Podcasts about Wastewater

A top water official in the capital is warning of the consequences if another major wastewater treatment plant in the city critically fails. Ellen O'Dwyer reports.

An approved variation to Clare's County Development Plan is being hailed as a win for the county. The move sees an additional 250 acres of land zoned for housing countywide, while a further 350 acres of strategic residential reserve sites have been unlocked for immediate use. Questions have been raised over whether this will make any difference given Clare's serious wastewater deficits, with 50 towns and villages still without a sewerage connection. Clare FM's Daragh Dolan has been speaking to Planning Consultant and Clonlara Independent Councillor Michael Begley on the matter, but firstly, Kilmurry Fianna Fáil Cllr Alan O'Callaghan. Image (c) pixelshot via Canva

[Video below] Floresville customers will soon see a rate increase in their water and wastewater utility bills. The Floresville City Council approved the rate change May 28 — which has not changed in 10 years — following a presentation by Kayley Poston of Communities Unlimited. She said the city needs to have at least a 1.0 operating ratio to be considered for grant or state agency funding. “They want to see that the system can pay for itself,” Poston said. “At this point, the water system cannot financially sustain just the financial expenses for the water side.” The new fees... Article Link

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will hold a public meeting in Floresville on Thursday, June 11, for a pending wastewater permit for HK Bella's Ranch. The permit — WQ0016844001 — proposes a wastewater treatment plant to discharge up to 250,000 gallons of treated wastewater per day into Kicaster Creek and on into to the San Antonio River. The meeting will consist of two parts: •Informal discussion — attendees can ask questions of the applicant and TCEQ staff; these questions will not be part of the official record •Formal comment period — attendees will state their comments relevant to... Article Link

How did HG Ventures quietly become one of the most active water tech investors on the planet, without even calling itself a water VC?HG Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of The Heritage Group, a 100-year-old, family-owned Indianapolis conglomerate active in asphalt, quarries, environmental services and specialty chemicals. With $350M in assets, the fund deploys around $50M a year across 41 portfolio companies and 7 sectors, and ranks 5th globally in water tech by deal count despite water being only 18% of its thesis.Ginger Rothrock holds a PhD in chemistry from UNC Chapel Hill, co-founded the NASDAQ-listed pharmaceutical company Liquidia, was promoted to Managing Director of HG Ventures in December 2025, and is a Global Corporate Venturing Rising Star and Kauffman Fellow with deep expertise in industrial water, industrial wastewater treatment, and corporate venture capital in cleantech.

A number of criticial water and wastewater infrastructure projects in Clare are a step closer to coming to fruition. The Commission for Regulator of Utilities' has made a determination which provides for €13.6 million in in capital investment and operational expenditure for Uisce Éireann. It means several Clare projects will be progressed, including those already underway such as the new wastewater treatment plant in Ballyvaughan and the upgrade to the plant in Newmarket-on-Fergus, along with planned developments in Kilkee, Lahinch and Ennistymon. Uisce Éireann Director of Asset Management Sean Laffey says it ensures capacity for growth within communities while also protecting the environment.

The I Love CVille Show headlines: Trump Tailspin: Iran Done Dealing; Hormuz Strait Shut CVille City Wants To Raise Water/Wastewater Rates City Upped Real Estate, Meals, Property, Lodging Taxes Devils Backbone Officially Closes Brewpub On W Main Top 5 Most Cursed City Locations For Businesses Natalie Oschrin v Sally Duncan: Most Concerning Leader? $695 For Rent: 160 SQF Office (Conference & Waiting Room) Subscribe To JerryRatcliffe.com For $8 Per Month Read Viewer & Listener Comments Live On-Air The I Love CVille Show airs live Monday – Friday from 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm on The I Love CVille Network. Watch and listen to The I Love CVille Show on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, iTunes, Apple Podcast, YouTube, Spotify, Fountain, Amazon Music, Audible, Rumble and iLoveCVille.com.

The First Water Sector Unicorn Wants to IPO. But Wall Street kinda forgot how to buy water... Early-stage water tech funding quadrupled in seven years. Private equity's share of water M&A doubled in a decade, with a record 165 PE-led acquisitions in a single year. The bench of PE-owned water platforms grew from 42 companies in 2015 to nearly 600 in 2025. And the sector just minted its first twice-unicorn - Gradiant - with a Series E at a $2 billion valuation on Day 1 of the Global Water Summit 2026! So, will Gradiant IPO?Four all-time highs at once... but the fifth dimension - the public market - went the other way. IPOs in the 2020s are a pale echo of the 2010. So I flew to Madrid to ask the people building the machine (the VCs, the PE platforms, the strategics, the bankers, the entrepreneurs) a single question: is this closed-loop water-capital machine a feature of a mature sector, or a $300 billion pressure cooker about to crack?

