The Nature Conservancy

waste(d)water

Science EN ↓ 7 episodes

Waste(d)water, a groundbreaking podcast from The Nature Conservancy, exposes one of the world's dirtiest secrets: wastewater pollution. Eighty percent of global wastewater enters our waterways without adequate treatment, taking a toll on both human and ecological health. In this series, we invite experts from across disciplines and geographies to unpack this complex challenge and share real-world solutions. From resource recovery to community engagement to green infrastructure, we can reshape how we perceive and manage wastewater.

Author

The Nature Conservancy

Episodes

7. Why aren't we collaborating? Silos, sewage & solutions 18.11.2025 32:14

Why are public health and ecological health protection efforts so siloed – and do cross-sector wastewater management solutions exist? In this episode of The Nature Conservancy’s waste(d)water podcast, host Sydney Bezanson explores how WASH and conservation sectors can collaborate on wastewater management for the health of both people and nature. Experts share insights on enabling conditions, finan...

6. Making the case for nature-based wastewater solutions (featuring Reef Exchanges) 23.10.2025 30:58

Can green infrastructure play a vital role in improving wastewater management solutions? In this segment of the waste(d)water podcast, we feature a special episode from Reef Exchanges , a podcast produced by The Nature Conservancy’s Reef Resilience Network. Each edition of Reef Exchanges features an in-depth discussion around the latest developments in marine science and management, linking strate...

5. Liquid assets: The rise of recycled water 25.09.2025 34:51

Could wastewater become our most valuable water source? In this episode of The Nature Conservancy’s waste(d)water podcast, host Kassie Morton explores how Florida is leading the way in recycling wastewater to combat water scarcity, protect ecosystems, and support agriculture. Featuring insights from experts in utilities, conservation, and agriculture, guests Lynn Spivey, Kerry Kates and Garrett Wa...

4. Burden or benefit? Recovering resources from wastewater 10.09.2025 51:38

Could the waste we flush power our homes and grow our food? In this episode of The Nature Conservancy’s waste(d)water podcast, host Kassie Morton explores the surprising potential of domestic wastewater and how biosolids and biogas can transform pollution into renewable energy, sustainable fertilizer, and climate solutions. From cutting-edge tech like the NEWgenerator to community-led models in Ha...

3. The price of pollution: Wastewater's surprising drain on the economy 27.08.2025 24:34

Untreated wastewater isn’t just an environmental crisis — it’s an economic one. In this episode of The Nature Conservancy’s waste(d)water podcast, host Kassie Morton learns from experts Jasmine Fournier from the Ocean Sewage Alliance, Shivangi Jain from Economist Impact, and Lindsay Stradley from Fresh Life, as they unpack the hidden financial toll of wastewater pollution across fisheries, agricul...

2. Dilution may not be the solution: The global footprint of wastewater pollution 21.07.2025 36:12

Where does our wastewater really go — and what is it doing to our oceans? In this episode of The Nature Conservancy’s waste(d)water podcast, host Kassie Morton speaks with Dr. Ben Halpern and Dr. Cascade Tuholske about their groundbreaking global model that maps nutrient and pathogen pollution from human waste for over 135,000 watersheds. Discover how 25 of these watersheds contribute nearly half...

1. Past the point of no return? Stories of impact & resilience 20.07.2025 48:08

Can ecosystems damaged from wastewater pollution bounce back? In this episode of The Nature Conservancy’s waste(d)water podcast, host Kassie Morton explores the ecological toll of untreated wastewater on coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and coastal habitats — and the inspiring stories of recovery. Featuring insights from Dr. Marcus Beck and Dr. Amy Zimmer-Faust, the episode highlights how science, c...