Water Values Podcast

Long-time water lawyer Scott Slater discusses the Cadiz water project and touches on everything from environmental issues to water equity to efficient use of infrastructure. Take a listen to gain a unique perspective on the development of a water project and how it impacts society in general. In this session, you’ll learn about:   Scott’s long tenure as a California water lawyer The background of...

Christine Boyle returns after 5 years and discusses her journey from 2015 start-up to 2018 sale. She provides hints and valuable insights for start-ups to make it through the “valley of death” and much more. Plus, Bluefield Research’s President, Reese Tisdale, joins us for another Bluefield on Tap segment talking about President Biden’s infrastructure bill. In this session, you’ll learn about: Chr...

Patrick Regan provides a broad and deep discussion of water’s place in the power industry. This interview was recorded prior to the Texas disaster, but Patrick’s insights provide a glimpse into the role water played in Texas’ recent power issues. Take this opportunity to listen in on this important but oftentimes hidden aspect of water in our lives. In this session, you’ll learn about: Patrick’s 2...

Welcome Ramboll’s Bryan Arndt who discusses innovation in the wastewater space and details the importance of microscopy in wastewater treatment plant operations. Bryan also explains his innovation, Opseyes, that reduces microscopy reads from a 3 day turnaround time to less than 10 minutes. Plus, Reese Tisdale from Bluefield Research joins us for another Bluefield on Tap segment talking about the d...

Jennifer Walker, the Deputy Director for the National Wildlife Federation’s Texas Coast and Water Program, provides a terrific discussion about urban water planning through a One Water lens and focuses on the connection between One Water and healthy waterways. It’s a great listen for those interested in their community’s water resources! In this session, you’ll learn about:   Why urban water plann...

Clara Nagy McBane provides a top shelf interview discussing SOURCE’s distributed water solution. Clara does a terrific job describing SOURCE’s technology in an accessible way for the non-technical among us. Plus, Reese Tisdale provides an update on the Biden administration’s action on the lead and copper rule on our Bluefield on Tap segment. Take a listen! In this session, you’ll learn about:   Th...

LatAm water veteran Shimon Constante provides great insights into the LatAm water markets, their history, and how they developed. Shimon also focuses on and explains the recent Brazilian water legislation and the opportunities it presents for investors. Tune in to hear a fascinating discussion of LatAm water! In this session, you’ll learn about:   Broad overview of the LatAm water markets The uniq...

Sam Schatz of AeroFarms pulls back the curtain on water use in vertical farming. Sam discusses water quality issues, filtration, conservation, and crop water intensity, among other issues. Sam also delves into other considerations in vertical farming, including energy and other factors. Plus, Reese Tisdale from Bluefield Research provides his look back at water in 2020 and a peek ahead at the wate...

An all-star panel of water experts discusses what happened with water in 2020 and provides a glimpse into what they expect 2021 will look like. Cathy Bailey, Executive Director of the Greater Cincinnati Department of Waterworks, Al Cho, Vice President and General Manager at Xylem, and Debra Coy, Executive in Residence at XPV Water Partners, collaborate to provide you with their insights into the w...

Alan Heymann returns as a guest in a different role. Alan launched Peaceful Direction where he provides executive coaching services. During this interview, Alan makes the case that coaching can benefit water leaders, especially with all the uncertainty in the world today. In this session, you’ll learn about:   Why Alan left the water sector to become a coach What coaching is How coaching works in...

Kristina Ribellia is a water entrepreneur who identified a need and created the solution. Take a listen to her interview explaining how she came to the water sector, recognized a need, and built the solution. In this session, you’ll learn about:   Kristina’s background How Kristina’s time in the water sector allowed her to recognize the need for a more efficient system of water rights transfers in...

Ari Goldfarb, the CEO of Kando, discusses the use of data in wastewater treatment. By harvesting data on wastewater quality, wastewater treatment systems can be operated and managed more efficiently. In this session, you’ll learn about:   The background on Kando How data on wastewater quality improves the treatment process How measuring data helps change behavior of customers How the Kando system...