Kansas City's Blue River Biosolids Facility is using an innovative wastewater treatment process to convert sewage into energy and fertilizer while cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Washington, DC, May 21, 2026 —This month's podcast episode from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) includes an update on a series of Congressional hearings where Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy Jr., testified on the administration's Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) President's Budget Request. The President's budget request outlines the administration's funding priorities and proposed policy changes for the coming fiscal year. While the President's budget is not binding on Congress, it provides an important signal of proposed investments, program eliminations, and structural shifts that could significantly affect public health infrastructure. A full analysis of the administration's FY27 budget request can be reviewed on NACCHO Voice. NACCHO submitted testimony in support of federal public health to the House and Senate, to help inform their work in developing a final FY27 funding law. Updates are also provided on the FY27 Agriculture-FDA spending bill's status, which advanced through the House Appropriations Committee, and would impact key nutrition, tobacco, and regulatory programs.   Later in the program (7:50), Tommy George, Public Health Epidemiology Supervisor at Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD) in Nebraska and guest speaker at the 2026 Preparedness Summit, joins the podcast to discuss the department's wastewater monitoring program. Lancaster County has two wastewater treatment facilities, and both sites recover up to 25 million gallons of water per day. Through LLCHD's WastewaterSCAN system, the team can track several potential public health threats including measles, mpox, and a wide range of respiratory viruses. George shared that the department stays actively engaged with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services by making sure collected data is regularly shared and discussed. As a member of NACCHO's Wastewater Monitoring Mentorship Program, George highlighted innovations and challenges in wastewater monitoring shared by mentees and provided recommendations for starting a new program.   ###   About NACCHO The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the over 3,300 local governmental health departments across the country. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information, visit www.naccho.org.

Episode 443 of Boss Hog of Liberty is available now. Host voices are Jeremiah Morrell, Forrest Plank, and Zachary Burcham. It is Indy 500 race week, our guests are IMS Old Timer Mike McKown, ARCA racer Presley Sorah, and first timer Ean Southerland of the Playbook Podcast. We review the Indy 500 qualifying weekend, take note of the remarkably clean month of May, until the Monday practice accident. We note how special it is to have nine Indy 500 champions qualify for the race. Tune in for winner and darkhorse picks, qualifying day stories, traditions, and first timer advice. 1 in 1000 people in America are at the track on race day, and we explore the story of IDEM fining the people of Speedway over the elevated ammonia leaving the water plant. What will Speedway do about it? Next Episode records Thursday, May 28th. Boss Hog of liberty is now available in video form on Youtube and Facebook, Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Crew Carbon raised $25 million in a Series A funding round to expand its wastewater treatment and carbon removal technology. The company, a Yale University spinout, integrates carbon removal technology into existing wastewater facilities, enhancing treatment performance and CO2 removal. The technology is operational in the U.S. and Europe, with clients like JPMorganChase and Google. The funding will support partnerships with additional utilities and management team expansion. Investors include Burnt Island Ventures and AP Ventures.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a recent announcement from the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority, The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development will be utilizing nearly $200 million on wastewater and drinking water projects across the state

Direct potable reuse has always been technically possible — but rarely trusted. In this episode, Rhys Owen examines the Hofstade DPR scheme in Belgium, where bNovate's BactoSense and partners like Aquafin are helping close that gap through real-time microbial monitoring.As capacity doubles and reuse expands into water-stressed regions, the sector is confronting a new reality: confidence is becoming as critical as treatment itself.This Analyst Spotlight is part of BlueTech's Weekly Analyst Insights membership.If you'd like to receive these signals from the water technology market each week, learn more about on bluetechresearch.com.--Presented by BlueTech Research®, Actionable Water Technology Market Intelligence. Watch the trailer of Our Blue World: A Water Odyssey.  Get involved, and learn more on the website: braveblue.world

More than six square miles of an aquifer under Montana's Rocky Mountain Front has been removed from federal protections and slated for wastewater. The change comes despite overwhelming opposition from the local community.

In Maine, a three-person crew at the East End Treatment Plant works nonstop to keep an aging system running when a hazardous contaminant creates a serious problem.

On April 30, 2026, CRH plc (NYSE: CRH) announced a $700 million agreement to acquire Axius Water from KKR and XPV Water Partners - instantly making the Irish-American building materials giant one of the largest water infrastructure players in North America. If CRH acquires Axius, what's next?Most investors missed it, so I thought I'd decode it! Here are the 10 things you need to see.So you got it, CRH acquires Axius. Here's the deal in 30 seconds: • Buyer: CRH plc - a $77B market cap building materials company most water investors don't track • Target: Axius Water - a wastewater treatment platform built by KKR and XPV Water Partners through a multi-year roll-up • Price: $700M (reported) • Sellers: KKR (Global Impact Fund) and XPV Water Partners • Strategic logic: bolts wastewater treatment onto CRH's existing water infrastructure portfolio (Hydro International, Oldcastle Infrastructure) What's actually new here - and why it matters for water investors: 00:00 - On your Bingo Card? 02:30 #1: The Cast07:35 #2: The Substance11:40 #3: The Number16:23 #4: The Timing20:54 #5: The Macro Reality24:40 #6: The Credibility28:26 #7: Inside the Platform32:28 #8: The Synergy Story35:17 #9: The Risks39:58 #10: The Sector Signal

Every analyst, every think tank, every consulting deck has an opinion on AI's water footprint (and overall on AI and Water)But nobody bothered to ask the people actually watching the videos, posting the comments, and shaping the narrative. You'd need to be mad to do that, right?So I read 2,540 of them.

