The Water Drop

Welcome to The Water Drop Podcast .  I’m your host Alexa Bertola. In today's episode we're talking with Nina Tarantino, Human Resources Administrator at Padre Dam.  Nina is extremely passionate about her role at Padre Dam and has endless amounts of information to share. We’re talking careers in the water industry, workforce trends, and what makes working in public service so rewarding. I...

Welcome back to the show. In today's episode, we're talking with Adelina Sanchez, an Engineer at Padre Dam Municipal Water District where she works on critical reservoir projects that help store, manage, and protect one of our most valuable resources- water. We explore her journey into engineering, her work behind the scenes, and her perspective on the challenges of the water supply in C...

Welcome back to the podcast.  Today we are talking about something that every single one of us relies on daily but probably don’t think about until something goes wrong. This is our water and sewer services. When you turn on your tap, flush the toilet, or see a fire hydrant on the corner, there’s a team working behind the scenes to ensure that system is running safely and reliably- around the cloc...

It's the first episode of the new year, featuring Eric Showalter, Field Services Supervisor at Padre Dam Municipal Water District. Eric is an engaging and passionate leader who brings a unique perspective to the work happening in the field. In this episode, he shares insights into the District’s automated meter infrastructure and how new GPS data is improving efficiency. Listening in will giv...

Welcome back to the show. Today we're excited to welcome Mark Niemiec, Director of the East County AWP Program, back to the podcast for his second time on the mic. In this episode, Mark reflects on the key achievements from this past year and shares insights into what's ahead as we move into next year. It's a conversation focused on progress, momentum, and accomplishments- so let&ap...

Welcome to the show!  Today we’re joined by Leslie Payne, Customer Service Manager at Padre Dam Municipal Water District.  With 25 years of experience in the water industry, Leslie brings extensive expertise, perspective, and heart to her role. She’s built a career grounded in empathy, communication, and a true passion for serving her community.  In this episode, Leslie shares her philosophy on wh...

Hi Water Drop listeners. We have another great episode for you. This time, I’m sitting down with East County Advanced Water Purification Engineering Manager, Rebecca Abbott. If you aren’t familiar, the East County AWP Program is a water reuse project that will supply up to 30-percent of east San Diego County’s drinking water demands by turning recycled water into clean drinking water. This project...

We have Shawna Fakhouri back on the podcast. She’s the Park and Recreation Operations Administrator at Santee Lakes. This time we are talking about what’s new at the park including how Park and Recreation Month is being celebrated with some discounts and special offerings.  Shawna has been at the park for roughly 18 years so she has an abundance of knowledge to share.  She’s wears many hats at the...

This episode will provide you with a closer look into the important work of Padre Dam's laboratory staff. We will hear from Padre Dam's Lab Supervisor, Phil Stevens and QA/QC Specialist, Melissa Marques. They delve into the different testing performed and how things will look a little different once the East County Advanced Water Purification Program goes online. If you are interested in...

Padre Dam’s Director of Planning and Engineering, Lewis Clapp and Padre Dam's Engineering Manager, Michael Hindle are on the mic.  Lewis and Michael have years of experience in engineering and they are true experts in the field. They are great at their jobs and most importantly, they are passionate about their work and making a positive impact in the community.  This episode is informational...

Whether it's a stranded baby bunny or a bird caught in fishing line, wildlife rescues happen from time to time at Santee Lakes. Today we're chatting with Lake Maintenance Program Lead, Ray Bach who is well known for helping hundreds of animals over the past 12 years. In this episode, we get a glimpse into his life at the park and what led to his passion for animals. He provides tips if y...

In this episode, we talk about what’s new at Santee Lakes for the winter season. Park and Recreation Operations Administrator, Shawna Fakhouri talks about stocking the lakes, camping including how to score a discount if you’re a local, and so much more!

With the holidays around the corner, we're talking all things sewer pipelines in this episode. Padre Dam's Construction and Maintenance Crew Supervisor, Daniel Lockart explains what shouldn't go down the drain, the robotic cameras that are used to monitor sewer mains and also, the strangest thing that's been found and caused a sewer backup. 

Are you looking to switch careers? Are you just entering into the workforce? Padre Dam's Director of Human Resources and Administrative Services, Lisa Sorce is on the podcast to talk about careers in the water industry.  She delves into opportunities within our District and beyond, tips during the application process and what a career in this industry could look like for you. 

Looking to revamp your yard or replace your toilet? Padre Dam's Communications Coordinator Emma Shea is on the podcast to share some helpful tips on how to save money on your next project! 

Do you enjoy fishing and being outdoors? Santee Lakes in East San Diego County is a popular spot for locals and visitors to enjoy nature and the park's seven lakes. We talk with Cory Kading, the Director of Park and Recreation about what's in store for the park this summer and what's the vision for the park moving forward.

Ever wonder how wild animals are protected during construction projects? In this episode, we speak with Biologist, Katie Duffield of Helix Environmental Planning about this topic. She sheds light on her role with the East County Advanced Water Purification Program that's currently under construction in East San Diego County.

East San Diego County's water reuse project is under construction. The Director of the East County Advanced Water Purification Program, Mark Niemiec  covers the benefits of the project and how it came to be. He also answers some social media questions from community members about the project.

Want to hear about the biggest challenges in the water industry today? Why more and more agencies are taking recycled water and converting it into drinking water? Listen to this podcast episode! 

Welcome to The Water Drop, a podcast dedicated to all things water.  Water is one of the earth’s most precious resources and virtually everything on our planet relies on it. Here at Padre Dam Municipal Water District, we have a wealth of knowledge to share. We’re going to dive into water saving tips and tricks, and speak to our in -house industry experts and beyond, about sustainability, trends an...