The WQA Podcast

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast. https://wqa.org. In this episode of the WQA Podcast, we’ll hear from WQA and WQRF CEO Pauli Undesser as she describes her experience as a TEDx Folsom speaker. We'll dive into her topic of “smart water” vs. “dumb water,” and why she believes collaboration across the entire water industry is more important than ever. We also talk about what’s next fo...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast. https://wqa.org. In this episode, we’ll hear from WQA President Mike Mitchell at the recent WQA Mid-Year Leadership Conference. WQA’s Associate Director of Marketing & Communications handles the interview. Mike shares insights from the Mid-Year Leadership Conference and reflects on the first half of his presidency. A key theme of his term is influe...

💡 Where does the water treatment industry stand today? In this episode, we break down the WQA Manufacturer Confidence Report — revealing key trends, surprising insights, and the biggest challenge every manufacturer must prepare for. The latest survey reflects cautious optimism among water treatment manufacturers. We discuss what it really means, how capital expenditure trends reveal a strong push...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast. Learn more about WQA at https://wqa.org. In this episode of the WQA Podcast, we’re talking contract law made simple with Mike Sennett, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel at WQA. You’ll learn why it’s critical to understand pricing and payment terms, how contract length and renewal clauses can impact your bottom line, and why a clear return pol...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast. Learn more at https://wqa.org. WQA is the leading voice of the residential, commercial and industrial water treatment industry. In this episode, we’ll explore key takeaways from ACE25, the annual conference and expo of the American Water Works Association. Joining us are WQA CEO Pauli Undesser and Technical Affairs Director Eric Yeggy. We’ll discus...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast. WQA is the leading voice of the residential, commercial and industrial water treatment industry. Find us at https://wqa.org. This episode is sponsored by Corro-Protec powered anode rods for water heaters. With a 20-year warranty, Corro-Protec eliminates sulfur smell in hot water within 24 hours and prevents tank corrosion without any maintenance. A...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast. Learn more about WQA at https://wqa.org. In this episode, we talk with Jill Gasienica, WQA's External Affairs Coordinator, about the WQA Mentorship Program. We’’ hear about the program's evolution, structure, and the benefits it offers to both mentees and mentors. We also highlight the importance of networking, personal and professional development...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast. Learn more about WQA at https://wqa.org. In this episode, we feature a follow up to a presentation about innovation at the 2025 WQA Convention & Expo in Long Beach California. You’ll hear from Rory Sherman with WQA Member Company Clean Water Guys, high schooler Jaxton Gillette and WQA External Affairs Coordinator Jill Gasienica, who helped us bring...

Welcome to the WQA Podcast. Learn more at https://wqa.org. In this episode, we hear from Morton Salt's Senior Chemist Matt Mutehart, who walks us through the science of salt and water softening. Matt discusses what happens when salt “mushes” or “bridges” in a softener tank, what are the signs of potential trouble with a softener, and what changes there might be for salt in the coming years. This e...

The latest episode of the WQA Podcast features a comprehensive update on government affairs with Paige O’Malley, WQA's Government Affairs Manager. O’Malley outlines WQA’s current advocacy priorities, ranging from the federal Healthy H2O Act to major regulatory developments at the state level, including licensing, water quality initiatives, and proposed water softener restrictions. She also recaps...

In this episode of the WQA Podcast, we present remarks from Lifetime Member Award recipient Bob Boerner and Hall of Fame award honoree DJ Shannahan. Both men were honored at the 2025 WQA Convention & Expo in Long Beach California. You’ll hear Bob and DJ introduced by WQA 2024-25 President Judd Larned along with a brief introductory video about their journey and career in the water treatment indust...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast. Learn more at https://wqa.org. In this episode, WQA’s Associate Marketing & Communications Director Susan Keaton sits down with newly installed WQA President Mike Mitchell, Director of Engineering at Helen of Troy. You’ll hear how Mike first got involved with WQA following the Flint, Michigan, water crisis, what makes him unique among past WQA Pres...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association podcast, promoting the betterment of Water Quality around the world. Find us at https://wqa.org. In this episode, our guest is WQA’s Susan Keaton. Hold on for an informative conversation about the important information attendees need to know and utilize to make the most of the Convention, including how to use the all-important WQA App, what’s new at this ye...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast. In this episode we get an in-depth look at how to treat Iron in drinking water. Our guest is Richard Mest with AO Smith. Richard will be presenting at two education sessions about Iron Contamination Insights at the WQA Convention & Expo in Long Beach California April 22-24, 2025. We’ll talk about the variables when treating iron in water, why there...