Everyone says AI is drinking the planet dry, right? Well, the numbers say your morning coffee uses 29,600× more water than a ChatGPT prompt! In this episode, I sit down with Alex Passini to pressure-test the dominant narrative around AI's water footprint - and what we found completely flips the story the media is telling. Here's what most "AI water crisis" headlines miss: → A single ChatGPT prompt uses roughly 16 milliliters of water. One cup of coffee uses ~140 liters when you count the beans. That's a 29,600× gap. → Of the water a hyperscale data center consumes, ~75% isn't used by AI at all — it's used upstream for the energy that powers it. Blame the grid, not the GPU. → One banana = ~6,250 ChatGPT prompts. One almond = ~12 prompts. The water-per-prompt math is rounding-error territory next to your lunch. → Florida already reuses 800 million gallons/day of treated wastewater. Data centers aren't the threat - they're an accelerant for the water reuse capex the sector has been waiting twenty years for. If you're an investor trying to figure out whether AI's water story is a real thesis or a media artifact, this episode gives you the framework (and the numbers) to decide.

The Sewerage and Water Board has successfully plugged the broken pipe that was leaking wastewater into the Industrial Canal. We'll get an update on the situation with Kaitlin Tymrak, the Interim General Superintendent of the Sewerage and Water Board.

* Insurance has been an ongoing issue in the state. What has the legislature been working on this year? How are the reforms from last year going? We'll talk to Commissioner Tim Temple about it. * The Sewerage and Water Board has successfully plugged the broken pipe that was leaking wastewater into the Industrial Canal. We'll get an update on the situation * We'll talk to CBS military analyst Jeff McCausland for the latest on the war with Iran, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and the rest of the Middle East.

Most Texans don't think about environmental health — until something goes wrong. In this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Christopher Sparks, President of the Texas Environmental Health Association (TEHA), to explore the critical — but often overlooked — role environmental health professionals play in keeping communities safe every day. From restaurant inspections and water systems to disaster response and disease prevention, Sparks explains how environmental health workers operate as a kind of “silent infrastructure,” ensuring that daily life functions safely behind the scenes. A major focus of the conversation is how Texas is moving toward more uniform statewide standards, particularly in areas like food safety, while still allowing flexibility at the local level to address unique risks across different communities. The discussion also covers: • What environmental health actually includes (far beyond restaurant inspections) • The role of inspectors, code enforcement, and public health professionals • Why Texas is shifting toward uniform statewide standards • Senate Bill 1008 and the push for consistent food safety laws • How policy is implemented at the local level • Why consistency matters for businesses and public health • The growing strain from Texas' rapid population growth • Workforce shortages and the need for better training and recruitment • Water infrastructure, wastewater management, and grease disposal • How improper waste handling can impact public health • The role of environmental health in disaster response (floods, hurricanes, wildfires) • How professionals help communities recover and keep food systems running • The need for better data systems and statewide coordination • Why awareness is one of the biggest challenges facing the field Sparks also highlights a key issue for the future: as Texas continues to grow, the demand for environmental health services is increasing — but the workforce has not kept pace. The episode underscores a simple but important takeaway: environmental health may be invisible to most people, but it plays a foundational role in public safety, economic stability, and quality of life across Texas. 00:00 — Intro + Christopher Sparks joins Texas Talks 00:25 — What is environmental health? 01:08 — TEHA's mission and role in Texas 01:54 — Who are environmental health professionals? 02:41 — Natural vs built environments explained 03:59 — Policy structure: state vs local implementation 05:04 — Shift toward uniform statewide standards 05:56 — Senate Bill 1008 and food safety laws 07:13 — Why standardization matters 08:21 — Balancing uniform rules with local flexibility 10:18 — How the new law is being received 12:28 — Workforce size and challenges 12:50 — Population growth and strain on infrastructure 14:11 — Water systems and environmental health 15:23 — Wastewater, grease traps, and public safety 17:20 — Future challenges: growth and extreme weather 18:26 — Disaster response and keeping food systems running 21:26 — Crisis management and reopening communities 23:01 — Workforce development and funding needs 24:50 — Training gaps and lack of statewide curriculum 25:47 — Data sharing challenges across Texas 26:33 — Why better data improves public health decisions 27:45 — Priorities ahead of the 90th Legislature 28:53 — Workforce awareness and recruitment challenges 30:19 — “Silent infrastructure” explained 30:53 — Environmental health in emergencies 32:06 — Final thoughts + how to get involved Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks

Who Buys the First Data Center Water Company? And When Does the Repricing Start? Data center water treatment is a $1.1 billion market growing nearly 15% per year, with 60% of spending recurring - generating an "infinite money glitch" for the righty designed water tech companies. So, strategic buyers, private equity sponsors, and VC-backed platforms are racing to consolidate water tech expertise. Meanwhile, hyperscalers spending $50 billion a year on infrastructure have made zero water acquisitions... for how long?

