, Water Quality Association global government and regulatory affairs manager, about the WQA DC Fly-In and the feelings of legislators on the Hill. (Note: This trip occurred prior to Coronavirus taking over headlines.)

In this special episode of Talking Under Water, host Bob Crossen speaks with WEF Executive Director Walt Marlowe about the effects Coronavirus — also known as COVID-19 — has had on the organization and industry at large. Talking points include the acceleration of remote work and distance technologies, effectiveness of current disinfection practices for water and wastewater treatment, flushable wipes, staffing, continuing education credits and more.

In this month’s episode of Talking Under Water, One Water, One Podcast, hosts WQP Managing Editor Lauren Del Ciello, WWD Senior Managing Editor Bob Crossen and SWS Managing Editor Katie Johns explore water advocacy issues through recent water industry news. The hosts start the episode with an interesting infrastructure discovery of a 7,300-year-old Neolithic water well in the Czech Republic. They then touch on the new Navigable Waters Protection Rule which will replace the Waters of the U.S. rule. Finally, the hosts discuss the impacts of a new study investigating the effectiveness of water treatment filters for PFAS removal.

In this month’s episode of Talking Under Water, hosts Bob Crossen, Lauren Del Ciello and Katie Johns discuss the success of the Egyptian National Program for the Safe Use of Treated Sewage Water for Afforestation. Additionally, they talk about the severe flooding in Jakarta, Indonesia, and the impact delayed infrastructure projects may be causing. Finally, the hosts interview Nathan Gardner-Andrews from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies about this month’s topic, funding.

This special episode of Talking Under Water has our hosts Bob, Lauren and Katie speaking with Randy Abrams, senior security analyst for OpSWAT. Abrams illuminated the common areas of risk for utilities and small business owners when it comes to data and information attacks, and explained some prevention options available to those users. Next week, the hosts are back with a regular episode including and interview with Nathan Gardner-Andrews from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies about funding for utilities.

Wrapping up 2019, Talking Under Water hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Bob Crossen and Katie Johns present a special State of the Industry episode. The episode features interviews from not just one, but six industry leaders reflecting on the state of the industry from their perspective segments of the water industry, including the wastewater sector, residential/commercial drinking water treatment sector, and storm water and erosion control sectors. Del Ciello, Crossen and Johns weave the interview clips with discussion delving into the issues explored, including mergers and acquisitions, a shifting regulatory landscape, a rise in emerging contaminants, a changing work force, and more. A special thanks to all of this month's podcast guests for sharing their industry insights, including Paul Turgeon; Megan Glover, CEO of 120 Water Audit; Pauli Undesser, executive director for WQA; Frank Brigano, vice president and senior research fellow for Marmon Water; Scott Barbour, CEO and president for ADS; and Diane Smith, president for East Coast Erosion Control Blankets.

In this month’s episode of Talking Under Water, hosts Lauren Del Ciello, Bob Crossen and Katie Johns unpack the recent U.S. EPA proposal to amend coal ash wastewater and monitoring rules. And they also discuss Ohio’s new H2Ohio plan, which aims to reduce algae blooms, improve wastewater infrastructure and prevent lead contamination. Lastly, due to a technical snafu, the planned interview for this month was changed from cyber security to energy efficiency and drives, as the hosts share an interview with Mads Warming of Danfoss during WEFTEC 2019.

In this episode of Talking Under Water, host Bob Crossen shares a comment he received after last month’s discussion of the Silver Tsunami. Then, fellow hosts Lauren Del Ciello and Katie Johns share news regarding the EPA’s proposed revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule and discuss the Ocean Legacy Foundation’s recently launched E.P.I.C. plastic pollution program.

In this episode of Talking Under Water, hosts Lauren Del Ciello and Bob Crossen welcome their new co-host, Katie Johns. The hosts discuss the U.S. EPA National Water Reuse Action Plan and touch on the repeal of Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) language by EPA and the U.S. Army. They also explore the so-called "silver tsunami"—a shift in workforce age dynamics–in the water industry through each of their sectors. Finally, the hosts share an interview recorded live at WEFTEC19 with Radhika Fox, CEO of the U.S. Water Alliance. This episode of Talking Under Water is brought to you by Tsurumi Pump. Tsurumi Pump. Built for Work.

In this episode of Talking Under Water, hosts Lauren Estes, Bob Crossen and Lauren Baltas discuss lead filters and water contamination issues in Newark, N.J., and changes to wastewater discharge limits for wineries in Washington state. They also interviewed Carolyn Howard, vice president and regional site development and infrastructure team leader for Draper Aden Associates, about women in the water industry. She provided advice for young professionals and insights on how the industry has changed with its attitude toward women.

This episode of Talking Under Water, One Water, One Podcast, hosts Lauren Baltas, Lauren Estes and Bob Crossen discuss a study on ancient groundwater, coastal flooding in New Orleans and a river restoration project that includes wastewater infiltration to refill a groundwater aquifer. The three then interview Travis Smith, director of smart water strategy for Sensus, as well as Chris Thompson, product manager for Sensus. Smith and Thompson discuss the importance of smart water for volumetric data analytics and why adding water quality metrics to smart water systems will be critical for municipalities moving forward. This episode of Talking Under Water is brought to you by the U.S. Water Alliance One Water Summit Sept. 18 to 20 in Austin, Texas. The One Water Summit is the premier national conference focused on sustainable, integrated, and inclusive approaches to managing water, our most precious natural resource. Registration closes Aug. 1.