Kim Baker, Director of Innovation, Water, at Elemental Excelerator, pulls back the curtain on fostering innovation in the water and other climate verticals at Elemental Excelerator. Kim nimbly moves from topic to topic and illustrates how water innovators can be even more powerful when partnering with other climate innovators. In this session, you’ll learn about:   The background and mission of El...

Chris Moody, a lead on the American Water Works Association’s (AWWA) PFAS team, provides a wide-ranging interview on PFAS. Chris succinctly describes the background on PFAS all the way through its existing regulatory status and what comes next. In this session, you’ll learn about: The background on PFAS Common uses for PFAS The regulatory framework for drinking water standards State regulation of...

WaterSmart Software’s Dana Haasz provides a riveting discussion of how WaterSmart Software has evolved over the last six years. Dana has held a wide variety of roles in the water sector, and that experience shines through in this terrific interview. In this session, you’ll learn about:   How utilities shifted their conservation efforts from a customer service focus to a water resources planning fo...

Jim Schlaman, Black & Veatch’s Director of Planning and Water Resources, provides a fascinating peek behind the curtain on the latest thinking on climate change planning and adaptation. In this session, you’ll learn about: The current state of climate change adaption and resilience planning Why climate change planning is not a theoretical conversation anymore Why coastal utilities are on the f...

Rich Razgaitis, founder of FloWater, details his mission to eliminate single-use plastics and drive consumers back to the tap for their drinking water. In this session, you’ll learn about: How Rich’s background in pharmaceuticals influenced his career arc from delivering treatment to proactively engaging in prevention in the health and wellness space Rich’s mission and vision to put an end to sing...

Kathryn Sorensen, Director of Phoenix Water, provides a riveting discussion of water equity in Phoenix, including rate design and customer base considerations, and she also describes an innovative water storage and sharing arrangement between Phoenix and Tuscon. Plus, Reese Tisdale of Bluefield Research comes on for another Bluefield on Tap segment to discuss the latest developments in the market....

Cynthia Koehler, Executive Director of WaterNow Alliance, provides a great and energetic interview discussing WaterNow Alliance and its new program Tap Into Resilience. Cynthia’s reservoir of knowledge shines in this great interview that has something for everyone. Plus, Eric Bindler of Bluefield Research comes on for another Bluefield on Tap segment before our summer hiatus. Next episode drops th...

David Duncan of Smart Earth Technologies provides a fascinating discussion of pre-paid water and the multitude of benefits it can offer utilities. You’ll never think about pre-paid water the same after hearing this riveting interview. In this session, you’ll learn about:   Dave’s background in technology and utility deployment of technology How pre-paid water works Why pre-paid water provides util...

Albert Cho, Vice President and General Manager at Xylem, provides an insightful look at how digital technologies enhance the operational and financial resilience of utilities. Al discusses the benefits digitally enabled utilities have realized during the pandemic, provides examples of how utilities have gained financial efficiencies in the pre-pandemic deployment of capital and how those examples...

Waterworks Fund CEO Lon Johnson relates his vision of creating a network of water investors and crowdfunding for water projects. Lon describes crowdfunding eligibility for project types, investment types and limitations, and much more in this great interview! Plus, Reese Tisdale joins us for another Bluefield on Tap segment where he identifies a unique and growing aspect of the water sector. In th...

Greg Quist, CEO of SmartCover Systems, listened to his customers 15 years ago and developed a highly successful smart sewer solution. Greg joins us do discuss how the SmartCover technology works, his thoughts on change in the utility industry, listening to customers, developing enhancements to the core produce, and much more. In this session, you’ll learn about:   How SmartCover Systems was born W...

Jim Williams, the sitting AWWA President, provides an illuminating interview on the utility response to COVID-19 and what the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic will be. Jim addresses the basics for how utilities have responded to the pandemic, and also dives into federal legislative efforts, financial fallout and much more in a great interview. Reese Tisdale also comes on for another Blue...

Austin Thompson of the University of North Carolina’s Environmental Finance Center joins us to discuss challenges with and innovations in small utility systems. Austin tackles the primary issues and challenges faced by smaller systems and informs us of some innovations taking place in smaller systems that are making a positive impact. In this session, you’ll learn about: The primary challenges sma...