* The New Orleans City Council approved the French Quarter drone program last week. We'll talk about why that's a win for making the city safer with former NOPD chief Ronal Serpas. * Days after a 54-inch sewer main was struck by a ship, wastewater continues to gush into the Industrial Canal as crews work to assess and contain the damage.

Days after a 54-inch sewer main was struck by a ship, wastewater continues to gush into the Industrial Canal as crews work to assess and contain the damage.

Randy Heyman joins us to give us an update on the latest water main break.

In this episode of Orleans: Behind the Scenes, we sit down with Rich Waldo to walk through upcoming wastewater-related items that will be before voters at Town Meeting.The conversation focuses on two key areas: continuing the planning and design work needed to move future phases of the Town's Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan forward and ensuring that a previously approved sewer project for the Lakes and Ponds area can proceed as expected if construction costs come in higher than originally estimated.Listeners will hear why these investments are necessary, how the Town is approaching wastewater as a long-term, phased effort, and what steps are being taken to manage and offset costs through low-interest financing and outside funding sources.If you're looking to better understand what's ahead and how these decisions fit into the bigger picture of protecting Orleans' water quality, this episode offers a clear and accessible overview.Show notes:John Nelson, Sewer Program Coordinator, Contact Information: jnelson@orleansma.gov

What Is the Real Water Problem Behind AI Data Centers - and Where Is the $1.3 Billion Opportunity? AI Water seems to concern everybody, while data center water treatment is the fastest-growing industrial water vertical in the world - $1.35 billion in 2025, growing at 13.3% per year. But the media is chasing the wrong story. The real problem isn't consumption volume — it's the concentrated industrial wastewater that cooling towers produce. This episode maps the opportunity most investors are missing. A

Joseph Blackman welcomed Timothy Runde, the Treatment Manager at the Des Moines Wastewater Reclamation Facility, to the podcast where Timothy described his oversight of 24/7 operations for a facility serving 18 metro communities and managing flows of up to 200 MGD. Timothy discussed the significant success of the facility's three-year operator apprenticeship program, which has been in place since 2008 and accounts for nearly all of their current staff, effectively solving long-term recruitment and overnight staffing challenges. Key talking points included Timothy's own career transition from forestry to wastewater, his focus on team-based leadership and professional development through organizations like WEF, and a safety-driven engineering solution he helped implement after a personal field incident to prevent suction-related accidents. Give the show a listen and remember to thank your local Public Works Professionals.

What can wastewater reveal about the spread of infectious diseases?In this episode you'll learn:how wastewater surveillance workswhat pathogens can be detected in sewage systemshow it complements traditional disease surveillancehow Europe is developing wastewater monitoring-----In this episode of ECDC: On Air, microbiologists Theresa Enkirch and Maximilian Riess explain how analysing wastewater can help scientists detect pathogens shed by populations and monitor trends in infections across communities.The discussion explores how wastewater surveillance complements traditional disease monitoring, how it is being implemented across Europe, and how new technologies may expand its role in detecting future health threats.➡ Learn more about wastewater surveillance here.➡ ECDC Framework on wastewater-based surveillance.Interested in ECDC in general? Visit our portal ⁠ecdc.europa.eu⁠ or follow us on ⁠social media⁠ for the latest news!------Topics: wastewater surveillance, infectious disease monitoring, environmental surveillance, epidemiology, public health.

About this episode: Biosolids created by the wastewater treatment process are useful fertilizers in agriculture, but they often contain chemical compounds from the pharmaceutical and personal care products we send down our drains. In this episode: Researcher Carsten Prasse details new findings that suggest that fungi could reduce our risk of exposure to these compounds in our drinking water and food. Guest: Carsten Prasse, PhD, MSc, is an associate professor of Environmental Health and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where he studies organic contaminants in the urban water cycle and their impact on environmental and human health. Host: Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs. Show links and related content: White-Rot Fungi Show Promise for Reducing Pharmaceutical Residues in Biosolids—Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Magic Mushrooms? White-Rot Fungal Degradation of Psychoactive Pharmaceuticals in Biosolids—ACS Environmental Au Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website. Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌PublicHealthPod on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.

Why Did a Broke Football Club Owned by Gucci's Family Invest Millions in Water Reuse? Stade Rennais, the French football club owned by the Pinault family behind Kering (Gucci, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta...), buried a €1.5 million closed-loop water system under its renovated La Piverdière training complex in February 2025. This investment, during French football's worst financial crisis, reveals a widening gap between what water costs and what water is truly worth - using water reuse as its vehicle.

John Campbell is in for Nolan, he also hears about a family losing their care package.