In this podcast we’ll talk about Education sessions at the WQA Convention & Expo with Dr. Tanya Lubner, WQA’s Professional Certification & Training Director, and Certified Water Specialist Jennifer Smith with Resintech Inc. We’ll discuss the many educational offerings available for attendees, including technical and business sessions. We’ll talk about which track or level to choose, and we'll have...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast. In this episode, we’ll talk about the Hydropitch Challenge at the upcoming 2025 WQA Convention & Expo, with WQAs Vice President for Innovation and Technology Jonathan Adams and Karen Frost, Vice President for Economic Development & Innovation at The Water Council. We’ll discuss the purpose of the Challenge, how the participants were selected, what...

This episode provides an in-depth overview of the upcoming WQA convention in 2025, highlighting the new venue in Long Beach, California, and the innovative changes being implemented. Angie Silberhorn, WQA's events director, discusses the value of the convention for all levels of professionals in the water treatment industry, the vibrant new branding, and the educational content focused on innovati...

Welcome to the weekly podcast from the Water Quality Association, the leading voice of the residential, commercial and industrial water treatment community. Find us at https://wqa.org. In this episode we feature an entertaining and informative conversation with Culligan dealer and former WQA President C.R. Hall. C.R. shares his journey from growing up in the water treatment business to expanding i...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast. Find out more about WQA at https://wqa.org. In this episode, we feature our annual contaminant predictions podcast. We go to the expert, WQA Technical Affairs Director Eric Yeggy for his yearly outlook on the contaminants, trends and issues facing the water treatment industry in the coming year. We look at last year’s predictions, what’s surprised...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association podcast. Learn more about WQA at https://wqa.org. In this podcast we feature another of our interviews with legacy members of the Water Quality Association. We’re joined by John Packard, chair of Packard Culligan, past WQA president, 1999 Key Award recipient and 2003 WQA Hall of Fame honoree, along with son Derek Packard, president and CEO of Packard Cullig...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association podcast, from WQA, the leading voice of the residential, commercial and industrial water treatment community. Find us at https://wqa.org. In this podcast we feature highlights from a recent WQA Government Affairs Report about the 2024 elections in the United States. We look at what the upcoming changes could mean for the water treatment industry from both a...

As we look reflect on the rich 50-year history of WQA, we wanted to feature some of the past remarks from WQA’s Chief Executive Officer Pauli Undesser at the WQA Convention & Exposition. We’ll highlight segments from 2019, 2021, 2022 and this past convention in Orlando 2024. You’ll be inspired, challenged and encouraged from Pauli’s comments. Later we’ll have our WQA Tip. Learn more at https://wqa...

Welcome to the WQA Podcast, the weekly podcast from the Water Quality Association. Learn more at https://wqa.org. Our guest on the WQA Podcast is Frank DeSilva, Technical Advisor for Resintech and immediate past president of the Pacific Water Quality Association. Frank touches on some very informative topics, including his journey in water treatment, a basic understanding of Ion Exchange technolog...

Welcome to the Water Quality Association Podcast, the weekly podcast from the leading voice of the water treatment industry. Learn more at https://wqa.org. In this episode we feature a conversation with WQA’s government Affairs director Jeremy Pollack as we update you on the Lead and Copper Rule improvements and their impact on drinking water systems across the country and on the water treatment i...

Welcome to the weekly podcast from the Water Quality Association. Learn more at https://wqa.org. In this episode of the Water Quality Association podcast, WQA’s Susan Keaton speaks with WQA President Judd Larned about his role in the water treatment industry and WQA. Judd shares his experiences and highlights from his presidency, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the industry and the need fo...