Environmental Finance Center Network

This podcast features an interview with Nicole Rentz, the Director of Market Development and Policy for New Columbia Solar, a company that specializes in commercial and industrial solar energy solutions. The discussion revolves around the use of solar energy in wastewater treatment plants, covering topics like the benefits of solar, assessing feasibility, costs, financing options, technical and si...

For decades, a Community Based Organization have been stewards of the Las Curías lake in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In this Spanish-language episode, we talk with limnologist Jorge Ortíz about an outreach project developed by Syracuse University EFC in collaboration with the University of Puerto Rico. This Community Science and Stewardship project provides opportunities for collaborative learning, all...

A discussion with Carmen Guzman-Simpliciano from the community of Waianae, Oahu Hawaii on the importance of engaging communities from the beginning of a project. Carmen is the Director and cofounder of the community based organization Kingdom Pathways, and is also Capacity Collaborative's Manager for Hawaii and the Pacific Islands. Carmen is interviewed by Sarah Diefendorf (Director) and Elain...

In this episode Daryl J. Gotham, PE, Senior Research Engineer at the Great Lakes Environmental Infrastructure Center interviews Dr. Ishi Keenum of Michigan Technological University (MTU) about the surveillance of pathogens in wastewater. Ishi has Bachelor's and Master's degrees in environmental engineering and a PhD in Civil engineering. She is an Assistant Professor at MTU.

In this episode Daryl J. Gotham, PE, Senior Research Engineer at the Great Lakes Environmental Infrastructure Center interviews Jean Inman, P.E. about the benefits of cleaning and televising wastewater collection systems. Jean is a licensed professional engineer with Spicer Group of Saginaw, Michigan with over 28 years of experience with municipal wastewater collection systems and treatment plants...

In this episode Alex Radke of the Center for Technology and Training at Michigan Technological University interviews Daryl J. Gotham, PE, Senior Research Engineer at the Great Lakes Environmental Infrastructure Center about the benefits of wastewater collection system preventative maintenance. Daryl was previously the Director of the Department of Public Services for a large Michigan Township.

In this episode Daryl J. Gotham, PE, Senior Research Engineer at the Great Lakes Environmental Infrastructure Center interviews Anne Tavalire of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) about the national pretreatment program rules and implementation. Anne is a Regional Pretreatment Program Specialist with EGLE.  

In this Podcast Dawn Nall and A.J. Barney discuss their recent experience providing technical assistance as part of the EPA's "Closing America's Wastewater Access Gap" Pilot projects. They discuss what they liked about this project, how the pilot provided a unique strategy for progress, and how communities may benefit from similar future projects.

In this episode we discuss fee schedules for fats, oils, and grease (FOG) Pretreatment programs. We discuss how fee schedules can be developed to effectively enforce Pretreatment regulations and how different strategies can be used for different Pretreatment programs. We also discuss how fees can be used as more than just a form of punishment, but also as a tool to encourage and help FOG producers...

Join us for a discussion with two Regional Environmental Finance Centers (EFCs) who have the ability to provide a qualified engineer to do a preliminary engineering report (or PER) for small disadvantaged communities. Hosted by John Sullivan, PE from the Great Lakes Environmental Infrastructure Center at Michigan Technological University, the EFC in EPA Region 5.

The funding landscape is often treacherous, filled with complexities and challenges that can feel overwhelming, especially for smaller communities. Problems undoubtedly arise, from securing the right grants to fostering collaborations among various agencies. Understanding these hurdles and learning from those who are on the other side of this process can make a significant difference. Please join...

This podcast discusses the topics of power generation and heating using biogas produced during the digestion process in wastewater treatment. The focus of the discussion is the equipment required for power and heat production, related costs, and considerations related to the cost-benefit of potential heat and power projects. Presented by Tim Colling and Daryl Gotham

Join Program Associate Mike Tate as he goes through the long history of wastewater treatment.

In this podcast you will hear from Heather Himmelberger, Dawn Nall, and Mike Rivera on their perspectives of what you need to talk to your engineer about during both the planning and design phase of your project. Heather and Dawn are both engineers and Mike is a certified water and wastewater operator. They share their experiences and what they have learned by working with water systems around the...

Moonshot Missions (a partner of the EFCN) discusses the experiences they've had with the San Carlos Apache Tribe, one of the communities participating in EPA's and USDA's Closing America's Wastewater Access Gap Pilot Project. San Carlos Apache Tribe worked alongside EPA, USDA, IHS, EFCN, contractors and many others to develop a solution plan for issues they are facing with aging wa...

In this episode Dawn Nall from the Southwest Environmental Finance Center interviews Sarah Diefendorf and Elaine McCarty from the EFC West, or soon to be Capacity Collaborative, on the importance of communicating in the wastewater industry. Sarah and Elaine reflect on their vast experience focusing on community outreach and education to share what they've learned about communication in wastewa...

In this episode Dawn Nall from the Southwest Environmental Finance Center interviews Sarah Diefendorf and Elaine McCarty from the EFC West, or soon to be Capacity Collaborative, on the impact unknowns have on septic systems and the communities they influence. Septic systems are an important tool used to meet the wastewater needs of many communities and individuals that can't access centralized...

Interview City of Tucson, AZ staff: John Kmiec, Tucson Water Director; James MacAdam, Administrator, Conservation & Stormwater Resources, Tucson Water; Andrea Achilli, Associate Professor, Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Arizona (UA) and deputy director of the UA Water and Energy Sustainable Technology (WEST) Center.

Embark on an exploration of the transformative odyssey undertaken by Moonshot Missions as we delve into the origins of this innovative initiative. In this enlightening podcast, Nathan Coey articulates the genesis of Moonshot Missions and recounts his personal involvement in fostering the growth of Moonshot Missions to its present prominence.

We want our assets doing their intended function as much as possible, but how do we make that happen? One way is the concept of reliability. Reliability helps us ensure we are doing the right maintenance activities to keep our assets in proper working order as much as possible. It helps us prevent catastrophic failures and can even improve operator safety. In this podcast we are joined by George W...

In this episode, we dive into collection systems. We discuss the basic components that make-up collection systems and their objectives. Wastewater starts at your homes, then travels to the wastewater treatment plant, and we will discuss all the parts that get it there. Finally, we talk about what it takes to maintain that system and what is done to protect it. Please join us for this in-depth jour...

Severe storms and flooding can cause problems for wastewater systems whenever they occur, but these events are happening more frequently and with more intensity due to climate change. The impacts of these events on wastewater systems are not limited to more frequent flooding, power outages, and service interruptions, but also may include sewer overflows, reduced treatment effectiveness, and changi...

Justinn Overton, Executive Director Coosa WaterKeeper located in Birmingham Alabama patrols and documents the Coosa River and its tributaries from the land, water, and air, looks for pollution problems, responds to citizen complaints, researches and analyzes polluters’ permits, collects pollution samples for laboratory analysis, educates the public about the beauty of the river and threats to it,...

Dr. DeAnn Presley, PhD, a Professor of Environmental Soil Science and Management discusses how soil conditions impact different home waste systems with Tonya Bronlewee, Director at the WSU EFC.

Many communities’ wastewater treatment plants and related infrastructure are located in or near floodplains, which makes sense given how these facilities work. However, this also means that they are prone to flooding. The Town of Waterbury, Vermont experienced catastrophic flooding during Hurricane Irene in 2011, as did the rest of the state. Their wastewater pump station was inundated and rendere...