 Shawn Powell has built a following by doing something wastewater operators have needed for a long time: making practical technical education easier to access. In Episode 470, he explains why that matters, how he built The Wastewater Enthusiast, and what the industry still gets wrong about training, certification, and knowledge transfer. From test prep to true understanding A major thread in this conversation is the gap between passing an exam and actually understanding plant operations. Shawn reflects on his own early experience with certification prep, where classes helped him recognize test questions but did not always help him understand what was happening inside a real activated sludge system. That gap became the foundation for his channel. He makes the case that operators need more than memorization. They need visuals, process context, and practical explanations that help concepts stick. For professionals responsible for training staff, succession planning, or improving plant performance, that distinction matters. What real operations look like on the ground Shawn also brings credibility from the plant floor. He describes his work as chief plant operator in Avila Beach, California, where a small facility still demands close attention because of its biological complexity, membrane bioreactor operation, and chemical dosing requirements. A story about foam erupting from an aeration basin becomes more than a war story. It shows how biology resists quick fixes and why operators have to think in time horizons measured in MCRT cycles, not minutes. The conversation also touches on shock loads, public misuse of sewer systems, and the daily balance between observation, testing, automation, and operator instinct. That practical perspective keeps the discussion grounded for listeners who live with process variability every day. Why free knowledge matters One of the strongest sections centers on Shawn's idea of the "democratization of knowledge." He argues that critical wastewater education should not be locked behind paywalls or trapped in the heads of reluctant gatekeepers. That point expands into a broader discussion about generational turnover, operator shortages, and the risk of losing hard-earned plant knowledge as experienced professionals retire. Shawn also explains how monetization entered the picture without changing the mission. Training workshops, webinars, YouTube revenue, and memberships have started to support the project, while his core educational content remains open to everyone. Exam strategy, content strategy, and long-term value The episode closes with practical advice for certification candidates. Shawn stresses long preparation windows, disciplined use of official study materials, and a simple but critical reminder: read the question completely. He also shares how he chooses content, responds to viewer needs, and uses real plant events to teach beyond the textbook. For leaders, trainers, and operators alike, this is a useful conversation about how technical knowledge gets shared, preserved, and improved. Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!   Connect with Shawn Powell  Phone: (530) 859-2787  Email: powell.shawnm@gmail.com   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-powell-792020197/     Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind   Words of Water with James McDonald Today's definition is a flexible, one‑way item installed on the feed end of a spiral‑wound reverse osmosis membrane element. Its job is to force all incoming feedwater to flow through the membrane feed channel rather than bypassing around the outside of the element. Can you guess the word or phrase?    2026 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.     

D&P Highlight: What do you mean they found fentanyl in school waste water?! full 660 Thu, 02 Apr 2026 18:57:00 +0000 FwhJhOmHR2oDdtA6SnfWNPHZ0cHtueGX news The Dana & Parks Podcast news D&P Highlight: What do you mean they found fentanyl in school waste water?! You wanted it... Now here it is! Listen to each hour of the Dana & Parks Show whenever and wherever you want! © 2025 Audacy, Inc. News False https://player.am

How Much Does The USA Really Need to Fix Its Water Infrastructure? And Why Is Nobody Talking About the Real Number? (Hint: the US EPA has it wrong!)I built a bottom-up predictive model spanning 32 federal datasets, 433,000 water systems, and 15.1 million regulatory violations to determine the true cost of bringing US water infrastructure back to shape. The answer: $3.9 trillion over twenty years (that's three times the EPA's official estimate of $1.25 trillion)

In today's episode, Lorrie Boyer is joined by Carly Lewis, an account manager and certified crop advisor at Livestock Water Recycling. They discuss innovative manure management technologies, their environmental benefits, and revenue opportunities such as carbon credits. Discover how these systems are transforming livestock agriculture into a more sustainable and profitable industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Would you drink recycled wastewater? It could be a solution to the global water crisis. But not everyone is ready to jump onboard. They say it's not technology that's keeping more cities from recycling their wastewater, but psychology. Experts call this resistance “the yuck factor.” We chat with water journalist Peter Annin about some history behind water recycling – and why more cities could adopt the solution soon.This is part of a whole series on the world's dwindling water supply. Check out the rest of the water series:Part 1: When the wells run dryPart 2: The world's groundwater problemPart 3: Freshwater's growing salt problemEmail us your questions about water, the wider environment – or anything else to do with science at shortwave@npr.org. We may turn it into an episode in the future!Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.Listen to Short Wave on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.This episode was produced by Rachel Carlson. It was edited by Rebecca Ramirez. Aru Nair checked the facts. The audio engineer was Jimmy Keeley.To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

The All Local Afternoon Update for Friday, March 27th 2026

Can Europe's Sewage Plants Replace Russian Gas? (aka: the €1.9 Billion Biomethane Opportunity) Europe's wastewater treatment plants are sitting on a massive untapped energy reserve. With the right upgrades, roughly 1,900 facilities across Europe could produce 13.4 billion cubic meters of biomethane per year — matching Russia's remaining pipeline gas deliveries in 2024. Let me break down the economics, the technology, and the investment landscape driving this shift.

