The Drop

In this episode, we sit down with EMWD Director of Maintenance Dave Brown to discuss how VODA, and their advanced AI system, is helping the water industry shift from reactive repairs to proactive planning.

Consolidation! In this episode, we dive into EMWD's recent acquisition of the City of Perris' water and sewer systems. Hear from the team behind the transition as we explore the ins and outs of system consolidation, regional impacts, and the behind-the-scenes details that only an agency that's been through it can truly explain.

In this episode, we explore the importance of clear, consistent, and transparent communication with the public. We share key insights and practical tips to help agency's build trust and effectively engage their audiences.

Wildfires are a year-round concern in Southern California, but your landscape can be your first line of defense. In this episode, we sit down with EMWD Director of Water Use Efficiency, Jenna Shimmin, to discuss defensible space—an essential strategy for designing a beautiful, fire-resistant yard. Learn how smart landscaping choices can help protect your home while conserving water and enhancing curb appeal.

As we step into a new year, we're taking a look back at the impact of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the important projects it continues to support at EMWD. In this episode, EMWD Senior Director of Engineering, Shaun Stone, joins us to break down the progress, benefits, and future of these critical infrastructure investments.

In the second episode of our two-part series, we're joined by Dr. David Sunding, Professor in the College of Natural Resources at UC Berkeley and a leading expert in environmental economics, to explore the pivotal role of California's State Water Project. Together, we examine how this vital infrastructure supports sustainable water management and secures California's economic future.

In the first episode of this two-part series, we sit down with Karla Nemeth, Director of the California Department of Water Resources, to explore the past, present, and future of the State Water Project. Join us as we dive into the story of one of the nation's most critical—and most vulnerable—pieces of infrastructure.

The September 30, 2024 deadline for Governor Gavin Newsom to sign or veto legislation is looming, and there are several bills and other pieces of legislation that EMWD is tracking. In this episode, we're joined by Pacal Cornejo-Reynoso, Senior Policy and Government Affairs Manager, to discuss state legislation EMWD is tracking and its impact.

The State of California is poised to adopt water use efficiency regulations surrounding the management of urban water use. This episode, we're joined by Jenna Shimmin, Director of Water Use Efficiency, to discuss these regulations titled Making Conservation a California Way of Life and what they mean for us and for you.

EMWD's service area is only 43 percent built out and as we look towards our region's future, we need to be prepared to serve water, wastewater and recycled water service today AND tomorrow. So how do we do that? In this episode, Gordon Ng, Principle Engineer, discusses how we look towards the future to predict where water resources will be needed in our growing region.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS are a collection of thousands of chemicals that are taking center stage in the world of water quality and regulation. In this episode, we are joined by EMWD's Director of Environmental and Regulatory Compliance, Anthony Budicin, to discuss what PFAS is, the regulations on PFAS as they stand today, what we can expect in the future, current legislation to help combat PFAS clean up and how water agencies have been left to solve an issue they had no role in creating.

So, it rained. And while Californians love a good snowy mountain view on a sunny day, us water nerds can't help but wonder… “what happens to all the snow when it melts?” In this episode, we sit down with Jerry Brown, Sites Project Authority Executive Director, to discuss Sites Reservoir. What is it? Where is it? What's off stream? How will the reservoir capture winter runoff? And what's its impact on California's water future?

We're back with season two of The Drop! To kick off this new season, we sit down with EMWD's General Manager, Joe Mouawad, to discuss some of the big highlights from 2023 and what we're looking towards in 2024.

The Drop returns with a new season in January 2024! This season we'll continue to explore the ever-changing landscape of water regionally, statewide and nationally. Catch us wherever you get your podcasts.

Think about your dream career when you were a kid. Was it to be a water or wastewater operator? What about an electrician or engineer? Maybe not, but those are key careers in the water, wastewater and recycled water industry. Our workforce is evolving and we're working to meet that evolution through a variety of programs and partnerships. This week, we take a look at building awareness of careers in the water industry through the lens of a former intern and EMWD staff that are working to implement partnerships and support workforce development policy.

What's in a drop of water? We're exploring just that. How does EMWD treat water to ensure safe, reliable and quality tap water service to our community.

Lane closures. Traffic. Noise. Those are usually things we associate with cones in the road and construction projects but each EMWD project serves a purpose to better provide service to the community. This week, we drill down into one of EMWD's largest projects, the Perris North Basin Groundwater Contamination Prevention and Remediation Program, and discuss why it is so critical to our region.

Out of sight, out of mind tends to be the name of the game when it comes to the water leaving your home but let's stop and consider it for a moment. What does happen to the wastewater that leaves your home? In this episode, we're joined by Ken Tagney, Director of Water Reclamation, to discuss wastewater, collections and water reclamation and the important role it plays in the health and safety of our communities.

We flip on the taps and turn on faucets every day without a thought but how is it that water is made immediately available to your home or business? This week we chat with John Dotinga, Director of Water Operations, on the basics of moving water throughout our 558-square mile service area and the team that works 24/7/365 to make sure our community has access to clean, reliable and quality water service.

You hear about it and read about it but what is the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) and what impact does this large piece of federal legislation have here at the local level? This week we're discussing all things ARPA and local infrastructure projects.

No need to be salty - our groundwater isn't! This week we're joined by Water Operations Manager, Phil Lancaster, to discuss our groundwater desalination program. We're digging into why an inland agency has a desalination program, how our desalters work and where all the salt goes.

EMWD's Purified Water Replenishment Project is the next frontier of water supply for our community. This highly anticipated project seems complex but truly uses nature's best tools. In this episode, we explore why we're embarking on this kind of project, where we are in the planning and how it plays a bigger role in EMWD's efforts to maintain local water supplies.

Recycled water. What is it and why is it so important to our water future? Join us as we chat with Assistant General Manager of Operations and Maintenance, Matt Melendrez, about EMWD's recycled water program and how we're able to use every drop twice.

We're going behind the headlines of discovered boats and receding waters and tackling the Colorado River. Why is the Colorado River dominating the news, who are the millions of people it serves and why isn't the same river it was 100 years ago?

Drought. How did we get here? What does it mean when we say we're in a drought and how do we mitigate it?

What do fats, oils, grease and "flushable" wipes all have in common? They clog your home's pipes and cause big issues in our sewer collection system. Join us as we discuss how to be sewer smart and why we talk about keeping our sewers healthy so often.

A look at EMWD's legislative program and the top initiatives we are currently working on as well as what's to come for water at the state and federal levels.

In this pilot episode, Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD)'s General Manager, Joe Mouawad discusses the basics of EMWD's services and why talking about water and keeping it front of mind is so important.

Introducing The Drop, a podcast from Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD). In every episode, EMWD staff will dive into water related topics and how they impact our daily lives. Join us as we explore what's in a a drop of water.