Measles cases continue to rise across Utah, with more than 440 infections reported statewide since the outbreak began in June. In Moab, only three confirmed cases have been identified, but the virus has repeatedly appeared in local wastewater, suggesting infected people are still moving through the community. Health officials say tourism could increase the risk of transmission, even though vaccination rates in Grand County are slightly above the state average. Medical workers are urging people with symptoms to call ahead before seeking care so hospitals can isolate potential cases safely. - Show Notes - • Utah Department of Health https://epi.utah.gov/measles-response/ • Utah Wastewater Testing https://avrpublic.dhhs.utah.gov/uwss/ Photo: A young boy shows symptoms of measles. Via Wikimedia Creative Commons.

How Did Pierre Côté Build Two Unicorn Water Technologies - and Why Is He Now Betting on Algae? Pierre Côté is arguably the most successful water technology inventor alive. With over 100 patents across four decades, he created ZeeWeed (the membrane that launched the $3.63 billion MBR market) and co-invented ZeeLung (anchoring the ~$500 million MABR market). Now in his seventies, he's co-founded AlgaFilm Technologies to tackle nutrient removal with algae biofilm.

Sen. Markwayne Mullin's confirmation hearing, abortion drugs flushed into wastewater systems, fight over Connecticut homeschool oversight, and the sacred roots of a jazz master. Plus, Cal Thomas on stopping habits of fraud, a dog trained for illegal dumping, and the Thursday morning newsSupport The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donateAdditional support comes from Barnabas Aid--providing help for our brothers and sisters where they are suffering the most. The projects aim to strengthen Christian individuals, churches and their communities by providing material and spiritual support in response to needs identified by local Christian leaders on the ground. We also partner with gleaning organizations across North America, sending dehydrated food to the neediest countries, including recently to Haiti and Cuba. More at https://www.barnabasaid.org/From The Master's University, equipping students for lives of faithfulness to The Master, Jesus Christ. masters.eduAnd from Truth For Life. The popular video by Alistair Begg titled "The Man on the Middle Cross" inspired the release of a small booklet with the same title that introduces Jesus to those who have yet to meet him. This Easter, give this little booklet away to everyone you meet! It's available to purchase for only $1 at truthforlife.org/world. Share the Gospel with those who can't answer the question "Are you going to heaven?”

Bisbee is weighing a long-delayed wastewater rate increase as officials warn the city’s aging sewer system can’t keep running on yesterday’s prices.Support the show: https://www.myheraldreview.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can 4 Volts of Electricity Replace 60 Bars of Pressure in Seawater Desalination? ilion Water Technologies is a 2025 spinout from the Physics Laboratory of the École Normale Supérieure in Paris. Their VIRO (Voltage-Induced Reverse Osmosis) technology claims to replace the high-pressure pump train in seawater desalination with an alternating electric field applied to engineered composite membranes, operating at atmospheric pressure.

What happens when a water chemist leaves the lab and heads to the pump room?  Dr. Jake Elliott knows firsthand. A former PhD researcher who studied resource recovery from trade‑waste customers, Jake now manages accounts at Hydro flow in Melbourne, working with cooling towers, boilers, chemical dosing rigs and wastewater treatment systems. He joins host Trace Blackmore to discuss how rigorous research, regulatory compliance and process automation translate into practical field work for industrial water treatment professionals. From PhD Research to Industrial Practice Jake's academic background informs the way he approaches operations. While completing his PhD he investigated how to recover resources from wastewater permits, synthesizing municipal data with bench‑scale testing. Today he draws on that experience to design treatment systems and advise customers on cooling‑tower and boiler chemistry. He emphasizes long‑term efficiency: spending a little extra time or money now can save much more later. This mentality helps him balance the competing demands of design, installation, sales and service, and underscores Hydro flow's support for continuing education. Balancing Service, Sales and Efficiency No two days look alike for Jake. One week he is calibrating pH probes, inspecting cooling towers and designing dosing skids; the next he is troubleshooting filtration systems or negotiating wastewater discharge limits. To stay ahead of his schedule, he deliberately "drags things as early as possible" and completes visits well before month‑end. Jake uses the iPhone Reminders app to tag tasks by site, service type and system; location triggers ensure he never forgets critical parts. He advocates automating routine reports and allowing generative AI to massage field notes into professional correspondence, provided every line is double‑checked for accuracy. Even at the end of a long day, tools such as ChatGPT help him strike the right tone in customer emails. Regulation, Training and Risk Management Jake contrasts cooling‑tower regulation in Australia with the more fragmented approach in the United States. In Victoria every tower must be registered, documented and sampled on a schedule; non‑compliance leads to fines. The risk management plan – the term used in Australia for what many Americans call a water management plan – is a comprehensive document containing details of the cooling tower, associated chillers and a unique registration number. Australian practitioners follow the AS/NZS 3666 standard, and third‑party RMP reviews and audits are annual requirements. Jake notes that an equivalent certification does not yet exist for international candidates seeking the Certified Water Technologist designation, although metric‑based exams may be under consideration. Sales, Communication and Mentorship Serving existing customers often means identifying the real decision drivers. Jake categorizes site priorities – cost reduction, profit increase, ease of use and product quality – and tailors proposals accordingly. He maintains open communication with influencers while gently probing approval limits, sometimes splitting quotes so that local managers can sign off without escalating requests. Mentorship is both a given and a goal: Hydro flow holds monthly meetings where technicians, account managers and production staff share problems and solutions, allowing juniors to benefit from seasoned expertise. Jake encourages newcomers to simply "do it" – the blend of hands‑on work, autonomy and flexibility makes industrial water treatment a rewarding career. In his lightning‑round advice he urges his younger self to be selective about commitments and to automate early. Dr. Jake Elliott demonstrates that a rigorous scientific background and a passion for efficiency translate into better service, improved compliance and happier customers. His tips on process automation, risk management and sales communication help water professionals navigate a complex landscape while maintaining work–life balance. Listen to the full conversation above. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge! Timestamps  01:14 - Trace Blackmore notes the conclusion of the 2026 AWT Technical Training (Session 1) and then shares his doctor's office story 09:15 - Words of Water with James McDonald  11:45 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals   15:32 - Introduction with Jake Elliott, PhD, Senior Account Manager at Hydro Flow  18:47 - Jake's Advice for those taking a Doctorate Degree 23:19 - How Jake came to work at Hydro Flow 44:24 - Tips from Jake   Quotes "Very happy to spend a little bit of extra time or money now to save a lot of time or money later." "If you can get some of your thoughts down and then let ChatGPT massage that into something that is good communication, again, double check it before you send it." "I would tell myself to be selective in what you say yes to … automate hard, automate early." "Autonomy, flexibility. It's really the perfect package, definitely for me and for people like me." Connect with Jake Elliott, PhD  Email: jakeelliott91@hotmail.com   Website: https://hydroflow.com.au/   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hydro-flow/   Jake Elliott | LinkedIn    Guest Resources Mentioned   AS / NZS 3666 Air-Handling and Water Systems of Buildings - Western Australia Legislation and guidelines for cooling towers and water systems - Government of Western Australia (Department of Health) ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI 12080   Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Audible audiobook) Dropbear (Paperback) by Evelyn Araluen (Author)  The Winner's Mindset Audible Logo Audible Audiobook – Unabridged Shane Watson (Author, Narrator)    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  AWT - Become Certified Google Earth Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind   Words of Water with James McDonald  Today's definition is the curved upper surface of a liquid in a tube, such as a graduated cylinder.  Can you guess the word?    2026 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE. 

This is literally the plot of The Simpsons movie. Chicago’s best morning radio show now has a podcast! Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and remember that the conversation always lives on the Q101 Facebook page. Brian & Kenzie are live every morning from 6a-10a on Q101. Subscribe to our channel HERE: https://www.youtube.com/@Q101 Like Q101 on Facebook HERE: https://www.facebook.com/q101chicago Follow Q101 on Twitter HERE: https://twitter.com/Q101Chicago Follow Q101 on Instagram HERE: https://www.instagram.com/q101chicago/?hl=en Follow Q101 on TikTok HERE: https://www.tiktok.com/@q101chicago?lang=enSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Dutch special municipality of Bonaire in the Caribbean is already experiencing dangerous heat and could see a fifth of its land disappear under rising seas by 2100. But the Netherlands is discriminating against these overseas citizens by failing to adequately reduce global warming emissions and develop adaptation plans to help them cope, according to a January 2026 Dutch court decision.   Also, poet and author Jason Allen-Paisant left his native Jamaica to gain a graduate school education and prize-winning poetry career in England and France. He now looks back with wonder at the green of Jamaica where generations of his ancestors fed and healed his family. He shares this history in his book The Possibility of Tenderness: A Jamaican Memoir of Plants and Dreams.   And urine is packed with nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen, which can be pollutants when they enter the environment unchecked. But these can also be turned into vital fertilizer to nourish our crops, and 2025 MacArthur Fellow William Tarpeh, an Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering at Stanford University, is developing methods for “refining” wastewater. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Energy efficiency utilities are critical for reducing operational costs and enhancing the sustainability of water and wastewater systems. This episode examines how treatment plants can optimize energy use while ensuring process reliability and regulatory compliance. Listeners will discover practical approaches for integrating energy management into infrastructure projects. The post Energy Efficiency in Water and Wastewater Utilities – Ep 308 appeared first on Engineering Management Institute.

In this investigative solo deep dive, Darin exposes the ongoing PFAS contamination crisis, the "forever chemicals" found in drinking water, clothing, carpets, cookware, cosmetics, food packaging, and even firefighting foam. Sparked by a Frontline investigation into the carpet industry in Dalton, Georgia, this episode expands far beyond one region and reveals a global supply chain problem affecting nearly every American. This episode is urgent. With 99% of people showing measurable PFAS levels in their blood, this is not about fear. It's about sovereignty. It's about awareness. It's about eliminating silent accumulation and reclaiming control over your environment. This is not luxury health. This is foundational freedom.     In This Episode What PFAS are and why they're called "forever chemicals" The Dalton, Georgia carpet industry case and wastewater contamination Internal corporate knowledge from 3M and DuPont decades ago Why PFAS contamination is global, not regional Everyday exposure: waterproof clothing, yoga pants, school uniforms, outdoor gear Nonstick cookware and safer alternatives Microwave popcorn bags and grease-resistant packaging Cosmetics, mascara, and fluorinated compounds Firefighting foam contamination at airports and military bases Health impacts: immune suppression, thyroid disruption, cancer risk Why water filtration is your first line of defense Emerging detox strategies: fiber, blood donation, microbiome support The role of regulation rollbacks and corporate accountability Algae-based PFAS alternatives already entering the market     Chapters 00:00:00 – Welcome to SuperLife: sovereignty, health, and responsibility 00:00:33 – Sponsor: Truniagen NAD supplement 00:02:17 – Why this PFAS episode is urgent and investigative 00:03:07 – The Frontline documentary: Dalton, Georgia & carpet contamination 00:04:31 – What PFAS / PFOA actually do and why they were adopted 00:05:45 – "Miracle chemistry" without proper safety testing 00:06:07 – Persistence: PFAS do not break down in the environment 00:06:38 – Wastewater discharge & farmland contamination 00:07:50 – Dead livestock, contaminated groundwater & generational impact 00:08:23 – 3M, DuPont, internal documents & decades of corporate knowledge 00:08:52 – Long-chain vs short-chain PFAS replacements 00:09:20 – Clothing exposure: waterproof jackets, yoga pants, uniforms 00:10:24 – Cookware exposure & safer alternatives 00:10:57 – Cosmetics & Environmental Working Group resources 00:11:17 – Sponsor: Shakeology & seven layers of quality testing 00:13:03 – Lack of labeling transparency 00:13:20 – Firefighting foam & military base contamination 00:14:05 – Health risks: immune suppression, thyroid, cholesterol, cancer 00:14:35 – 99% of Americans have PFAS in their blood 00:15:01 – Erin Brockovich & environmental legal activism 00:15:33 – Personal action step #1: Reverse osmosis water filtration 00:16:04 – Testing well water & municipal pressure 00:16:28 – Personal action step #2: Eliminating household exposures 00:17:25 – Emerging research: oat beta glucan fiber 00:18:03 – Firefighter study: blood donation lowering PFAS levels 00:18:32 – Microbiome & mycelium detox research 00:18:56 – Moving beyond fear into empowered action 00:19:23 – Phasing out toxic clothing & upgrading environment gradually 00:20:15 – Stockholm Convention & global treaties 00:20:52 – EPA regulations & rollback frustrations 00:21:19 – Innovation outrunning safety 00:21:50 – Share this episode & create consumer pressure 00:22:28 – Clean water, clean soil, clean products as human rights 00:22:54 – Terem Labs & algae-based PFAS alternatives 00:23:27 – Building a safe home environment as first step 00:24:15 – Final call to action: demand transparency & push reform     Thank You to Our Sponsors Shakeology: Get 15% off with code DARINO1BODI at Shakeology.com. Truniagen: Go to www.truniagen.com and use code DARIN20 at checkout for 20% off     Join the SuperLife Community Get Darin's deeper wellness breakdowns, beyond social media restrictions: Weekly voice notes Ingredient deep dives Wellness challenges Energy + consciousness tools Community accountability Extended episodes Join for $7.49/month → https://patreon.com/darinolien     Find More from Darin Olien: Instagram: @darinolien Podcast: SuperLife Podcast Website: superlife.com Book: Fatal Conveniences     Key Takeaway PFAS shows us what happens when innovation outruns safety. This is not about panic. It's about power. Clean water, clean soil, clean products; these are not luxuries. They are the foundation of sovereignty, freedom, and long-term health. Awareness is rising. Alternatives are emerging. Industry shifts when consumers shift. Make one change today. Then another. That's how we win.     Bibliography/Sources Australian Red Cross Lifeblood / University of New England. (2022). Effect of Plasma and Blood Donations on Levels of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Firefighters in Australia: A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2791196 Boston University / University of Massachusetts Lowell. (2024). An oat fiber intervention for reducing PFAS body burden: A pilot study. (Published in Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2024.117163 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2022). Guidance on PFAS Exposure, Testing, and Clinical Follow-Up. https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/26156/guidance-on-pfas-exposure-testing-and-clinical-follow-up Environmental Health Perspectives. (2021). Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Toxicity and Human Health Review: Current State of Knowledge and Strategies for Informing Future Research. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7906952/ New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) / IARC. (2024). Carcinogenicity of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS). https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2401611 FRONTLINE. (2024). Contaminated: The Carpet Industry's Toxic Legacy. (Investigative Documentary). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_j66vAunXk United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2024). Final PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation. https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas