waterloop: exploring solutions: Recent Episodes
Travis Loop
A podcast helping water leaders to discover solutions and drive change. waterloop is for people who work in water at utilities, government, universities, engineering firms, technology companies, and environmental organizations. The podcast helps listeners to become more knowledgeable experts, creators of change in communities, and builders of a sustainable and equitable water future. waterloop is hosted by Travis Loop, who brings two decades of experience in journalism and water communications, including at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
A dozen years after the Flint water crisis galvanized national action on lead pipes, the United States has moved from scattered voluntary replacement efforts to a federal mandate to remove nearly all lead service lines by 2037.
Roya Alkafaji of the Environmental Defense Fund and Mason Hines of RESOLVE are members of the Lead Service Line Replacement Collaborative, a coalition of 28 national organizations formed in 2016 to accelerate replacement and share lessons from communities doing the work.
The landscape has changed dramatically since then: federal rules required utilities to inventory their service lines, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law dedicated $15 billion specifically to lead service line replacement, and the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements established the 2037 replacement deadline for most communities.
The number of publicly tracked replacement programs has also grown from 33 in 2017 to at least 270 today, while at least 20 communities have completed their programs.
The Collaborative recently recognized 16 programs and individuals for work ranging from community engagement and funding innovation to technical efficiency, including efforts in Milwaukee, Denver, Newark, Memphis, Greeley, St. Paul, Washington, D.C., and other communities.
Those examples matter because replacing the estimated four million lead service lines still in the ground will require different approaches in communities with vastly different resources, housing patterns, political environments, and infrastructure.
Alkafaji says reaching the 2037 deadline will depend heavily on three things: sustained community engagement, full replacements at no direct cost to property owners, and a local workforce large and skilled enough to do the work.
Hines points to another challenge looming as programs advance—the difficult final stretch of finding and replacing lines connected to absentee landlords, properties with uncertain records, and other hard-to-reach locations.
After a decade of building funding, regulations, inventories, and replacement programs, the next phase is increasingly about execution: applying what successful communities have learned while finding ways to reach the last lead pipes that are likely to be the hardest to remove.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Water utilities may never escape the need to triage infrastructure, but better data, design, and monitoring can reduce the constant churn of reactive responses.
In this episode, Jeff Bridge, Charis Klimas, and Brett Braganz of Oldcastle Infrastructure examine how utilities can move upstream of failure by choosing materials for the actual application, designing around workforce constraints, and verifying underground problems before committing crews and capital.
Bridge connects conveyance efficiency to both water and energy loss, explaining that deteriorated pipes force utilities to pump more treated water to deliver the same amount to customers.
He also argues that utilities increasingly need technical partners who can help match materials and products to the long-term demands of a project rather than simply supply a standard component.
Klimas explains how workforce shortages are changing infrastructure design, including the use of lighter equipment and automated meter-reading features that reduce field labor and allow staff to focus on more critical maintenance.
She also describes a broader shift from judging infrastructure mainly by upfront price toward considering durability, installation demands, maintenance needs, and total lifecycle cost.
Braganz outlines a four-stage digital approach: predict where failure is most likely, monitor and confirm the condition, plan the appropriate response, and move the work into execution.
That process can elevate a high-consequence water main serving a hospital, detect leaks before they surface, and show when an asset expected to fail is still performing well enough to remain in service.
The opportunity is to break the cycle of waiting for infrastructure to fail and then scrambling to respond—replacing guesswork with evidence, preserving assets that still work, and directing limited labor and capital where intervention will matter most.
Learn more about Oldcastle Infrastructure.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Digital systems, increasingly strengthened by artificial intelligence, are helping water utilities move from reacting to failures toward anticipating where infrastructure problems are most likely to occur.
Joshua Cantone of SUEZ explains how that shift is changing decisions about pipes, pumps, wells, treatment plants, and long-term capital investment.
Many utilities already collect large amounts of information through control systems, maintenance records, hydraulic models, and asset-management platforms.
The opportunity now is to connect those datasets and use AI-assisted analysis to identify which assets should be cleaned, repaired, rehabilitated, or replaced before they fail.
That preventive approach matters because emergency infrastructure repairs can cost two to three times more than work that is planned and coordinated in advance.
Digital planning tools can test thousands of infrastructure scenarios, helping utilities compare construction costs with the energy and operating expenses that accumulate over decades.
Cantone also argues that growing familiarity with tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Microsoft Copilot is making utility employees more comfortable with specialized AI designed for water operations.
Groundwater monitoring offers another example of the shift, with more frequent data helping operators track well performance, maintain production, and reduce the energy required for pumping.
Smart meters and digital network models are also giving utilities a clearer view of non-revenue water, which Cantone says remains near 20 to 30 percent at many U.S. utilities compared with roughly 5 to 15 percent in parts of the United Kingdom.
The next phase of digital water will depend on whether utilities can build reliable data systems—and enough operator trust—to use AI and other digital tools in everyday decisions.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Water utilities are rich in data but often struggle to turn decades of information into decisions that improve daily operations.
In this episode, Travis Wagner of Trinnex explains how utilities can connect fragmented information, preserve workforce knowledge, and introduce artificial intelligence without sacrificing accuracy or security.
Most utilities already collect extensive records through plant-control systems known as SCADA, geographic information systems, maintenance programs, and financial software.
The first step is not necessarily collecting more data, but identifying the utility’s goals and making the existing information accessible across systems.
That work is becoming more urgent as experienced operators retire and take decades of practical knowledge with them.
Operations manuals, standard procedures, and historical records can help preserve some of that expertise when they are digitized and made easier for employees to search.
Trinnex developed Raini as a utility-specific AI assistant that can answer questions about tasks such as maintaining a pump or backwashing a filter, while linking employees directly to the source document behind each response.
The system is designed to acknowledge when it cannot find an answer, while human experts test its responses and utilities update outdated procedures that the technology brings to light.
Wagner says the next generation of utility software could allow operators to request information, compare data, and generate dashboards through conversational tools, but progress should begin with clear governance, secure testing environments, and careful validation.
Learn more about Trinnex.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet.
PFAS regulation now has more moving parts, deadlines, and compliance pathways than ever, but the bottom-line advice for water utilities is simple: keep moving.
In this episode, Amanda Canida of Black & Veatch explains how utilities can navigate the regulatory complexity while advancing the treatment projects needed to meet federal drinking water standards.
Federal monitoring data indicates that roughly 10 percent of public water systems could be affected by the four-parts-per-trillion limits for PFOA and PFOS. Utilities can pursue cleaner water sources or blend supplies, but many are preparing to install treatment at a central plant or directly at an individual well.
EPA has proposed retaining the PFOA and PFOS limits while restarting the regulatory process for several other PFAS compounds and creating a streamlined exemption pathway for systems that need more time. Once that exemption rule is finalized, utilities would have 180 days to apply and may need interim measures such as temporary treatment, alternate water supplies, source-control planning, or public education.
The challenge is increasingly financial, as construction costs have risen and demand has grown for the equipment and treatment media needed to remove PFAS. Utilities are already slowing other capital projects, shifting money between priorities, and setting aside contingency funds to cover emerging treatment needs.
Canida outlines how desktop evaluations and laboratory testing can help systems compare granular activated carbon and ion exchange before committing to longer pilot studies. Utilities must also calculate when treatment needs to be operating—not merely completed—to keep their annual PFAS averages below the federal limit by April 2029.
The path forward is to pursue funding now, prepare customers for difficult decisions, and design treatment systems that can adapt as regulators address more of the thousands of PFAS compounds under review.
Learn more about PFAS from Black & Veatch.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Advanced water treatment is entering a new era. Utilities are moving beyond conventional treatment to tackle PFAS, expand water reuse, and secure new water supplies. That often means using technologies like membranes, ozone, activated carbon, and advanced filtration.
Jaime Safulko of PCL Construction explains what's driving this wave of investment and why these projects are more complex than the treatment plants of the past.
She shares lessons from the El Paso Pure Water Project, which is expected to become the nation's first direct potable reuse facility. She also highlights recycled water projects in California and new PFAS treatment facilities in Colorado that are putting advanced technologies into practice.
The conversation explores why collaboration has become just as important as the treatment technology itself. Bringing project partners together earlier helps utilities evaluate options, reduce risk, and avoid costly surprises during construction.
Looking ahead, Safulko expects water reuse to become much more common. She also sees more regional partnerships and a new generation of treatment technologies that improve efficiency while lowering energy use and operating costs.
Learn more about PCL Construction.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Water has become one of the biggest blind spots in corporate sustainability reporting, with companies measuring and disclosing water use in vastly different ways.
In this episode, Lauren Enright of SCS Global Services and Alexis Morgan of World Wildlife Fund discuss the effort to create Water Scopes 1, 2, and 3—a new framework designed to bring consistency, transparency, and accountability to how organizations understand and report water impacts across their operations, energy use, and supply chains.
They explain why water is fundamentally different from carbon, why supply chains often account for the vast majority of a company\'s water footprint, and how growing scrutiny of data centers, manufacturing, agriculture, and other industries is exposing the need for a common language around water stewardship.
The conversation explores the role of investors, communities, NGOs, and regulators in driving better water accountability, as well as how the framework could influence future reporting standards and disclosure requirements.
Looking ahead, Enright and Morgan envision a future where companies have a clearer understanding of their water risks and dependencies—and where better information leads to better decisions for watersheds, communities, and businesses alike.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Loudoun County, Virginia is known as Data Center Alley, the longtime epicenter of the data center industry and home to one of the world's largest concentrations of digital infrastructure.
As communities across the country debate the impact of data centers on water resources, Loudoun Water offers a rare look at what happens when a utility has decades of experience planning for and serving the industry.
The episode features conversations with utility leaders Brian Carnes, Alton Echols, and Mark Peterson, who discuss water impacts, management processes, and advice for other systems.
Despite the presence of more than 200 data centers, the utility says the sector currently accounts for about 15% of its total water use, supported by significant treatment capacity and a growing reclaimed water program.
Today, roughly 40 data centers are cooled with highly treated reclaimed water instead of drinking water, using about 700 million gallons annually. The approach helps reduce nutrient loads to the Chesapeake Bay while providing data centers with a lower-cost and more resilient water supply.
Loudoun Water says growth-related infrastructure is paid for by new customers, while detailed monitoring helps the utility understand water demand, wastewater flows, and operational impacts.
At the same time, utility leaders emphasize that Loudoun's experience is not necessarily transferable elsewhere. Its extensive infrastructure, reclaimed water network, available supplies, and long history with the data center industry make it a unique case study as utilities nationwide navigate the rapid growth of AI and digital infrastructure.
This episode is sponsored by SewerAI. From inspection to rehabilitation, SewerAI provides the tools you need to manage your entire sewer infrastructure.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
The impact of data centers is currently one of the most discussed issues in water. In this episode, Will Hewes, Water Sustainability Lead for Amazon, shares how one of the world's largest data center operators is managing water use, responding to growing public scrutiny, and working to reduce its impact on local water resources.
Hewes discusses Amazon's newly released water report, which details company-wide water use, reports a 52% improvement in water efficiency over four years, and shows progress toward its goal of becoming water positive by 2030, with the company now 75% of the way there. He explains Amazon's investments in recycled water infrastructure, including a plan to expand the use of reclaimed water from 26 facilities to 130, supported by more than $1 billion in infrastructure funding.
The discussion also explores water replenishment projects ranging from leak reduction in Mexico City's water system to affordable housing water-efficiency programs in Northern Virginia. Hewes shares how local water assessments, utility partnerships, and watershed-specific strategies shape decisions about data center development and operations.
It's a detailed look at how one of the world's largest technology companies is approaching the challenge of balancing digital growth with long-term water stewardship.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainabiity.
A landmark new report from the American Water Works Association estimates the United States will need between $2.1 and $2.4 trillion in drinking water infrastructure investment over the next 25 years—and the funding gap is widening fast.
In this episode, the findings of Beyond The Replacement Era are explained by Mike Grimm of West Slope Water District, Heather Collins of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Janet Clements of One Water Econ, John Mastracchio of Raftelis, and Adam Carpenter of AWWA.
The report identifies a structural shift in water sector costs, with utilities now navigating compounding pressures from PFAS and lead regulations, climate resilience, cybersecurity, and increasingly scarce water sources—not just aging pipes.
Without new investment strategies, the average household water bill could more than double by 2050, potentially pushing over 53 million households into financial stress.
Federal funding for water infrastructure lags far behind other sectors like transportation, covering just 3.9 percent of public spending—a disparity the guests argue must change.
Solutions discussed include expanding federal and state partnerships, consolidating fragmented small utilities to capture economies of scale, and developing dedicated affordability assistance programs to protect vulnerable households.
Read the report.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
The rivers of Washington, D.C. are becoming living laboratories for the future of urban water stewardship, with Xylem and the Reservoir Center helping launch a new real-time water quality monitoring network across the Potomac, Anacostia, and Shenandoah rivers.
In this episode, guests Nicole Horvath of the Reservoir Center, Trey Sherard of Anacostia Riverkeeper, Olympic rower Aquil Abdullah, and Lynn Coffey of Living Classrooms discuss how technology, recreation, education, and environmental restoration are converging around these waterways.
They discuss how Xylem’s monitoring equipment and the public dashboard are providing communities with information on water temperature, bacteria, chloride, turbidity, algae, and more — helping paddlers, anglers, educators, scientists, and residents better understand their local waterways.
The episode also examines how nonprofits, watershed groups, and community organizations are partnering with Xylem and the Reservoir Center to expand access to water quality information and create a long-term record of environmental change in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
From rowing on the Potomac to teaching students on Kingman Island, the discussion centers on a powerful idea: healthier rivers depend on informed communities, collaborative partnerships, and better tools to understand the water flowing through our cities.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
America’s drinking water infrastructure depends on more than 2 million miles of pipe buried beneath streets and communities across the country.
In this episode of How Water Works, Jeff Mason leads a tour inside the U.S. Pipe foundry in Alabama to show how ductile iron pipe is manufactured — from recycled scrap metal to critical underground infrastructure. The episode follows the intense process of melting old cars, appliances, and industrial metal into pipe engineered to last for generations and withstand earthquakes, floods, and decades of pressure underground.
It also explores overlooked sustainability stories inside heavy industry, including industrial water reuse systems, emissions reductions through electric induction furnaces, and how more than 90% recycled material becomes essential infrastructure. Along the way, Mason explains the chemistry, testing, coatings, and cement linings that help ensure drinking water remains safe and reliable as it moves through these systems.
From molten iron hotter than lava to finished pipe headed everywhere from Manhattan to small-town America, the story pulls back the curtain on one of the most important — and invisible — parts of how water works.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions.
Water utilities are quietly strengthening the “immune system” of our water infrastructure, using compliance programs and technology to prevent pollution, protect drinking water, and reduce sewer overflows before they happen.
In this episode, Mick O’Dwyer of SwiftComply shares how his journey from wastewater engineer in Dublin to tech founder led to building software that modernizes programs for backflow, pretreatment, and FOG (fats, oils, and grease).
He explains how outdated, paper-heavy systems—once generating hundreds of thousands of documents—are being replaced with digital workflows that free up inspectors to focus on real environmental outcomes.
The conversation highlights how improving compliance isn’t about enforcement alone, but about making it easier for businesses that want to do the right thing through better communication and smarter systems. Utilities are already seeing results: higher inspection rates, fewer sewer overflows, and stronger protection of infrastructure and waterways.
With aging infrastructure, workforce turnover, and new regulatory pressures mounting, O’Dwyer points to a future where data and AI enable predictive compliance—identifying risks before failures occur. The goal: less reactive firefighting, more proactive protection of communities and the environment.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
More than 2 million people in the United States live without running water or a working toilet—and the true number could be far higher. It’s a crisis hidden in plain sight, affecting communities from tribal lands and rural Appalachia to border colonias and even neighborhoods just beyond city infrastructure.
In this episode, Kabir Thatte of the Vessel Collective announces a new national roadmap aimed at closing that gap.
Thatte outlines the scale of the issue—families hauling water, unreliable or unaffordable service for tens of millions more, and billions in economic losses tied to inaction. He also explains why the gap has persisted: limited public awareness, fragmented government investment, and a lack of coordinated support for communities trying to build and maintain water systems.
Thatte says the roadmap sets a clear target: universal access to water and sanitation in the U.S. by 2040. It organizes more than 50 strategies into three pillars—visibility, government commitment, and capacity—focused on building public awareness, aligning federal and state action, expanding funding, and strengthening workforce and technical support.
The roadmap is being released as the Vessel Collective convenes water organizations in Washington, D.C., aiming to energize the sector and urge decision makers to accelerate action on water for all.
The conversation also details how progress will be tracked, from near-term coordination and policy movement to long-term systems change, with a central question guiding the effort: are fewer Americans living without water each year?
Read the roadmap
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Nanobubbles—microscopic pockets of gas invisible to the human eye—are emerging as a powerful tool to improve water treatment and management.
In this episode of How Water Works, Travis Loop visits Moleaer Inc. in Los Angeles to break down how nanobubbles work and why they’re gaining traction across industries.
Thousands of times smaller than a grain of salt, nanobubbles don’t rise and burst like ordinary bubbles—they remain suspended for months, increasing dissolved oxygen and enhancing biological activity in water.
Inside the lab, experiments show how these charged particles scatter light, stabilize gases, and attract contaminants—helping water become clearer and cleaner.
The impact is already showing up in the field.
➡️ Through collaborations with Xylem, U.S. wastewater utilities are reducing ammonia and cutting aeration energy.
➡️ In South America, greenhouses are lowering chemical use while increasing yields.
➡️ Nordic aquaculture operations are improving fish survival.
➡️ In California\'s Lake Elsinore, the technology has helped control harmful algal blooms, reopening the lake for recreation and driving renewed economic activity.
Still early in its adoption, nanobubble technology is moving quickly from experimentation to real-world deployment—offering a lower-energy, lower-chemical approach to treating and managing water.
Watch the episode on YouTube
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
A group of top water experts is challenging one of the core assumptions behind U.S. drinking water policy—that chasing ever-smaller traces of contaminants is the best way to protect public health—and instead calling for a fundamental shift toward fixing pipes, strengthening systems, and prioritizing the risks that actually matter most.
In this episode, members of the Water Health Advisory Council lay out a bold path forward through their new book Safe Drinking Water Act: The Next Fifty Years.
The group—bringing decades of experience across policy, science, and utility leadership—argues the next era must shift from a “regulatory treadmill” to prioritizing real-world risks like failing pipes, workforce gaps, and system resilience. Their Madison Declaration calls for science-based risk prioritization, stronger governance, and treating safe water as a human right, with equity at the center of decision-making.
The conversation highlights how public trust is eroding—not because water is less safe, but because communication tools like consumer confidence reports often confuse rather than inform.
It also makes the case for major structural changes, including utility consolidation to improve performance, smarter investment in infrastructure over ever-lower contaminant thresholds, and aligning funding with actual public health outcomes.
At its core, the message is clear: the next 50 years of drinking water policy won’t be solved by chemistry alone—it will require rethinking how systems are governed, funded, and trusted by the public.
Learn more about the book.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Estuaries—places where rivers meet the ocean—are some of the most important ecosystems in the United States, supporting coastal economies, protecting communities, and serving as nurseries for much of the nation’s seafood.
In this episode from the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C., Daniel Hayden, CEO of Restore America\'s Estuaries, explains why these places—from Chesapeake Bay to Puget Sound – are essential to nature, the economy, and people.
Hayden highlights collaborative restoration efforts across the country, including eelgrass recovery in Morro Bay, oyster shell recycling programs in Gulf Coast communities, and wetland restoration projects led by tribal partners along Long Island Sound. The conversation also explores how restoring abandoned cranberry bogs in New England is reconnecting wetlands to nearby estuaries and bringing native ecosystems back to life.
Along the way, Hayden explains how partnerships with federal agencies, nonprofits, and local communities are driving long-term progress—showing that with sustained investment and collaboration, damaged waterways can recover and once-polluted urban rivers can become vibrant places for people and wildlife again.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring sustainability in water.
Water is emerging as a defining factor in U.S. economic growth and national security—from where data centers and energy projects can scale to how communities absorb the rising costs of floods, droughts, and insurance risk.
In response, a new Aspen National Water Strategy has been released, laying out a plan to rethink how the country manages water. This episode is a conversation with the co-leads for developing the strategy, Martin Doyle of Duke University and Newsha Ajami of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Their central argument is a shift in framing: water is not just an environmental or local utility issue—it’s a core economic input and a strategic asset. The discussion explores how that plays out today, from AI and energy demands tied to water availability to insurers effectively redrawing the map of risk across the country. It also gets into what’s holding the system back, including fragmented governance, outdated infrastructure models, and policies that don’t align with how water actually moves through watersheds.
The strategy outlines priorities including governing for outcomes instead of process, investing in rural landscapes that underpin national water supply, and expanding infrastructure to include natural systems, data, and people.
Doyle and Ajami also highlight the need to remove barriers to adopting solutions that already exist, and to rethink financing and business models so innovation can scale.
It’s a clear-eyed look at how water is shaping the economy and risk landscape today—and what it will take to treat it as the national priority it has become.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
A download from Davos reveals how water is rising on the global agenda — with business leaders, governments, and NGOs increasingly recognizing it as a critical climate and economic risk.
In this episode, Jason Morrison, president of the Pacific Institute, shares insights from the World Economic Forum gathering this past January, where conversations about water resilience are reaching CEOs, prime ministers, and top decision-makers.
He explains how initiatives like the CEO Water Mandate and the Water Resilience Coalition are mobilizing major corporations to tackle water challenges collectively across stressed basins worldwide.
The discussion highlights real-world efforts underway in places like California and the Mississippi River basin, where companies are investing in projects such as groundwater recharge, watershed restoration, and improved water efficiency.
Morrison also describes how new data tools, satellite monitoring, and collaborative basin-scale strategies are helping track measurable progress.
The key takeaway from Davos: the water sector doesn’t need more pledges — it needs execution, scaling proven solutions that can deliver meaningful impact on the ground.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
The water sector is in the middle of a major transition, as decades-old challenges collide with powerful new technologies, workforce shifts, and rising public expectations.
In this episode, Ralph Exton, Executive Director of the Water Environment Federation, unpacks how a nearly century-old organization is working to steer global water strategy. He breaks down WEF’s three-pillar roadmap—building water communities, advancing workforce development, and leading circularity.
The conversation from the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C. also dives into the water–AI nexus, from the growing pressure data centers place on stressed watersheds to the launch of a new Center of Excellence designed to cut through misinformation and align utilities, regulators, and hyperscalers.
Ralph discusses the move toward a circular water economy, including the recovery of resources from wastewater. The discussion closes with a look at workforce development, from managing a wave of retirements across the industry to training the next generation.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
California’s water system was built for a wetter century—and now the state is racing to turn wastewater into a reliable part of its supply portfolio. In this episode, Joaquin Esquivel, chair of the California State Water Resources Control Board, breaks down where water reuse fits in California’s long-term strategy, and what it will take to scale it safely and affordably.
The conversation spans the state’s role as both regulator and funder, including the adoption of direct potable reuse regulations, the safeguards designed to protect public health, and the need for “regulatory certainty” that helps projects move from concept to construction.
Esquivel also shares the numbers behind California’s current reuse footprint—roughly 750,000 to 800,000 acre-feet annually—and the state’s goals to expand that supply in the coming decades while balancing discharges needed for instream flows. The episode tackles the “yuck factor” head-on, explaining why monitoring, testing, and transparent communication are essential to maintaining trust as systems move toward direct connections.
And it spotlights a looming constraint few people see coming: a major wave of retirements that could reshape the water workforce just as advanced treatment becomes the new normal.
This episode is part of The Golden State of Reuse, a series exploring the past, present, and future of water recycling across California.
The series is a collaboration with WateReuse California and sponsored by CDM Smith.
The series is also supported by the Sacramento Area Sewer District, Black & Veatch, and Monterey One Water.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
In Sacramento, the shift to viewing wastewater as a critical resource is transforming regional water security and ecological health.
In this episode, Christoph Dobson, General Manager of Sacramento Area Sewer District, explains how the landmark $1.7 billion EchoWater project has elevated treatment standards to tertiary levels, protecting the sensitive Bay Delta while creating a massive new supply of recycled water.
This advanced infrastructure enables the Harvest Water project, which will deliver 50,000 acre-feet of reclaimed water annually to 16,000 acres of farmland, effectively reducing groundwater pumping and restoring local aquifers by up to 35 feet over the next 15 years.
By leveraging state revolving fund loans and nearly $400 million in grants, the utility has successfully mitigated ratepayer impacts while simultaneously restoring 5,000 acres of riparian habitat and boosting streamflows for Chinook salmon.
These efforts demonstrate a scalable blueprint for agricultural reuse, turning environmental regulatory "sticks" into sustainable "carrots" that support both local economies and resilient ecosystems.
This episode is part of The Golden State of Reuse, a series exploring the past, present, and future of water recycling across California.
The series is a collaboration with WateReuse California and sponsored by CDM Smith.
The series is also supported by the Sacramento Area Sewer District, Black & Veatch, and Monterey One Water.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Is the Chesapeake Bay finally turning a corner, or is restoration falling behind on its most critical deadlines?
This episode provides an expert "check-up" on America’s largest estuary with Hilary Falk, President and CEO of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF). After decades of investment, the results are a complex mix of record-breaking successes and urgent new challenges.
Explore the "Oyster Revolution"—a massive effort that has restored 11 tributaries since 2014—and learn how billions of oysters are now naturally filtering the Bay's water. The conversation also tackles the hard truths: why blue crab populations are at historic lows, the impact of invasive species, and why Pennsylvania holds the key to solving the nutrient pollution crisis.
Key Topics & Solutions:
The Blueprint Status: Why the 2025 deadline remains elusive and what an "accelerated" path forward requires from the states and the EPA.
The "Pennsylvania Gap": How the Lancaster Clean Water Partners are curbing nitrogen and phosphorus through industry and conservation.
High-Tech Stewardship: Breaking ground on an oyster center using AI to "listen" to reef health and the launch of electric education boats.
Island Resilience: Innovative engineering and living shorelines designed to protect the communities of Tangier and Smith Islands.
This conversation serves as a vital reminder that while the path to a clean Chesapeake is complex, the combination of community accountability and natural innovation is the key to securing a resilient future for America's largest estuary.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Explosive growth in data centers, semiconductors, and power generation is driving unprecedented industrial water demand, pushing reuse from niche to necessity across the U.S.
In this episode, Bruno Pigott of the WateReuse Association, Courtney Tripp of Grundfos, and Jim Oliver of Black & Veatch unpack their joint report, Accelerating Industrial Reuse, spotlighting proven and sustainable strategies to meet that demand.
They highlight how existing technologies enable up to 75–90% water savings through fit-for-purpose treatment—treating water only to the quality needed for its next use while minimizing energy and costs. Landmark projects illustrate the impact, from Intel’s Arizona campus recovering nearly all water and brine to support thousands of jobs, Chevron’s California public-private partnership conserving potable supplies for tens of thousands of homes, and Koch Industries’ Oklahoma plant treating municipal effluent to preserve freshwater for community growth.
The experts point to low-hanging fruit like operational tweaks for quick gains, alongside rising water rates, bipartisan tax incentives, and progressive state frameworks that are turning reuse into a business and resilience imperative. Looking ahead, they envision widespread adoption nationwide through industrial symbiosis, better salt management, and collaborative models that transform water constraints into economic and environmental opportunities.
Access the report Accelerating Industrial Reuse
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
What happens when laws designed to protect water fail — and what legal action does it take to set things right?
For decades, the health of the Chesapeake Bay has struggled because of three major pollution sources: stormwater, wastewater, and agriculture. These pressures send nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment into streams and rivers that flow into the Bay, where they harm water quality and the environment broadly.
While there have been many solutions implemented and tremendous progress made across the watershed, there are still challenges that sometimes require a legal approach.
In this episode, David Reed of the Chesapeake Legal Alliance shares a look at these three major pollution challenges through the lens of local riverkeepers in Maryland.
The story begins with Gunpowder Riverkeeper Theaux Le Gardeur, who explains how unchecked development and failing stormwater controls allowed sediment to smother vital habitat. Next is Alice Volpitta, the Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper at Blue Water Baltimore, who shares how two of Maryland’s largest wastewater treatment plants fell into disrepair. Finally, Taylor Swanson of the Assateague Coastal Trust talks about the Eastern Shore, where industrial poultry facilities have created unregulated ammonia pollution.
They each share how legal action was the last line of defense for the Chesapeake Bay and local waterways.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Green infrastructure is reshaping how communities manage stormwater by blending natural processes with modern engineering to improve water quality, reduce flooding, and fit into increasingly dense urban spaces.
In this episode, Christian Hennessy of Oldcastle Infrastructure breaks down what makes a system truly “green,” from mimicking pre-development hydrology to using engineered soils, media amendments, and carefully selected plants to target pollutants like nutrients and metals.
He covers how green infrastructure has evolved from simple rain gardens into high-performance, small-footprint systems that combine green and gray infrastructure through precast structures, filtration media, and controlled detention.
Hennessy also explains how performance is measured through rigorous field testing and lab validation, ensuring these systems deliver real water quality results. Looking ahead, he discusses hybrid approaches, digital monitoring, and climate-driven design as essential tools for making stormwater infrastructure more resilient and effective in a changing world.
Learn more about Oldcastle Infrastructure water solutions.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Water is at the heart of America’s national parks, yet many of these rivers, lakes, coasts, and wetlands are under growing stress from pollution, climate impacts, and decisions made outside park boundaries.
In this episode from the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C., Ed Stierli of the National Parks Conservation Association explains how his organization serves as the independent voice for 433 national park sites, backed by nearly 2 million members. He breaks down why more than half of waterways in national parks remain impaired, connecting the dots between upstream land use, aging infrastructure, and weakened protections that shape water quality.
Stierli highlights how bedrock laws like the Clean Water Act and modern restoration programs have helped bring back iconic species and improve water conditions, while warning that political rollbacks could erode decades of progress. He also points to large-scale, watershed-based collaborations—uniting federal agencies, states, local governments, and nonprofits—to restore wetlands, rebuild natural buffers, and invest in resilient infrastructure.
Throughout, Stierli stresses the power of public engagement and broad coalitions to secure funding, defend protections, and keep national parks functioning as living classrooms where people can experience and learn from healthy waters.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Wastewater treatment plants rely on nonstop mechanical power to keep water moving, oxygen flowing, and critical equipment turning—and the systems behind that power are the focus of this episode.
Dave Zimmerman of Dodge Industrial breaks down how gearboxes, bearings, motors, and couplings form the “powertrain” that drives nearly every major process in a treatment plant.
Zimmerman explains how these components support pumps, aeration basins, clarifiers, bar screens, screw conveyors, and oxidation ditches—operating 24/7 under punishing conditions of moisture, grit, vibration, and load. He highlights how smart mechanical design can cut energy consumption by 7–10 percent, a major opportunity for utilities facing some of the highest electricity bills in municipal government.
As the water workforce shrinks, Zimmerman outlines how pre-engineered, easy-to-install components reduce maintenance complexity and keep equipment online longer. Lessons from heavy industries like mining and aggregates—where shock loads and extreme stress are the norm—are shaping tougher, more durable systems for wastewater plants.
The conversation also explores emerging technologies such as sensors, real-time monitoring, and predictive maintenance tools that help operators understand equipment health and prevent catastrophic failures before they happen.
Learn more about Dodge Industrial.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
California’s Central Coast is turning recycled water into a lifeline for rivers, golf courses, farms, and coastal communities—showing how reuse can work far beyond the big cities.
In this episode, Nick Becker of Pebble Beach Community Services District, Alison Imamura of Monterey One Water, and Melanie Mow Schumacher of Soquel Creek Water District share how their communities are rethinking every drop.
At Pebble Beach, Becker explains how drought in the 1980s pushed local leaders to build one of the first systems that uses recycled water to irrigate seven world-class golf courses and a high school—later upgraded with microfiltration, reverse osmosis, and a 115-million-gallon reservoir so the system can bank winter water for dry summers.
Imamura describes how Pure Water Monterey takes a holistic approach, blending municipal wastewater, urban stormwater, industrial flows, and agricultural drainage into advanced treatment that both supplies 12,000 acres of farmland and returns purified water to the groundwater basin—cutting diversions from the Carmel River and protecting endangered species.
Schumacher shows how the small-but-mighty Soquel Creek Water District is fighting seawater intrusion and an overdrafted aquifer with Pure Water Soquel, an advanced purification project that turns wastewater into a high-quality groundwater recharge supply backed by strong public outreach, regional partnerships, and creative funding through state and federal programs.
This episode is part of The Golden State of Reuse, a series exploring the past, present, and future of water recycling across California.
The series is a collaboration with WateReuse California and sponsored by CDM Smith.
The series is also supported by the Sacramento Area Sewer District, Black & Veatch, and Monterey One Water.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Hydrogen sulfide is the invisible gas quietly eating away at sewer systems—driving odor complaints aboveground and concrete failure below.
In this episode of Inside Infrastructure, Kerry Koressel of IPEX explains how H₂S forms inside collection systems, why splashing and drops inside manholes turn it into a corrosive, dangerous gas, and how it can silently destroy manholes, pipes, and metal components over time. He breaks down the real costs for municipalities, from emergency repairs and bypass pumping to business impacts when odors reach streets and downtowns.
The conversation explores why these problems persist despite decades of awareness, including limited budgets, competing priorities, and the sheer scale of sewer networks. Koressel also discusses how better hydraulic design, improved materials, and oxygen-boosting strategies can suppress odors, reduce corrosion, and send “better sewage” downstream.
Together, these approaches point toward a more sustainable, lower-maintenance future for collection systems under growing environmental and financial pressure.
Learn more about solutions from Ipex.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Communities across the Midwest are navigating a complex mix of water challenges—from affordability to agricultural pollution to protecting iconic national parks—and the policies shaping those outcomes.
In this episode, Crystal Davis, Senior Midwest Regional Director for the National Parks Conservation Association, discusses how regional advocacy, coalition building, and community-driven organizing are advancing solutions across 11 states and 53 park sites.
She highlights efforts to strengthen park funding, reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and address pollution pressures in places like Lake Erie. Davis also explains how the Midwest is building multi-sector coalitions to push for equitable access to water and nature, elevating voices typically excluded from environmental decision-making.
She shares lessons from Healing Our Waters, a 180-member coalition driving federal and state reforms, and outlines why authentic engagement—not box-checking—is essential for lasting progress.
Her work underscores how unified advocacy across communities, businesses, tribes, and frontline organizations is shaping a more equitable and resilient future for parks and water in the Great Lakes region.
This episode is part of the Color of Water series, a collaboration with the Water Hub.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Odor control and overflow prevention are critical yet often overlooked challenges for wastewater utilities — especially as urban areas expand and climate impacts intensify.
In this episode of Inside Infrastructure, Ryan Powers of the Wager Company explains how a family company that started in marine ventilation is now helping communities solve complex sewer problems on land.
He discusses why traditional chemical and carbon-based systems are costly, maintenance-heavy, and environmentally burdensome ways to fight the problems. Powers also highlights the benefits of passive, low-maintenance designs that eliminate odors and prevent inflow and overflow without electricity or chemicals.
Learn more about Wager.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
California’s water recycling movement has evolved from experiments to expansion—driven by progressive regulations, proven technology, and positive public trust. In this episode, Traci Minamide, Greg Wetterau, and Roshanak Aflaki of CDM Smith share expert insights from decades of experience advancing reuse across the Golden State.
They reflect on the past, when early projects like the East Valley initiative faced setbacks and public skepticism that reshaped how engineers, utilities, and communicators approached outreach and transparency.
In the present, they highlight how clearer regulations, efficient treatment processes, and pilot projects have made large-scale water recycling both achievable and affordable—turning wastewater into safe, local drinking water for millions.
Looking to the future, the panel envisions a new generation of systems powered by AI-driven operations, advanced membranes, and rapid water-quality monitoring tools that will make direct potable reuse more widespread and resilient than ever before.
This episode is part of The Golden State of Reuse, a series exploring the past, present, and future of water recycling across California.
The series is a collaboration with WateReuse California and sponsored by CDM Smith.
The series is also supported by the Sacramento Area Sewer District, Black & Veatch, and Monterey One Water.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Water’s future depends on sustainable funding, bipartisan policy, and stronger public communication.
In this conversation from the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C., Adam Krantz of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) explains how federal investments and advocacy are shaping the next chapter for America’s water infrastructure.
He outlines the historic impact of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and why permanent, predictable federal funding is essential to maintain momentum. Krantz highlights the urgent need for a national Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program so that access to water is treated as essential as food and energy.
He details efforts to get resources and technical help to smaller, under-resourced utilities—often left behind in traditional grant and loan programs—and how partnerships with larger systems can close that gap. The discussion also explores the role of programs like WIFIA and SRF in leveraging billions for critical projects nationwide.
Looking ahead, Krantz calls for a united communications effort to position water alongside energy and transportation as the nation’s most vital infrastructure, ensuring long-term investment, trust, and resilience.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability. Follow us on YouTube, Linked-In, Instagram, X, and TikTok.
Across the U.S., stormwater regulations form a confusing patchwork that slows innovation and complicates compliance for communities and companies alike.
In this episode from WEFTEC, Jay Holtz of Oldcastle Infrastructure explains how this fragmented system has evolved — and why it’s time for change. He outlines the challenges posed by thousands of differing local approvals that make it costly and inefficient for solution providers to bring technologies to market.
Holtz describes how the emerging STEPP Program — Stormwater Testing and Evaluation for Products and Practices — aims to establish a consistent national framework for verifying performance data and standardizing testing.
The initiative, led by the National Municipal Stormwater Alliance, would simplify local approvals, cut costs, and accelerate deployment of proven systems. By centralizing data and ensuring testing integrity, STEPP could spur innovation, expand stormwater solutions nationwide, and ultimately lead to cleaner water in communities across America.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Activated carbon is a frontline solution in the fight against PFAS and other contaminants in water.
In this episode, Brandon Hamilton of Norit explains how activated carbon works like a “rigid sponge” —using its complex pore structures to trap everything from volatile organics to microscopic chemicals.
He breaks down why utilities are increasingly choosing activated carbon over reverse osmosis or ion exchange, highlighting its cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and proven performance in water treatment.
Hamilton also dives into Norit’s reactivation process, which destroys PFAS and restores 80–90% of carbon capacity, saving utilities in costs. The conversation explores the different types of carbon—from coal to coconut shell—and how each targets specific contaminants.
Looking ahead, Hamilton reveals how tailored carbon products and innovations in agglomeration are paving the way for the next generation of water treatment solutions.
Learn more about Norit.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for sustainability in water.
Los Angeles is turning recycled water into real-world resilience—protecting aquifers from seawater intrusion, powering industry, gaining public support, and building a next-generation supply that reduces dependence on imported sources.
At Terminal Island, Dean Taylor explains how this pioneering facility evolved from discharging into the harbor to producing advanced treated water that now feeds the Dominguez Gap seawater barrier and supplies industrial clients such as like Valero, saving millions of gallons of drinking water each day while moving toward full reclamation capacity.
At the Albert Robles Center, Stephan Tucker shows how education and transparency are turning skepticism into support. Students, residents, and decision-makers experience the treatment process firsthand—building trust, understanding, and a stronger future workforce for the water industry.
At Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant, Johan Torroledo and Christina Beccera Jones outline the ambitious Pure Water Los Angeles program—transforming one of the world’s largest treatment plants into a hub of innovation. Ultimately, the project will deliver up to 230 million gallons per day of purified water. They explain how the regional effort includes Pure Water Southern California, aiming to add another 150 million gallons per day of purified water for one of the nation’s thirstiest regions.
The throughline is clear: science, transparency, and collaboration are making potable reuse not just possible—but practical at metropolitan scale.
This episode is part of The Golden State of Reuse, a series exploring the past, present, and future of water recycling across California.
The series is a collaboration with WateReuse California.
The lead sponsor is CDM Smith.
The series is also supported by the Sacramento Area Sewer District, Black & Veatch, and Monterey One Water.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Utilities across the country are facing shifting water quality challenges — from changing influent chemistry to tightening discharge limits. This demands smarter monitoring and faster response.
In this episode, Carlos Williams of Hach shares how utilities are adapting to this evolving landscape through advanced analysis and real-time data.
He explains how rainfall patterns, conservation, and industrial variability can alter what flows into plants, requiring automated samplers and online instruments that catch contaminants early.
Inside facilities, Williams highlights emerging treatment trends such as nutrient removal, energy efficiency, and diverse disinfection approaches that all depend on accurate water chemistry tracking. He also discusses how new discharge requirements are driving the need for continuous nutrient and solids monitoring to maintain compliance and protect ecosystems.
Learn more about Hach.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Artificial intelligence is transforming how cities understand and manage their underground water infrastructure.
In this episode, Eric Sullivan of SewerAI explains how computer vision and the cloud are revolutionizing the inspection and maintenance of wastewater systems.
Technology automatically detects and classifies defects in sewer pipes using AI models trained on hundreds of millions of feet of inspection data—cutting time, cost, and human error. Sullivan describes how this shift allows field crews to focus on safety and efficiency while enabling engineers to make faster, data-driven repair decisions.
With real-time data syncing and benchmarking across hundreds of systems, utilities can now monitor conditions continuously, prioritize investments, and demonstrate performance improvements over time.
As Sullivan shares, the integration of big data, AI, and affordable camera technologies is making pipe inspection smarter, faster, and more accessible—reshaping the future of water infrastructure management beneath our streets.
Learn more about SewerAI
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Orange County shows how water recycling moves from idea to impact—linking history, science, and workforce to make reuse mainstream.
At Irvine Ranch Water District, Paul Cook explains how a simple visual breakthrough—the now-iconic purple pipe—was created in the 1980s to clearly mark recycled water and build public trust, a standard that spread across California and the world.
At Orange County Water District’s Groundwater Replenishment System, Mehul Patel traces the lineage from Water Factory 21 to today’s 130-MGD advanced purification that protects a coastal aquifer, pushes back seawater intrusion, and supplies enough water for about a million people. Research and innovation lead the way: Megan Plumley spotlights OCWD’s lab and pilots tackling energy use in RO, improving membranes and spacers, and continuously monitoring for PFAS, microplastics, and other emerging contaminants—evidence that potable reuse is built on decades of science, not slogans.
The future depends on people as much as plants. At Moulton Niguel Water District, Joone Kim-Lopez lays out the skills needed for direct potable reuse—high-level certification, data literacy, and creativity—while sharing how partnerships with colleges are creating new training pathways.
This episode is part of The Golden State of Reuse, a series exploring the past, present, and future of water recycling across California, showcasing the people and projects redefining how water is used again and again.
The series is a collaboration with WateReuse California and sponsored by CDM Smith.
The series is also supported by the Sacramento Area Sewer District, Black & Veatch, and Monterey One Water.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Annabelle Rayson’s journey into water science began on the shores of Lake Huron and has grown into an award-winning pursuit of global impact.
A student at Harvard University and winner of the 2022 Stockholm Junior Water Prize, Annabelle shares how her childhood curiosity about the Great Lakes evolved into groundbreaking research and real-world problem solving. She describes her innovative “Plankton Wars” project—using native zooplankton to reduce harmful algal blooms—and how it earned her international recognition.
Annabelle also reflects on her internship at Xylem’s Reservoir Center, where she worked on projects spanning water quality monitoring, nutrient sensing, and community engagement. From studying methane emissions in wetlands to investigating heavy metals in drinking water, her story captures the next generation of scientific leadership and passion driving solutions for clean, sustainable water worldwide.
This episode is a collaboration with the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C. where waterloop is the media partner.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
SUEZ is aiming to ignite innovation in North America by bringing its 160 years of global water expertise and thousands of patented treatment technologies to utilities across the continent.
In this conversation from WEFTEC, Joshua Cantone and Abigail Antolovich of SUEZ share how the company is focused on empowering utilities with advanced tools and know-how for smarter, more sustainable solutions.
The episode explores SUEZ’s plan to partner with North American water systems and companies to accelerate adoption of technology through collaboration rather than competition.
Cantone details the integration of digital and treatment technologies to reduce energy use and optimize plant performance, while Antolovich highlights a new go-to-market model that pairs SUEZ innovation with North America’s best integrators and engineers.
Learn more about SUEZ, the trusted partner for circular solutions in water and waste.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
PFAS remains one of water’s toughest and most urgent challenges — a class of thousands of persistent compounds still only partly understood but deeply embedded in modern life and the environment.
In this episode, Peter Grevatt, CEO of The Water Research Foundation, discusses the state of PAS research, including how science is closing critical knowledge gaps and revealing where the next breakthroughs may come.
Grevatt explains that while utilities can only reliably quantify about 40 PFAS compounds today, new “total PFAS” and precursor testing methods are helping researchers glimpse what lies beneath the surface — the larger iceberg of unmeasured chemicals. National studies led by WRF are also reshaping assumptions about where PFAS comes from, showing that domestic wastewater may contribute a greater overall mass than industrial sources.
AI is beginning to aid detection, with early research into “fingerprinting” PFAS signatures from fire training sites, landfills, and other sources to help utilities identify where contamination originates.
When it comes to solutions, Grevatt outlines a field in motion rather than finished answers. Granular activated carbon, ion exchange, and reverse osmosis remain reliable workhorses, but their limits—especially with short-chain PFAS—are driving studies on tailored treatment media and lower-cost destruction technologies. Among the most promising developments is microwave regeneration of GAC, which can both restore the material and destroy PFAS with far less energy than incineration. Grevatt also highlights growing research on PFAS in biosolids and the global search for safe management options, from land application to disposal.
This episode is sponsored by Shimadzu, a provider of analytical instruments for research, development, and quality control in a variety of fields.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
San Diego is proving that the future of water is recycled. This episode visits Santee Lakes—one of California’s earliest examples of water reuse—with Kyle Swanson of Padre Dam Municipal Water District, who explains how a 1960s experiment turned wastewater into a beloved community asset and a model for the world.
The story then moves to the North City Water Reclamation Plant, where Doug Campbell from the City of San Diego shares how decades of innovation paved the way for Pure Water San Diego—one of the nation’s largest and most ambitious water recycling efforts. When complete, Pure Water will provide half of the city’s drinking water through a five-step purification process that turns wastewater into a safe, sustainable, and drought-proof resource.
This episode is part of The Golden State of Reuse, a series exploring the past, present, and future of water recycling across California, showcasing the people and projects redefining how water is used again and again. Visit https://bit.ly/ReuseCAseries
The series is a collaboration with WateReuse California and the lead sponsor is CDM Smith.
The series is also supported by the Sacramento Area Sewer District, Black & Veatch, and Monterey One Water.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Introducing the Hydro20, a group of twenty individuals celebrated for driving change, disrupting norms, and doing good for water sustainability across the United States.
The Hydro20 is an initiative of waterloop, a nonprofit news outlet, and was announced during Climate Week NYC at the Rethinking Water conference hosted by Columbia University.
The inaugural Hydro20 Honorees:
-Jorge Richardson – Founder, HOPE Hydration (Access)
-Richard Diaz – Infrastructure Field Manager, BlueGreen Alliance (Advocacy)
-Seth Watkins – Farmer, Pinkhook Farm (Agriculture)
-Britton Smith – Lead Singer, Britton and the Sting (Arts)
-Dan Tudesco – Associate Director of Community Water Systems, Brita (Business)
-Teal Lehto – Western Water Girl (Communications)
-Jerry Holden – Director – Southern Region, Ducks Unlimited (Conservation)
-Dana Okano – Director, Hawaii Environmental Finance Center (Finance)
-Tom Gamble – Owner & Operator, Gamble Estates (Food & Beverage)
-Shanna Yazzie – Manager, Safety & Compliance, DigDeep (Frontlines)
-Rachel Brown – Senior Policy Advisor, U.S. Department of the Interior (Government)
-Lorelei Cloud – Vice Chairman, Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council (Indigenous)
-Alaina Harkness – CEO, Current (Innovation)
-Carletta Davis – President, We Matter Community Association (Justice)
-Manny Teodoro – Professor of Public Affairs, University of Wisconsin–Madison (Policy)
-Raha Hakimdavar – CEO, Zyon Space; Professor, Georgetown University (Science)
-Omar Mitchell – VP of Sustainable Infrastructure and Growth Initiatives, National Hockey League (Sports)
-Greg Newbloom – Founder & CEO, Membrion (Technology)
-Aaron Tartakovsky – CEO, Epic Cleantec (Treatment)
-Aaron Kirkland – Superintendent, Green Stormwater Operations, Philadelphia Water Department (Utility)
Watch the Hydro20 announcement video and explore individual honoree profiles and videos at www.hydro20.org.
The Hydro20 is presented in partnership with Sciens Water and sponsored by the Environmental Defense Fund, Antea Group, and Human Capital Solutions.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Inside infrastructure, there’s a simple device called check valves quietly protecting water systems from chaos, stopping dirty water from flowing backward, and keeping everything running smoothly amid bigger storms, tighter regulations, and growing cities.
In this episode, Cal Hayes from Proco Products explains the vital role of check valves.
He explains how they need zero maintenance or power, making them ideal for handling sewage backups in treatment plants and at coastal outfalls to avoid costly overflows. Cal shares how innovative valves mix drinking water reservoirs more effectively, cutting down on chemicals and downtime for greener, more reliable supplies.
In tough spots like massive ocean waves near Djibouti or flood-prone shores in New Jersey, flexible rubber versions hold up against harsh conditions. He also spotlights smart adaptations in Oregon, where valves spread treated wastewater gently to protect rivers and wildlife.
Learn more about Proco Products.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Pittsburgh is writing a playbook on lead pipe replacement, aiming to eliminate all toxic lines by 2027.
In this episode, Will Pickering, CEO of Pittsburgh Water, and Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis of Women for a Healthy Environment reveal the strategy behind this national model.
With over $200 million in federal grants and low-interest loans, the city has replaced 13,000 lead service lines at no cost to residents. Digitized records and GIS mapping pinpoint pipes for efficient, low-disruption replacements using copper threading.
Community trust, rebuilt through transparent outreach and an advisory committee, drives participation. Naccarati-Chapkis ’s workshops target vulnerable neighborhoods, prioritizing kids and low-income areas.
This blend of tech, funding, and engagement offers a roadmap for clean water nationwide.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
This episode was supported by Blue Conduit, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the Environmental Policy Innovation Center.
As Southern California wonders if water scarcity could ever spiral into a “Day Zero” crisis, the region stands at a crossroads for securing its water future.
In this episode of In The Newsroom, Ian James, a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, dives into the critical decisions shaping the region’s water portfolio.
With half its supply imported from vulnerable sources like the Colorado River, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and Sierra Nevada snowpack, Southern California faces growing risks from climate-driven aridification and reduced snowmelt.
The region is evaluating massive wastewater recycling projects, like Pure Water Southern California, to bolster local supplies. The $20 billion Delta Conveyance Project, a proposed 45-mile tunnel, aims to secure water from the Sacramento River but sparks debate over environmental impacts on the Delta’s ecosystem. A hyper-focus on conservation and efficiency, backed by the Pacific Institute’s 2022 Untapped Potential report, highlights water-saving potential through native landscaping and upgraded appliances. Capturing stormwater in the LA River and other waterways offers another innovative solution to diversify and strengthen the region’s water resilience.
These efforts to diversify water sources today should position Southern California to avoid running out of water in the future.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Houston is known as the energy capital—but it’s also the Bayou City, where water flows not just through the environment, but through culture, memory, justice, and resilience.
In this episode from the Color of Water series, Ayanna Jolivet Mccloud, Executive Director of Bayou City Waterkeeper, shares how her background in art and advocacy fuels bold environmental leadership rooted in equity. She discusses the group’s efforts to protect wetlands, hold polluters accountable, and connect communities with their watersheds.
From suing to stop illegal sewage dumping to mapping critical wetlands and advancing green infrastructure in underserved neighborhoods, Bayou City Waterkeeper takes an integrated, justice-first approach to water. Ayanna also highlights the power of narrative change and cultural strategies in reimagining water policy and restoring people’s relationships to place.
The Color of Water series is a collaboration between waterloop and the Water Hub.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Texas is tackling its booming population’s water demands with a bold $20 billion investment plan to secure sustainable supplies and infrastructure by 2050.
In this episode of In The Newsroom, Todd Votteler, a veteran water expert and editor of the Texas Water Journal, joins the podcast to discuss the state’s dynamic water landscape. With Texas expecting about 40 million residents by mid-century, the state is addressing urgent needs through a recently signed bill that allocates $10 billion for new water supplies and $10 billion for infrastructure upgrades, pending voter approval on November 4, 2025.
Votteler highlights the Edwards Aquifer Authority’s pioneering groundwater regulation, born from 1990s endangered species litigation, which protects iconic springs like Barton Springs while balancing growth pressures. Innovative projects, such as Corpus Christi’s seawater desalination plant and El Paso’s groundbreaking direct potable reuse facility, signal Texas’s push toward diverse water sources.
However, challenges persist, including groundwater strain in areas like Jacob’s Well and ongoing Rio Grande water disputes with Mexico. The state’s proactive approach, including a surprise veto and special legislative session, underscores its commitment to water security amid rapid growth.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet that explores solutions for water sustainability.
AI isn’t coming—it’s already here, and it’s reshaping how communications and marketing get done.
In this episode, Shama Hyder, a leading voice in digital transformation, explains why this moment demands strategic urgency and how organizations must adapt or risk falling behind. She shares how AI is disrupting knowledge work, changing workflows, and redefining what entry-level even means.
Shama lays out practical ways communicators can integrate AI tools right now—from automating meeting follow-ups to customizing reports for different audiences. She emphasizes that the path forward isn’t fear or passivity, but immersion, experimentation, and ownership.
Her advice for individuals and teams: stop waiting for permission, start solving problems, and use AI to scale human impact.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Healthy rivers are essential for thriving communities, and smart, nature-based solutions are proving crucial to turning things around in a changing climate. In this episode, Derek Vollmer, Director of Waterscapes for the World Wildlife Fund, shares how their program uses innovative, place-based strategies to restore rivers and build resilience worldwide.
From the US-Mexico border, solutions for the Rio Grande include removing invasive trees and optimizing dam operations to restore flow and support wildlife. In Pakistan, the groundbreaking Recharge Pakistan project uses ecosystem restoration, like forests and wetlands, to reduce both flood and drought risks. Further, lessons from the Netherlands' Room for the River program show how giving rivers space to ebb and flow can protect communities from climate impacts, providing powerful insights for the U.S.
This is a conversation from the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet.
California's water future could be shaped by a $20 billion gamble with the controversial Delta Tunnel.
This episode dives deep into the high-stakes project with Camille von Kaenel, California Environment Reporter for Politico.
She unravels the complex plan to transport water from Northern to Southern California, detailing its immense cost, the decades-long permitting battles, and the stark divide between its proponents and opponents, , including Governor Gavin Newsom who champions it as a climate resiliency project as his term heads to an end.
With Southern California utilities facing budget holes from successful conservation and a dwindling Colorado River supply, the conversation explores the decisions ahead and whether to invest in the massive tunnel infrastructure or prioritize ambitious local water recycling projects.
Learn why this debate isn't just about water, but about politics, endangered species, and the very identity of California's communities.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for sustainability in water.
Decades of overpumping groundwater around Houston caused the land to sink by as much as 15 feet, forcing neighborhoods to flood and entire communities to relocate.
This episode explores how land subsidence developed, and how science, regulation, and infrastructure are now stopping the ground from sinking.
Chrissy Butcher of Baytown Nature Center and Jason Ramage of the U.S. Geological Survey explain how groundwater extraction triggered massive subsidence and how the problem was first discovered through local surveys and monitoring data.
Mike Turco of the Harris Galveston Subsidence District details how regulations now limit groundwater pumping, driving a shift to surface water and helping subsidence rates drop to near zero in key areas. Chris Canonico of Ardurra Group explains the construction of massive surface water infrastructure that supplies millions of people and supports Houston’s rapid growth.
Tina Peterson of the Harris County Flood Control District discusses the added flood risks from subsidence and how flood detention, buyouts, and channel improvements are reducing flood damage. John Ellis of INTERA describes how advanced science tools like extensometers, InSAR, and groundwater models inform long-term management decisions.
Houston’s experience now serves as a model for other regions facing subsidence challenges, including California’s Central Valley.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
The hard-fought plan to restore salmon runs in the Pacific Northwest has been abruptly derailed, threatening one of the most significant tribal and environmental agreements in decades.
In this episode of In The Newsroom, Tony Schick of Oregon Public Broadcasting breaks down how the Trump administration scrapped a landmark deal that would have paved the way for breaching four Snake River dams to save salmon populations.
The agreement, developed under the Biden administration with tribes, states, and environmental groups, paused decades of litigation in exchange for bold steps: river restoration, hatchery investment, and renewable energy projects led by tribal nations. The goal was to replace the dams’ hydropower with solar, wind, and storage solutions, giving salmon a shot at recovery while meeting rising energy demands.
Schick explains how the deal began to unravel even before the administration change, with funding delays and personnel exits signaling trouble. Tribes now face yet another broken promise—despite holding treaty rights to fish in waters increasingly devoid of fish. With legal battles likely to return, this story underscores how fragile progress can be when politics collide with ecological urgency.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Billions of dollars are finally flowing into the water industry, but the financial landscape is still far behind energy, climate tech, and other booming sectors.
In this episode of In The Newsroom, Travis Loop is joined by Antoine Walter, host of the (don’t) Waste Water podcast, for an insider look at how investment in the water sector is evolving—and where it’s still stuck.
They discuss how private equity, venture capital, and institutional investors are cautiously entering water, often drawn by its long-term stability but frustrated by its slower growth cycles compared to fast-scaling industries.
Antoine explains how early-stage water startups face much longer timelines—often 16 to 25 years to reach market maturity—making water a challenging space for traditional VC models.
They explore the surge in private equity consolidation, with firms attempting to replicate past roll-up success stories. The conversation also dives deep into sectors attracting the most attention, including digital water, PFAS removal and destruction, membranes, desalination, and atmospheric water generation.
Antoine shares how AI, data centers, and tech giants like Microsoft and Google are pushing water reuse and efficiency as public pressure mounts over their water footprints.
The episode wraps by examining how water scarcity, PFAS contamination, and infrastructure failures are both exposing risks and unlocking new financial opportunity.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Turning lawns into water savings, rewriting city codes, and protecting forests upstream—these are just some of the ways communities are reimagining their water systems with help from the WaterNow Alliance.
In this conversation from the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C., Cynthia Koehler, Executive Director of the organization, shares how their Project Accelerator provides pro bono support to utilities ready to scale distributed, climate-resilient solutions.
From helping Golden, Colorado craft the state’s first graywater ordinance to guiding New Orleans through a citywide green infrastructure overhaul, Cynthia details how local leaders can make meaningful progress with the right technical, policy, and financial tools.
She explains how WaterNow tackles challenges like lead pipe replacement, equitable community outreach, and securing capital funding for projects traditionally seen as “non-infrastructure.”
The discussion also explores the growing role of forest restoration in source water protection and the need for utilities to communicate more clearly with the public about the true cost—and value—of water.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
What does a 21st-century water-powered economy look like?
In this conversation, Brett Walton of Circle of Blue discusses their new reporting series on the blue economy in the Great Lakes region—where water is being used to drive innovation, jobs, and sustainable growth.
The discussion explores how cities like Milwaukee, Cleveland, and Chicago are building a future around water tech, smart infrastructure, and workforce development.
Walton breaks down efforts to turn wastewater into wealth, attract global companies, and create testing hubs like Cleveland’s “smart watershed.” He also examines critical challenges covered in the series, from agriculture’s ongoing pollution pressures to eco-gentrification and the environmental toll of new data centers.
Amid shifting federal support and infrastructure strains, the Great Lakes region is positioning itself as a global model for how to build a thriving, water-centered economy without repeating the environmental mistakes of the past.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
EPA is moving forward with PFAS drinking water limits but delaying compliance deadlines and withdrawing a controversial hazard index. At the same time, the Trump White House has proposed about a 90% cut to the State Revolving Funds—raising serious concerns about how utilities will afford compliance and critical infrastructure upgrades.
In this episode of In The Newsroom, Bob Crossen, Editorial Director of WaterWorld and Wastewater Digest, explains the latest regulatory developments and what they mean for the water sector.
The conversation covers EPA’s updated PFAS strategy, potential legal challenges, and the “polluter pays” approach to liability. Bob also discusses how smaller utilities struggle to access SRF funding, the role of WIFIA, and what Congress might do next. With billions in water projects on the line, this episode provides a clear breakdown of major headlines shaping the future of drinking water and wastewater in the U.S.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
A legacy of pollution and neglect once left the James River and surrounding waterways in ecological crisis.
But decades of federal protections and grassroots advocacy have shown that nature can heal—if given the chance.
In this episode, Beth Roach, Vice Chair of the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia and National Water Conservation Campaign Manager for the Sierra Club, shares her personal and professional journey in water protection. Beth reflects on the environmental trauma of growing up beside a toxic river and the powerful return of wildlife spurred by the Clean Water Act.
She describes how her tribe is leading efforts to reconnect people with their ancestral waters through cleanups and cultural engagement, and how the Tribal Coastal Resilience Connections project is building stronger bridges between Indigenous communities and government agencies.
Beth also discusses the rollback of wetland protections, Sierra Club’s national clean water campaigns, and why relationship-building is the enduring strategy to drive equity and resilience—even in politically turbulent times.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.This episode is part of the Color Of Water series, a collaboration with the Water Hub.
Stormwater management solutions that are effective, space-conscious, and sustainable are increasingly important for cities. One increasingly popular solution is deep infiltration, a practice that moves stormwater into native soils far below the surface, to avoid harmful runoff and recharge groundwater.
In this episode, Gregor Patsch of Oldcastle Infrastructure explains how vertical drywells work, why they’re different from injection wells, and how they’re gaining traction with both local governments and developers. He shares that these systems can reach up to 100 feet underground and include built-in pretreatment chambers to keep pollutants out of groundwater.
Gregor highlights their usefulness in areas with impermeable surface layers, like clay, or dense urban environments with limited footprint for infrastructure.
The conversation includes a case study from Los Angeles, where hundreds of drywells are being used to transform the San Fernando Valley into a sponge, helping reduce flooding and increase local water supply.
He also discusses the broader implications of deep infiltration for water resilience and how it fits into a shift toward managing stormwater, groundwater, and drinking water as one interconnected system.
This episode is sponsored by Oldcastle Infrastructure, a CRH Company and the leading provider of building materials, products and services for infrastructure projects to several North American market sectors, including Water, Communications, and Energy.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
As a new administration and Congress settle into Washington, questions loom about how federal water policy will take shape amid broader political turbulence. Fortunately, water remains a rare bipartisan issue, providing a pathway for continued investment and action around critical infrastructure and public health.
In this conversation from the Reservoir Center, Mae Stevens of Banner Public Affairs explains why water has stayed steady compared to more contentious topics like immigration and defense, and how key programs are advancing under calmer conditions.
She discusses the continuation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, clarifies the outlook for PFAS and lead regulations, and highlights efforts underway for a major new reauthorization bill for water infrastructure. Mae also explains how environmental justice and climate advocates can adjust their communications to keep making progress in a shifting political landscape.
Finally, the discussion emphasizes how personal engagement, strategic messaging, and building strong relationships remain essential to influencing water policy in Washington.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Desalination is a proven technology—but it’s still too costly, energy-intensive, and inaccessible for the communities that need it most.
To change that, XPRIZE launched a $119 million global competition to drive breakthroughs in seawater desalination and deliver scalable, sustainable solutions. Lauren Greenlee, Executive Vice President of Food+Water+Waste at XPRIZE, shares how the foundation uses incentive-based competitions to tackle massive global challenges—and why water is now a top priority.
She details the goals of the Water Scarcity Prize, explains its two-track structure, and emphasizes the importance of real-world demonstration and ecosystem-building. The conversation also explores major barriers in desalination, including brine waste and fragile membranes, and how new innovations could benefit underserved regions and even inland U.S. communities.
Greenlee highlights how XPRIZE is pushing the water sector to think bigger, act faster, and collaborate globally to close the water access gap.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
A 2,600-year-old bald cypress tree stands quietly in North Carolina’s Three Sisters Swamp—older than the Roman Empire, untouched by time, and protected by a resurgent tribal community.
In this powerful episode, Travis Loop joins members of the Coharie Tribe on a World Water Day paddle through their ancestral waters on the Black River.
Guided by Kullen Bell and other tribal leaders, the journey reveals a deep cultural revival grounded in environmental stewardship. The conversation explores the tribe’s restoration of forgotten waterways, their discovery of a 650-year-old dugout canoe, and the creation of a paddling trail that reconnects people to place.
Bell also discusses the Great Coharie River Initiative and how community action has led to visibility, funding, and a new generation of programs.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet.
Radhika Fox has spent her career at the intersection of people, policy, and infrastructure.
In a conversation from the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C., the former head of EPA's Office of Water shares how she helped lead the largest federal investment in U.S. water infrastructure, advance PFAS regulation, and expand environmental justice efforts.
Radhika reflects on her path to leading federal water policy, shaped by experience at the San Francisco PUC and the US Water Alliance. She explains how EPA launched $500 million in technical assistance to help more underserved communities access federal funding.
Radhika also discusses the creation of EPA’s first agency-wide PFAS strategy and the importance of holding polluters accountable. Plus, she shares what she’s working on now—from sector disruption and AI to impact investing and democracy renewal.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability. To help our mission, please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.
Islam offers powerful guidance for enviromental stewardship - and Huda Alkaff has spent 20 years bringing those teachings to life.
As Founder of Wisconsin Green Muslims, Huda blends faith, ecology, and community action to advance water equity and climate justice. She shares how Islamic teachings inspire a sustainable lifestyle - from spiritual water practices during Ramadan to practical solutions like distributing water filters in frontline communities.
Huda also discusses expanding Green Muslims into Michigan, her model of monthly action themes, and advocacy around lead contamination and PFAS. Through a systems-thinking lens and deep sense of interconnectedness, Huda offers a compelling vision for spiritually grounded, community led environmental leadership.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. This episode is part of the Color of Water series, a collaboration with the Water Hub.
Decades of underinvestment in water infrastructure have caused major issues—lead pipes, sewer overflows, and stormwater failures—in cities like Benton Harbor, Michigan and Mount Vernon, New York.
In this episode, Mayor Marcus Muhammad of Benton Harbor and Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard of Mount Vernon share how federal investments have made a real difference in rebuilding water systems, protecting public health, and boosting local economies.
Recorded at the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C., this conversation highlights the critical role of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the dangers of federal funding freezes, and the economic value of clean, reliable water.
Both mayors were part of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, calling on Congress and the White House to prioritize water infrastructure and support vulnerable communities.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability. This episode is from a conversation at the Reservoir Center.
Nutrient runoff from tile drainage systems on Iowa farms is a significant challenge, affecting local waterways and the Mississippi River.
Tile drain water recycling offers an innovative solution by capturing nutrient-rich drainage water, storing it in reservoirs, and reusing it for irrigation. This approach reduces nitrogen runoff while providing farmers with a reliable water source to boost crop yields.
In this episode, Chris Hay, an agricultural engineer, explains the science and benefits behind this emerging practice, which pairs water quality improvements with financial incentives for farmers.
Mark Schleisman shares his experience implementing tile drain recycling on his farm in Calhoun County, showcasing how this method transforms a long-standing challenge into a win-win for agriculture and the environment.
The Mississippi By Nature series is supported by the Walton Family Foundation and outfitted by Patagonia.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Texas' iconic springs are facing growing pressure from urban development, groundwater pumping, and climate change, threatening the lifeline of both ecosystems and communities. But through sustainable aquifer management, conservation easements, and innovative policies, there is hope for keeping these vital waters flowing.
This episode features conversations with Vanessa Puig Williams of the Environmental Defense Fund, Robert Mace of The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University, and Tim Loftus of the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, exploring the science and strategies behind protecting Texas’ springs.
The discussion covers how endangered species regulations have helped safeguard Barton Springs, the challenges of balancing private property rights with conservation, and the importance of setting caps on groundwater pumping.
Other topics include the role of land conservation in sustaining spring flow, the rise of aquifer storage and recovery, and how community engagement is key to long-term water resilience.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet.
Subscribe to the podcast onSpotify orApple.
Never miss a video onYouTube.
Follow the news onInstagram,LinkedIn,X, andTikTok.
Flooding and water quality degradation are significant challenges in Iowa's agricultural watersheds, driven by intensive farming practices and increasingly extreme weather events. Relay cropping, a regenerative farming practice, offers a solution by keeping soil covered and living roots in the ground year-round to reduce runoff and improve soil health. Plus it provides another source of revenue for farmers.
Ross Evelsizer of the Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation & Development, explains how relay cropping integrates cereal grains and soybeans in a single growing season, enhancing soil structure and reducing nutrient loss. Farmers like Loran Steinlage of FLOLO Farms have pioneered this method, demonstrating its profitability and environmental benefits, including increased water infiltration and reduced nutrient runoff.
Kate Giannini of the Iowa Flood Center highlights research showing relay cropping could reduce flooding by up to 25% in watersheds while significantly improving water quality. Early data also shows farmers can earn higher profits per acre compared to conventional practices. This episode showcases how farmer-driven innovation and partnerships are advancing nature-based solutions to benefit both agriculture and waterways.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet.
Grand Rapids is restoring the namesake rapids of the Grand River, reversing decades of human intervention that removed natural rock formations and altered the river’s flow. The city’s River For All project is removing five low-head dams and reshaping riverbanks to improve habitat, water quality, and public access.
Mike Stahl, an engineer with the City of Grand Rapids, shares how the project will reconnect people with the river by adding new access points, educational spaces, and recreation opportunities for activities like fishing and kayaking. The project also prioritizes habitat restoration, including creating passage for native fish while managing invasive species like sea lamprey.
With $45 million dedicated to in-river work and another $50 million for river edges, this large-scale transformation is delivering ecological and economic benefits to the region. As the work progresses, Grand Rapids is turning back toward its river, ensuring the Grand lives up to its name once again.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet.
Subscribe to the podcast onSpotify orApple.
Never miss a video onYouTube.
Follow the news onInstagram,LinkedIn,X, andTikTok.
Agriculture in Iowa is vital to feeding the world, but it poses challenges for water quality and flood management due to nutrient runoff and extreme weather.
One innovative solution is the restoration of oxbow lakes—former river bends that have become disconnected from streams. These revitalized oxbows filter out nutrients like nitrates, provide habitat for endangered species such as the Topeka shiner, and offer flood storage to reduce downstream impacts.
In this episode, Brandon Iddings of the Iowa Soybean Association explains the restoration process, which involves collaboration with landowners and partners like U.S. Fish and Wildlife. John Marshall, a farmer in Iowa, discusses the benefits of having oxbows restored on his land, from reducing nutrient runoff to creating wildlife habitats and improving flood resilience.
With over 250 oxbows restored statewide and growing interest among farmers, these projects are delivering economic and environmental returns while showcasing the power of simple, nature-based solutions.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. The Mississippi By Nature series is supported by the Walton Family Foundation and outfitted by Patagonia.
The presence of 200,000 lead service lines in Cook County, Illinois poses a serious public health threat, especially to young children who are highly vulnerable to the effects of lead exposure.
Addressing this issue requires collaboration across more than 130 municipalities and overcoming the complexities of replacing outdated infrastructure. One key initiative is the Lead Care program, which prioritizes removing lead lines at childcare facilities.
Caroline Pakenham of Elevate, alongside Cook County officials Dominic Tocci and Drew Williams-Clark, provides insights into the program’s structure, its funding through the American Rescue Plan Act, and its support for home-based childcare providers and smaller municipalities. Dante Sawyer, Village Manager of Hazel Crest, highlights the importance of community engagement and the economic benefits, including job creation. Barbara Nelson, a childcare provider, shares a personal perspective on the transformative impact of having lead removed from her facility.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet.
Amid the devastation of the Los Angeles wildfires, confusion and misinformation have surrounded the role of water resources.
This episode clarifies key inaccuracies, highlighting how municipal water systems are designed to support localized firefighting efforts rather than large-scale wildfires fueled by extreme weather conditions.
Kathryn Sorenson of Arizona State University’s Kyl Center for Water Policy and Chad Seidel of Corona Environmental Consulting explore the limitations of current infrastructure and the evolving challenges posed by urban-wildland interface fires.
Drawing on examples from Colorado and Arizona, they discuss the cascading impacts of wildfires, including how burned watersheds affect water quality and force expensive upgrades to treatment systems.
They also share innovative strategies, from enhancing system resilience to improving emergency response, that can better prepare communities for the next wildfire. These insights underscore the urgent need for a proactive and collaborative approach to addressing the increasing risks of wildfire in a changing climate.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet.
At the 2024 WaterSmart Innovations Conference in Las Vegas, waterloop founder Travis Loop shared key insights from his travels across the United States, documenting innovative water projects. He identified a number of commonalities that define sustainable solutions.
A return to nature is a recurring theme, with projects like Louisiana’s $3 billion Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion reconnecting the Mississippi River to its floodplains, restoring wetlands, and reducing erosion. Equally impactful are people-centered approaches, such as Milwaukee’s lead pipe replacement program, which prioritizes workforce diversity and uplifts local communities.
Loop also highlighted the importance of multi-benefit solutions, like Tucson’s wetlands restoration, which improves water quality, revives the Santa Cruz River, and creates habitats for wildlife while offering recreation opportunities. Another crucial observation was the focus on return on investment, exemplified by East St. Louis’ Horseshoe Lake, where a $2 million flood mitigation project prevented $10–15 million in damage during a major flood.
Finally, climate resilience underpins many efforts, such as Memphis’ Tom Lee Park, a green space that doubles as flood protection for the Mississippi River while serving as a vibrant community hub. Loop’s observations highlighted the power of breaking down silos and embracing collaboration across sectors to secure water sustainability for future generations.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet.
Since launching in 2014, the Clean Water Partnership in Prince George’s County, Maryland has provided a blueprint on how the government and a company can work together to simultaneously tackle environmental challenges and achieve community and business development.
In this episode, Roland Jones of CIS and Jim Lyons of Prince George’s County discuss how this groundbreaking community-based public-private partnership has implemented extensive green infrastructure while ensuring 80 percent of the $340 million spent stays in the county. The initiative includes a mentor-protégé program that has trained and empowered 60 firms.
Projects like the Treat and Teach program at schools combine environmental education with practical infrastructure upgrades, reaching over 40,000 students. By prioritizing local businesses, workforce development, and community outreach, the Clean Water Partnership sets a national example of how the public and private sectors can collaborate.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet.
About one million Californians face persistent challenges accessing safe, affordable drinking water, particularly in rural and disadvantaged communities.
California’s SAFER program, led by the State Water Resources Control Board, takes a holistic and proactive approach to address these inequities, providing funding, technical assistance, and regulatory tools to ensure clean water for all.
In this episode, Adriana Renteria, Director of the Office of Public Engagement, Equity, and Tribal Affairs, shares insights into her journey from a childhood shaped by water inequities to her leadership in driving solutions.
She discusses the SAFER program’s unique model, which prioritizes failing water systems through needs assessments, funds community engagement, and enforces solutions like water system consolidation.
Adriana highlights the role of tribal partnerships, including innovative collaborations to fill gaps in federal funding and resources. She also emphasizes the importance of rebuilding trust and transparency with communities historically left out of water decision-making.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. This episode is part of the Color of Water series, a collaboration between waterloop and the Water Hub.
Excess nutrients from farms in Iowa and across the Midwest are a major challenge, polluting local waterways and ultimately impacting the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico.
To address this, the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund incentivizes farmers to adopt practices that improve water quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In this episode, Adam Kiel, Managing Director of the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund, discusses how the Fund works with farmers to implement both in-field practices like cover crops and no-till, and edge-of-field solutions such as saturated buffers and bioreactors.
Fifth-generation farmer Nick Hermanson shares how he uses the Fund to support conservation on his Iowa farm, incorporating innovative practices that protect the Skunk River watershed while maintaining his farm’s profitability.
Through outcome-based payments, the Fund encourages sustainable agriculture, rewarding farmers like Nick for measurable environmental benefits. The initiative has rapidly scaled, expanding from a pilot project in Iowa to now enrolling farms across 25 states and targeting one million acres in 2024.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. This episode is part of the Mississippi By Nature series supported by the Walton Family Foundation and outfitted by Patagonia.
Flooding is impacting communities nationwide with both devastating and costly effects. The solution requires resilience planning, infrastructure adaptation, and community involvement to effectively address flood risk.
In this episode, Melissa Roberts of the American Flood Coalition discusses the increasing frequency and impact of flooding across the U.S. and the need for innovative, community-focused solutions.
She highlights recent projects, like transforming public spaces to double as floodwater basins in North Carolina and engaging farmers in Iowa to reduce downstream flooding. Melissa also discusses the role of nature-based infrastructure, watershed-based planning, and data-driven policies in building long-term flood resilience.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. This episode is from a conversation at the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C. where waterloop is the media partner.
The Mississippi River is essential to global agriculture and trade, but it is increasingly vulnerable to climate impacts, including severe droughts and floods, resulting in significant economic and environmental challenges.
Colin Wellenkamp, Executive Director of the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI), discusses how the coalition is advancing nature-based solutions to build resilience along the river.
One notable example is Horseshoe Lake in East St. Louis, a community historically impacted by recurrent flooding and economic disadvantage. Restoration efforts there aim to reduce flood risks by enhancing natural floodplains, providing critical protection for residents and supporting biodiversity.
This initiative is part of MRCTI’s broader push to implement projects across 100,000 acres in eight states by the end of the decade, creating sustainable landscapes that safeguard both people and ecosystems in the face of a changing climate.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. The Mississippi By Nature series is supported by the Walton Family Foundation and outfitted by Patagonia.
The ever-changing nature of the Mississippi River poses significant challenges for those living behind the levee at Dogtooth Bend in southern Illinois, where increased flooding and infrastructure strain can impact everyday existence.
A promising solution involves nature-based strategies that restore floodplains to better manage water flow and reduce flood risk.
Tharran Hobson of The Nature Conservancy shares insights into collaborative efforts with NRCS and the Army Corps of Engineers to support landowners and implement natural infrastructure, such as reforestation, to slow water and prevent the formation of new river channels.
The work at Dogtooth Bend underscores the need to balance human life with ecological resilience in flood-prone regions.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. This episode is part of the Mississippi By Nature series that is supported by the Walton Family Foundation and outfitted by Patagonia.
Las Vegas faces unique challenges as a rapidly growing city with a small share of water from the Colorado River and an arid desert climate. To meet the demands of residents and 40 million annual visitors, Las Vegas implemented comprehensive approaches to sustainability that drove water usage down even as the population boomed.
Bronson Mack of the Southern Nevada Water Authority and Michael Gulich of MGM Resorts International share their insights on water recycling, conservation programs, and efficiency measures. Key initiatives include community-wide water reuse, incentivizing native landscaping, and phasing out evaporative cooling systems in new developments.
Also discussed are MGM’s sustainability efforts at resorts, the Bellagio Fountain’s water-efficient design, and partnerships that drive change. Through progressive planning and community engagement, Las Vegas serves as a model for efficient water management in the American West.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet.
The federal government's historic investment in water infrastructure has presented both opportunities and challenges.
The solution lies in efficiently distributing funds, overcoming barriers like permitting and regulatory requirements, and accelerating the pace of project implementation.
In this episode, Tim Male, Executive Director of the Environmental Policy Innovation Center, discusses the complexities of rolling out billions in federal funding and the hurdles still in place.
He highlights the need for technical assistance, environmental finance centers, and better systems to ensure long-term success. Topics also include the urgency of lead pipe replacement, regionalization of utilities, and leveraging nature-based solutions for watershed management.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. This episode is from a conversation at the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C., where waterloop is a media partner.
Communities across the country are disproportionately impacted by environmental injustices like water pollution and inadequate infrastructure.
The solution requires not only winning court battles but also building long-term, collaborative relationships with those affected on the ground.
In this episode, Julian Gonzalez, Senior Legislative Counsel of Earthjustice, shares insights into how the organization uses legal expertise and partnerships to protect vulnerable communities.
He highlights Earthjustice’s evolution from primarily representing large environmental groups to working closely with local communities, tribal nations, and grassroots organizations.
Julian discusses the importance of trust-building, listening without judgment, and ensuring that legal victories translate into real-world change.
This episode is part of the Color of Water series, a collaboration between waterloop and the Water Hub.
Wetlands along the Mississippi River have been disappearing for decades, leading to increased flooding and degradation of water quality, as well as loss of wildlife habitat.
Nature-based solutions, like wetland restoration and floodplain reconnection, offer a path to address these challenges plus provide benefits for communities and commerce.
In this episode, Karen Waldrop, Chief Conservation Officer, and Ellen Herbert, Senior Scientist, from Ducks Unlimited, share their organization's science-driven approach to protecting and restoring critical habitats for waterfowl.
They discuss the importance of partnerships and how Ducks Unlimited uses engineering alongside nature to improve ecosystems. Also highlighted is a new program with the University of Georgia to build a workforce of engineers to advance nature-based solutions.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. This episode is part of the Mississippi By Nature series that is supported by the Walton Family Foundation and outfitted by Patagonia.
Memphis faces the dual challenge of protecting itself from Mississippi River flooding while enhancing the environment and public spaces.
The solution lies in nature-based projects that manage stormwater, restore wetlands, and provide community amenities.
In this episode Carol Coletta of Memphis River Parks Partnership and Jake Spears of Ducks Unlimited discuss two transformative riverfront projects on either side of the river. Tom Lee Park, on the Tennessee side, offers stormwater management, flood resilience, and recreation, while a 1,500-acre park across the river in Arkansas restores wetlands and bottomland hardwood forests.
These projects reduce sediment and nutrient runoff while connecting the community to nature through trails, education, and outdoor spaces. Together, they showcase how cities can use natural solutions for environmental protection and quality of life.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet that explores solutions. This episode is part of the Mississippi By Nature series that is supported by the Walton Family Foundation and outfitted by Patagonia.
Many water utilities across the U.S. are grappling with aging infrastructure, underfunding, and staffing challenges, but solutions are within reach through smarter management and targeted technical assistance.
From a conversation at the Reservoir Center, George Hawkins, CEO of Moonshot Missions, shares how his organization helps utilities of all sizes improve operations, access federal funding, and adopt innovative technologies.
George emphasizes the crucial role of Environmental Finance Centers in delivering technical support to ensure underserved communities benefit from the historic influx of federal funding.
With examples like Toledo's shift toward energy recovery, the discussion illustrates how utilities can enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and drive meaningful environmental progress.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. This episode is from the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C., where waterloop is a media partner.
Milwaukee faces a significant challenge with over 70,000 lead service lines. In response, the city has implemented a replacement program initiated by an ordinance in 2017. This initiative leverages federal funding to focus on disadvantaged communities, with an emphasis on neighborhoods identified as most in need through an area deprivation index.
In this episode, Superintendent Patrick Pauly of Milwaukee Water Works, Janet Pritchard from the Environmental Policy Innovation Center, and Richard Diaz of the Blue Green Alliance discuss the program’s funding strategies, including principal forgiveness funding that allows for 100% coverage of private side replacements without costs to property owners. They highlight the impact of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which has provided a substantial influx of resources, enabling Milwaukee to increase its replacement goals from approximately 1,000 lines per year to 2,200 in 2024 and 3,500 in 2025.
Additionally, the discussion emphasizes a robust workforce development strategy, which mandates that contractors must allocate 25% of project dollars to small business enterprises and ensure that 40% of work hours are performed by workers from local disadvantaged areas.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. This episode on lead service line replacement is supported by BlueConduit, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the Environmental Policy Innovation Center.
Milwaukee is tackling the challenge of urban stormwater management through an innovative community-based public-private partnership.
The Fresh Coast Protection Partnership is expanding green infrastructure, enhancing neighborhood quality, and developing the local workforce.
In this episode, Bre Plier from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and Kurt Farrell of CIS delve into the intricacies of scaling these efforts, benefits of collaboration, and impactful results seen so far, such as capturing millions of gallons of stormwater and revitalizing urban spaces.
They also highlight the importance of designing with maintenance in mind, engaging community stakeholders, and fostering small, minority, and women-owned businesses.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet.
This episode is made possible by CIS, who is working with community visionaries to lead some of the nation's largest urban infrastructure programs to create resilient cities. Visit cisolutions.com
Developing and recognizing emerging leaders in the water sector is crucial for addressing current and future challenges. The WaterNow Alliance’s Emerging Leaders program plays a vital role in this effort by identifying and supporting professionals who are driving positive change in their communities.
This episode presents brief interviews with the seven individuals recognized this year, along with Caroline Koch of the WaterNow Alliance, discussing their impactful work in areas like lead line replacement, green stormwater infrastructure, and fostering diversity and equity within utilities.
The leaders featured include David Fielder II (Detroit Water and Sewerage Department), Tiffany Diaz (City of Georgetown, Texas), Dom Bennett (Lee’s Summit Water Utilities, Missouri), Christopher Lang (City of New Orleans), Grace Vogel Sanders (Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans), Xochitl Coronado-Vargas (Tucson Water, Arizona), and Amanda Jones (Tucson Water, Arizona).
Their efforts demonstrate the transformative potential of emerging leadership in water management.
Managing water resources effectively is crucial, especially in regions facing scarcity and drought. The OpenET platform, developed through collaboration between NASA, the Environmental Defense Fund, and other partners, offers a groundbreaking solution by leveraging satellite data to measure evapotranspiration.
In this episode, we hear from Forrest Melton of NASA and Robyn Grimm, formerly of the Environmental Defense Fund, who explain the science behind OpenET and its diverse applications.
The episode also features insights from various users across the water sector, including farmers and water managers, who discuss how OpenET is transforming their approach to water use and conservation.
From supporting regulatory compliance to optimizing irrigation, OpenET is proving to be a critical tool for ensuring sustainable water management in the face of climate challenges.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet.
Marine conservation and the preservation of the U.S.'s most cherished underwater environments are critically important issues.
National Marine Sanctuaries provide a solution by protecting these vital ecosystems.
Shannon Colbert of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation shares insights into the significance of these sanctuaries, which range from vibrant kelp forests and coral reefs to historic shipwrecks and cultural sites.
The discussion delves into the establishment and expansion of sanctuaries, the importance of community involvement, and the multifaceted benefits of these protected areas.
Shannon highlights ongoing efforts in marine debris removal, restoration work, and educational initiatives to foster a deeper connection and stewardship among the public.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. This episode is from a conversation at the Reservoir Center in Washington DC where waterloop is a media partner.
As the need for sustainable water management becomes increasingly critical, developing the next generation of leaders is paramount.
One promising solution is the Colorado Water Fellows Program, which connects students with water issues and equips them with practical experience.
In this episode, Jessica Thrasher, Water Equity Programs Leader at the Colorado Water Center, discusses bringing together students from various majors to gain a holistic understanding of water management.
She highlights the importance of diversity in backgrounds and perspectives in addressing water challenges, and the role of hands-on experiences and internships in preparing students for careers in the water sector. Jessica also covers the program's expansion and its contributions to a more equitable and informed water workforce.
This episode is part of the Color Of Water series, a collaboration between waterloop and the Water Hub that features interviews with diverse experts from communities across the country.
Communities along the Mississippi River face numerous challenges from natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, and droughts.
This episode explores how adopting nature-based solutions can bolster resilience against these impacts.
Mayor Errick Simmons of Greenville, Mississippi, shares insights into his community's efforts and the collaborative initiatives of the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative.
Simmons discusses the environmental and economic benefits of implementing nature-based infrastructure, such as floodplain reconnections and marsh restoration. He also highlights the importance of equitable strategies that support the community and foster corporate responsibility.
The conversation covers innovative funding models involving carbon credits and the reinsurance industry, emphasizing the need for sustainable and long-lasting solutions to protect communities along the river.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. The Mississippi By Nature series is supported by the Walton Family Foundation and outfitted by Patagonia.
Floodplain reconnection has emerged as a crucial solution to mitigating flooding, improving water quality, and supporting biodiversity along the Mississippi River corridor.
In this episode, Chris Rice of The Nature Conservancy discusses the restoration of Mollicy Farms, the largest floodplain reconnection project ever undertaken in the U.S.
Chris explains the extensive efforts involved in breaching levees, planting millions of trees, and reestablishing natural water flows to revive the 25-square mile floodplain along the Ouachita River in Louisiana.
The conversation highlights the significant environmental and community benefits of restoring such areas, including floodwater storage, habitat creation, and water filtration.
Additionally, Chris delves into the partnerships and challenges encountered throughout the project, providing insights into how similar initiatives can be implemented elsewhere.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. The Mississippi By Nature series is supported by the Walton Family Foundation and outfitted by Patagonia.
The fact there are 2.2 million people in America without safe drinking water and adequate sanitation in their homes does not receive enough media attention or public awareness. There are lessons on how to change this from the high-profile coverage of connected environmental issues such as climate change.
This episode features a conversation with Bill Weir, Chief Climate Correspondent at CNN. It was recorded during the first-ever gathering of the US WASH sector organized by Vessel and held in Washington, D.C.
Bill shares his experiences and observations reporting at the nexus of climate and water. He also discusses advice for working with the media, the importance of storytelling, and the value of focusing on solutions.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet.
Communities across the United States face significant challenges in accessing and effectively utilizing federal funding for water initiatives. The solution lies in leveraging these resources to empower grassroots organizations and address local water issues.
This episode is a recording from a session at River Network’s River Rally, during which Celina Mahabir of Community Water Center and Kirsten Shead of Milwaukee Water Commons discuss strategies.
They delve into the "how" of navigating federal funding, ensuring dollars reach the places most in need, and advancing impactful, long-term solutions. Additionally, they explore the role of philanthropy and share examples of early successes from federally supported projects.
The River Network’s Emerging Leader Award highlights rising stars at the crossroads of water and justice. Designed to boost early career professionals, the award offers recognition, confidence, and networking opportunities.
At River Rally 2024 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, four awardees shared their impactful work, the reasons for their recognition, and their successful water initiatives.
This episode delves into the stories of Charles Miller, Megan Nguyen, Kevin Jaffery, and Hira Ahmad, exploring how they are making significant strides in the water sector and championing justice through innovative solutions and community engagement.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for sustainability and equity in water.
The Potomac River, once labeled a national disgrace due to severe pollution, has seen significant improvements over the decades. Through efforts such as wastewater treatment upgrades and cleanup of industrial hotspots, the river's health has greatly improved, making it often safe for recreational use.
In this episode, Dean Naujoks, the Potomac Riverkeeper, discusses the progress achieved and the ongoing challenges like agricultural runoff and urban stormwater.
He also highlights successful initiatives and legal victories that have contributed to cleaner water, and underscores the importance of continuous vigilance and community involvement in safeguarding this vital waterway that flows through Washington, D.C.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. This episode was launched from the Reservoir Center, where waterloop is a media partner.
Jackson, Mississippi, has long struggled with inadequate water infrastructure, highlighted by a major treatment plant failure in 2022 that left 160,000 residents without safe drinking water.
Lexus Giles, an artist from Jackson, reflects on these challenges through her work "Wading the Woes of Jackson Water."
The exhibit features pieces that represent the struggles and adaptations of Jackson's residents in accessing clean water.
In an interview conducted at the first-ever gathering of the U.S. WASH sector in Washington, D.C., Lexus discusses the habits her family developed to cope with the unreliable water supply, such as carrying plastic water bottles and adding bleach to bathwater.
She explains how these personal experiences and the resilience of her community have influenced her art.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet.
Agencies responsible for natural resources along the Gulf Coast and Mississippi River corridor often face significant challenges due to limited resources. A powerful solution to this problem is the Gulf Corps program, which leverages funding from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement to support nature-based projects.
This episode features conversations with Christina Wayne from The Nature Conservancy, Brian Pember from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and Austin Bowley from the Corps Network discuss the transformative impact of this initiative. Filmed at a worksite in Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge, they discuss the program’s dual focus on environmental restoration and workforce development.
The Gulf Corps’ efforts include trail maintenance, invasive species removal, and building living shorelines, significantly enhancing public access and conservation. This episode underscores the critical need for such initiatives to sustain and restore nature while providing valuable job skills and career opportunities.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. The Mississippi By Nature series is supported by the Walton Family Foundation and outfitted by Patagonia.
California is grappling with a severe groundwater crisis, underscoring the urgent need for accurate accounting under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). SGMA mandates that certain basins develop plans to achieve groundwater balance by 2040, ensuring that withdrawals do not exceed recharge rates.
Various tools are being used or developed to tackle this challenge, ranging from field meters and well monitors to computer models and online platforms.
This episode features conversations with Ann Hayden, Vice President of Climate Resilient Water Systems at the Environmental Defense Fund; Brad Samuelson, Managing Partner of Water and Land Solutions; and Brian Lockwood, General Manager of Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency.
They discuss the pressures and solutions for groundwater accounting from the Central Valley to the Central Coast. The episode also includes a demonstration of the Groundwater Accounting Platform.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet.
Many people in Oregon face significant water justice challenges, including affordability, accessibility, and quality. Addressing these issues requires place-based, community-specific solutions.
In this episode, Alai Reyes-Santos, Associate Director of the PNW Just Futures Institute for Climate and Racial Justice, discusses her work in Oregon and what she has learned from her roots in Puerto Rico.
She explains the diverse water justice issues in Oregon, such as distrust of water quality among communities of color, inadequate infrastructure in tribal areas, and the vulnerabilities of renters.
Alai also highlights the efforts to build a Water Justice Network and a Water Justice Leadership Institute, aiming to empower communities and advocate for equitable water policies.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. This episode is part of the Color Of Water series, a collaboration between waterloop and the Water Hub that features interviews with diverse experts from communities across the country.
Louisiana faces severe coastal erosion and land loss, making coastal restoration a critical challenge. One of the innovative solutions is the $2.9 billion Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project, which aims to restore about 20 square miles of wetlands and land.
In this episode, Brad Barth, Diversions Program Manager from the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, discusses this massive engineering feat, which aims to harness the Mississippi River's natural sediment flow to rebuild the coast.
Barth explains the multiple factors contributing to coastal erosion and how this project integrates with other restoration efforts. He details the design and functionality of the sediment diversion, highlighting its role in delivering sediment and nutrients to sustain marshlands.
Additionally, Barth shares insights into the broader strategy of using nature-based solutions, such as barrier island reconstruction and marsh creation, to protect and restore Louisiana's coast.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. The Mississippi By Nature series is supported by the Walton Family Foundation and outfitted by Patagonia.
Urgent water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) challenges persist across the United States. Peer-to-peer support for utility professionals in these communities can make a positive difference.
Anniestacia Denton, a Utility Advisor at Moonshot Missions, provides a look into these pressing issues, with a particular focus on her home state of Alabama.
Bringing a unique perspective on the severe sanitation problems in the Black Belt region, Anniestacia shares her journey into the water industry and her active role in transformative initiatives like the UNLEASH Hack. She explains how she is dedicated to resolving funding and trust issues in underserved communities, advocating for equitable solutions, and implementing practical, impactful changes.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. This episode is from a conversation at the Reservoir Center in Washington D.C. where waterloop is a media partner.
This episode features a series of rapid-fire questions with Alan Roberson of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, delving into some of the most pressing issues facing the drinking water industry today.
The conversation tackles hot topics such as regionalization, Consumer Confidence Reports, the Lead and Copper Rule, PFAS, point-of-use filtration at homes, and the safety of bottled water.
Alan provides expert insights into these critical areas, highlighting the latest developments and regulatory changes that impact public health and water quality across the United States.
This episode is from a conversation at the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C. where waterloop is a media partner.
The South continues to experience rapid development and is now facing more intense rainfalls due to climate change. This makes stormwater management a more critical issue for the region. This episode delves into the challenges and solutions with Vinicius Taguchi, an Extension Associate at North Carolina State University.
He highlights Wilson, North Carolina as an example of a community with stormwater problems exacerbated by a history of segregation and lack of investment in infrastructure, a situation found across the South.
Vinny delves into management strategies, ranging from traditional stormwater ponds to green infrastructure solutions like bioretention and permeable pavement. He highlights technology's role, from low-cost sensors to smart control systems optimizing water levels based on forecasts.
Vinny emphasizes the importance of collaboration across disciplines like civil engineering and urban planning. He also discusses pathways for students interested in stormwater, reflecting the field's multifaceted nature and opportunities for environmental stewardship.
This episode is part of the Color Of Water series, a collaboration between waterloop and the Water Hub that features interviews with diverse experts from communities across the country.
This episode is part of a series Mississippi By Nature that explores how nature based solutions are helping the river and its communities.
The Houma Nation has a deep-rooted history in southeastern Louisiana, where they have lived and thrived along the Mississippi River and its delta for centuries. Recently, they face escalating challenges as environmental degradation accelerates, pushing them ever closer to the coast and into the path of rising waters and land loss.
In this episode, Chief Lora Ann Chaisson of the Houma Nation discusses the profound transformations in her community’s environment—from lush woodlands to waterlogged landscapes—and how these changes have forced shifts in traditional ways of life and economic livelihoods.
Chief Chaisson also highlights the resilience of the Houma people as they navigate these turbulent changes, emphasizing the need for proper consultation and inclusion in environmental planning. This compelling account underscores the struggle for survival and cultural preservation against the relentless encroachment of water on their lands.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. The Mississippi By Nature series is supported by the Walton Family Foundation and outfitted by Patagonia.
As the Western United States grapples with water scarcity, onsite recycling is becoming a crucial solution. San Francisco has positioned itself at the forefront of this initiative.
This episode explores the city's pioneering efforts in onsite water recycling with Paula Kehoe, Director of Water Resources at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.
Delving into the city's adoption of advanced recycling systems that set global standards, it highlights residential, commercial, and district-scale projects like the Salesforce Tower and Mission Rock, which aim to reduce potable water use and enhance urban resilience.
With 48 operational systems and 29 more in planning, San Francisco's proactive approach serves as a model for cities globally dealing with similar challenges.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet.
This episode is part of a series Mississippi By Nature that explores how nature based solutions are helping the river and its communities.
For the past 200 years, no single entity has had more influence on the Mississippi River than the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Since 1824, the federal agency has been responsible for maintaining navigation, promoting commerce, and preventing flooding along the waterway.
This responsibility has primarily involved the construction of rigid infrastructure such as levees and spillways, effectively constraining the river from its natural behaviors.
In this episode, Tim Axtman, a Senior Planner at the Army Corps, delves into this rich history and its outcomes. He also explains how the agency is working to adopt an engineering with nature approach in the Mississippi, which often entails allowing the river to flow more freely and transport sediment as it did in the past.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. The Mississippi By Nature series is supported by the Walton Family Foundation and outfitted by Patagonia.
This episode is part of a series Mississippi By Nature that explores how nature based solutions are helping the river and its communities.
This episode features a ride to the mouth of the Mississippi River with Captain Richie Blink of Delta Discovery Tours, who shares how he has seen the river change over his decades on the water and how projects that use nature itself are beneficial.
Then John Sabo, Director of the ByWater Institute at Tulane University in New Orleans, provides an overview of the health of the Mississippi and the role of nature based solutions in reducing flood threats and improving water quality.
The Mississippi By Nature series is supported by the Walton Family Foundation and outfitted by Patagonia. waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet.
The iconic Charles River, central to Boston's suburbs and urban landscape, faces significant environmental challenges, including the impacts of climate change. The problems such as flooding hit hardest in downstream areas that are often disadvantaged communities.
Dira Johanif, with her roots in the diverse environments of Malaysia—from bustling cities to the lush rainforests of Borneo—brings a unique perspective to her role as a Senior Climate Resilience Associate at the Charles River Watershed Association in Massachusetts. Her international experiences have shaped her approach to water stewardship and environmental justice in the U.S.
Dira's work centers on implementing nature-based solutions and spearheading collaborative initiatives like the Charles River Climate Compact, which demonstrates the essential role of regional cooperation in building climate resilience. To communicate the river’s issues to diverse audiences across the Boston region, Dira leverages storytelling and community engagement.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. This episode is part of the Color Of Water series, a collaboration between waterloop and the Water Hub that features interviews with diverse experts from communities across the country.
Water scarcity and groundwater overuse are driving land use dilemmas in California, particularly in agriculture.
One promising solution gaining traction is multi-benefit land repurposing, which involves transforming unproductive farmland to capture rain, floods, and diverted water for groundwater recharge. These repurposed lands also provide various advantages for wildlife, recreation, education, and climate adaptation.
This episode delves into discussions with experts and stakeholders involved in the program, such as Ann Hayden, Vice President of Resilient Water Systems at the Environmental Defense Fund.
The potential of multi-benefit land repurposing is showcased through visits to Pixley National Wildlife Refuge, Kaweah Oaks Preserve, Joseph Gallo Farms, and Castroville Slough Treatment Wetlands.
Despite its complexity and cost, the program is gaining momentum, offering hope for California and beyond.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet that explores solutions for sustainability and equity in water. This episode is supported by the Environmental Defense Fund.
2024 is the 50th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the landmark federal legislation designed to protect public health by regulating the quality of drinking water in the United States.
This episode features a discussion with Alan Roberson, Executive Director of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators.
He explores the state of America’s drinking water before the enactment of SDWA, the fundamental changes brought about by the law, and the progress of the past 50 years. Alan highlights how the 1986 and 1996 amendments to SDWA strengthened regulations and expanded the scope of protections.
He also talks about opportunities to improve SDWA and changes that may shape the next 50 years of drinking water safety.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet.
This episode is from a conversation at the Reservoir Center in Washington DC, where waterloop is a media partner.
Growing up with a strong fear of water doesn’t typically lead someone to a career in coastal issues. However, after grappling with this fear during childhood in India, Vidya Balasubramanyam found the courage to pursue a career in coastal resilience and environmental advocacy in the U.S.
In this episode, Vidya shares her personal journey and professional perspective. She discusses various options for building resilient shorelines in places like Illinois and New Hampshire. Vidya also delves into the impacts on communities of color and disadvantaged populations in coastal areas, along with strategies for bolstering their resilience.
Vidya currently serves at the Coastal States Organization, and although she is not representing it in this interview, she provides insights into the organization's role in advancing resilience and offering solutions for vulnerable communities on the coast.
This episode is part of the Color Of Water series, a collaboration between waterloop and the Water Hub that features interviews with diverse experts from communities across the country. Visit the Color Of Water directory.
Sustainability is now a pivotal concern in the realm of corporate responsibility, pushing companies to integrate environmentally beneficial practices into their core strategies.
This shift is particularly evident in the growing focus on water stewardship and the adoption of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria, highlighting how businesses are increasingly held accountable for their efforts.
In this episode, a discussion with Emilio Tenuta, Chief Sustainability Officer at Ecolab, explores the evolution of corporate responsibility and water stewardship. Emilio delves into the significance of water management within corporate ESG strategies, shedding light on the multifaceted benefits of environmental stewardship for business.
He also talks about consumer influence on corporate sustainability, innovative water resilience projects, and collaborative initiatives involving some of the world’s leading companies.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet that explores solutions. Visit waterloop.org
The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) has consistently defied conventions in the use of social media by a water utility. Their approach combines humor and human connection to foster relationships within the community.
During the last holiday season, they took their efforts a step further by encouraging people to dial a phone number, which greeted them with a heartfelt voice message.
In this episode, a conversation with NEORSD Communications Manager John Gonzalez delves into the profound impact of this message and explores some of the most memorable moments from their social media endeavors.
John also discusses the guiding principles behind NEORSD's social media activities, the strategies to gain support from utility management, and valuable insights for fostering meaningful engagement with customers.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
It only rains about 11 inches per year in Tucson, Arizona and decades of historic mismanagement compounded the water scarcity problems, resulting in dwindling groundwater supplies and a mostly dry Santa Cruz River.
In response, this city in the Sonoran Desert became a leader in saving, reusing, and recycling water.
Programs to conserve water and reclaim treated wastewater are discussed in this episode by John Kmiec, Director of Tucson Water. Efforts to use recycled water to restore flows in the Santa Cruz River are shared by Luke Cole, who directs the river’s restoration for the Sonoran Institute. And local resident Brad Lancaster explains how he harvests rainwater for all his needs at home and spurred the use of green infrastructure to capture stormwater in the neighborhood.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
As a variety of forces continue to change the water landscape in the American West, adaptation is the focus. This episode features conversations with several prominent water leaders from the One Water Summit in Tucson.
Adel Hagekhalil, the General Manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, explains ambitious plans to capture, store, and recycle enormous amounts of water across the region.
Felicia Marcus, a Fellow at Stanford University’s Water In The West Program, discusses California’s progress during the past decade and how it has created a comprehensive approach to adaptation.
Sharon Megdal, a professor and Director of the Water Resources Research Center at the University of Arizona, talks about the role of research in building public understanding of problems and advancing tangible solutions.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
Members of the Color of Water directory bring extensive knowledge and firsthand experience in water solutions, environmental justice, climate resilience, on-the-ground research, and policy advocacy.
A new collaborative series between waterloop and the Water Hub will provide a platform for these diverse experts, who are improving understanding and management of water in their communities.
This episode features a conversation with Maya Richard-Craven, a freelance journalist and co-host of the series. Maya talks about her personal and professional connections to water, the importance of hearing from diverse experts, and her goals for the series.
This episode is part of the Color Of Water series, a collaboration between waterloop and the Water Hub that features interviews with diverse experts from communities across the country. Visit the Color Of Water.
Blue Plains, located in Washington, D.C., holds the title of the world's largest advanced wastewater treatment plant.
In this episode, join Miguel Miranda, a process engineer at DC Water, for an informative and technical tour of the facility. Treating approximately 380 million gallons daily, the plant is a testament to cutting-edge environmental engineering.
Miguel delves into the advanced treatment processes, including nitrification and denitrification, essential for discharge into the Potomac River. He also sheds light on the plant's solid handling techniques, from initial screening and removal to thermal hydrolysis and digestion, effectively converting waste into energy and biosolids for beneficial use.
This episode is a conversation launched from the Reservoir Center in Washington D.C. where waterloop is a media partner.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
King tides are the highest high tides of the year and they are increasing due to factors such as rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and land subsidence. Communities are experiencing more flooding from king tides, posing a variety of challenges and hazards.
This episode explores a collaboration between the North Carolina King Tides Project and Wetlands Watch that utilizes digital tools and citizen science to study these events.
Gabi Kinney, the Community Engagement Project Manager for Wetlands Watch, explains how innovative apps and community engagement are used to gather crucial data during king tides. This information enhances understanding and preparedness for future challenges associated with sea level rise and flooding.
Gabi also discusses how communities are responding to these evolving coastal conditions and their efforts to build resilience.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet and winner of the US Water Prize for Communications. Visit waterloop.org.
There's an urgent need for assistance with water and sanitation in the United States, where 2 million people lack access to basic services.
In this episode, Boris Martin, CEO of Engineers Without Borders USA, delves into the challenges faced by underserved communities, particularly when it comes to accessing funds.
Boris talks about the transformation of 14,000 engineers into volunteers, many of whom help in the U.S. through the Community Engineering Corps. The volunteer engineers engage with communities, conduct needs assessments, and produce reports to secure financial resources.
Boris also shares insights into the growing influx of students and young professionals eager to create a positive impact, the mentorship provided by veteran engineers, and the rewarding experiences that come with helping communities gain water access.
This episode is from a conversation at the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C. where waterloop is a media partner.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet and winner of the US Water Prize for Communications. Visit waterloop.org
In a groundbreaking episode, water management in the digital era is explored through a unique engagement with artificial intelligence. ChatGPT was used to create Dr. Aqua, an AI persona embodying a water management expert. Dr. Aqua's responses were then given voice and visual life through AI tools, presenting a fascinatingly interactive character.
Dr. Aqua discusses the integration of digital twins, effective data management, the crucial role of cybersecurity, and the innovative use of drones and robots. The episode also delves into the potential of AI and tools like ChatGPT, exploring how these technologies can enhance communication with the public and address water challenges.
Dr. Aqua shares insights on the adoption of digital tools in water management versus other industries, the risks of technological stagnation, and practical advice for embracing digital advancements. This conversation is not just an exploration of water management strategies but also a testament to the evolving role of AI in understanding and solving complex industry issues.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet and the winner of the 2023 US Water Prize for Communications: waterloop.org
Water management is critical and challenging for Navajo Nation, which spreads across 27,000 square miles of the arid Southwest.
In this episode, Crystal Tulley-Cordova, Principal Hydrologist for the Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources, shares her experiences and observations, including how climate change is impacting the landscape.
She discusses the role of Navajo Nation in management of the Colorado River and how tribes in the basin are seeking greater influence. Crystal also talks about the influx of federal funds for infrastructure and how it is supporting progress on Navajo water projects.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
This episode is supported by Flume Utility & Business Solutions, which delivers comprehensive residential water data analytics. Learn more at flumewater.com
This is an epilogue to the series The PFAS Puzzle: Lessons From A Contaminated Fear. The chemicals were dumped in the North Carolina river for nearly 40 years before being discovered. The series explores how a community responds when it is the epicenter of PFAS pollution.
In this episode, waterloop founder Travis Loop shares some of the pivotal soundbites from an array of experts including environmental scientists, utility managers, public health researchers, community advocates, and regulators. He also shares his professional perspective and personal commentary on PFAS pollution.
Find the complete series at PFAS puzzle.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet.
This series is sponsored by:
Black & Veatch, providing end-to-end consulting, engineering, and construction services to address each community's unique PFAS needs. Learn more at bv.com/pfas
PFASComms.com, who makes utilities the trusted, go-to-source for PFAS information in the community. Visit pfascomms.com
ALTRA, a company with the most robust PFAS treatment solution. Visit logistec.com/pfas-solutions
There is tremendous potential in onsite reuse, where a building’s greywater, wastewater, or stormwater is treated and used again at the same location.
To raise awareness of this technology, a beer was brewed using water recycled by an onsite system at a San Francisco apartment building.
The OneWater Brew and the concept of onsite reuse are discussed in this episode with Aaron Tartakovsky, CEO of Epic Cleantec.
Aaron explains the process of creating the beer and the media attention it has garnered. He also discusses efforts to increase acceptance of onsite reuse among regulators, builders, utilities, and the public.
This episode is supported by Flume Utility & Business Solutions, which delivers comprehensive residential water data analytics to entities tasked with creating a sustainable water future. Learn more at flumewater.com
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
Historic levels of funding are available to replace lead service lines across the United States.
But thousands of water systems are so small they lack the staff expertise and capacity needed to identify, apply for, and manage funds.
That’s why there is a massive push to expand and deploy technical assistance, including the launch of more environmental finance centers.
The effort is discussed in this episode with Palencia Mobley, Midwest Funding Navigator Manager for the Environmental Policy Innovation Center.
The episode also features a conversation with Dante Sawyer, Village Manager for Hazel Crest in Illinois, who shares the experience of a small municipality that utilized technical assistance to fund removal of lead lines.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
This episode is made possible by support from the WaterNow Alliance and Environmental Policy Innovation Center and is sponsored by:
-120Water offers cloud-based software and digital sampling kits to help water systems and states to execute lead programs. Visit 120water.com
-LeadCopperRule.com helps utilities proactively manage lead communications and public information emergencies. Visit leadcopperrule.com
-BlueConduit has developed cutting-edge, predictive machine learning software to effectively locate lead service lines. Visit blueconduit.com
Resilience is a shared characteristic of rural communities, often dealing with adversity through their close-knit and resourceful nature.
However, the ongoing rural struggles related to water infrastructure, pollution, and workforce shortages are now amplified by the effects of climate change.
New strategies and technical assistance can build up their resilience, as discussed in this podcast with Olga Morales-Pate, CEO of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership.
Olga sheds light on the power of collaboration and regionalization, enabling small water systems to benefit from economies of scale and gain a more powerful voice. She also emphasizes the critical need for flexible funding mechanisms and workforce development to enhance the capacity of rural communities.
This episode is from a conversation at the Reservoir Center in Washington D.C. where waterloop is a media partner.
This episode is supported by Flume Utility & Business Solutions, which delivers comprehensive residential water data analytics to entities tasked with creating a sustainable water future. Learn more at flumewater.com
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
A sommelier is commonly associated with wine expertise, but there exists a category of professionals specializing in the assessment of water's taste, texture, and quality.
These experts offer valuable insights into attributes like mineral composition, source, and purity, all of which are explored in this episode featuring Milin Patel, a water sommelier and consultant.
Milin takes the podcast host on a journey through a water tasting experience, featuring a variety of waters, including municipal tap water, reverse osmosis-treated water, and well-known bottled brands.
Additionally, Milin delves into the sommelier's role in public outreach and discusses how people react to educational experiences centered around water tasting.
This episode is sponsored by Flume Utility & Business Solutions, which delivers comprehensive residential water data analytics to entities tasked with creating a sustainable water future. Learn more at flumewater.com
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
Time spent exploring outdoors can provide the best perspective on the state of our water world.
This episode delves into the remarkable lessons offered by the mountains and rivers of Colorado, insights shared by Chris Wolff on his Adventure Hydrology Instagram page.
Chris takes us through the observations and transformations he's witnessed during his hikes, rafting excursions, and skiing adventures amidst the Rocky Mountains.
Additionally, he sheds light on his prior contributions to water conservation efforts at the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District, as well as his current role dedicated to advancing sustainability in the Colorado River Basin with Quantified Ventures.
This episode is supported by Flume Utility & Business Solutions, which delivers comprehensive residential water data analytics to entities tasked with creating a sustainable water future. Learn more at flumewater.com
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
It’s the year 2099 and civilization has finally achieved global water sustainability.
In this positive era, water is a human right, properly valued, efficiently and productively used, extensively reused, and part of thriving ecosystems.
The path to this future is discussed in this episode with Peter Gleick, author of The Three Ages of Water and President Emeritus of the Pacific Institute.
He explains the fundamental choice made in the 2020s that led to a sustainable water world and how obstacles were overcome in politics, pricing, efficiency, energy, and agriculture.
This episode is supported by Flume Utility & Business Solutions, which delivers comprehensive residential water data analytics to entities tasked with creating a sustainable water future. Learn more at flumewater.com
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet exploring solutions for sustainability and equity in water. Visit waterloop.org
The NFL has long had an environment program to mitigate the impact of its major events and leave a green legacy in host cities.
But over the last few years, water stewardship has become a more prominent part of the portfolio, particularly in conjunction with the Super Bowl, as discussed in this episode with Jack Groh, Director of the NFL Environment Program.
He explains how the NFL works with FORCE BLUE, an organization of military special operations veterans, to conduct water projects, including restoring coral reef in Florida, helping the kelp forest in California, and removing invasive snails in an Arizona river.
Jack also talks about engaging the NFL fans to raise awareness of current water issues and increase stewardship.
This episode is from a conversation at the Green Sports Alliance Summit.
This episode is supported by Open Water, the ultra-purified, electrolyte-packed water canned in the U.S. in BPA-free aluminum packaging. Learn more at drinkopenwater.com
\waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
Water treatment facilities use tremendous amounts of energy, often responsible for up to 30 percent of a municipality's energy consumption and cost.
There is a movement to make these water facilities net zero, meaning they produce as much energy as they consume.
Oregon is home to one of the original net zero facilities in the U.S., as discussed in this episode with Jacob Corum, an engineer at the Gresham Wastewater Treatment Plant.
During a tour of the plant, Jacob explains how it achieved net zero status, particularly by increasing production of biogas, optimizing processes for energy efficiency, and installing solar panels on the property.
This episode is supported by Flume Utility & Business Solutions, which delivers comprehensive residential water data analytics to entities tasked with creating a sustainable water future. Learn more at flumewater.com
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet exploring solutions for sustainability and equity in water. Visit waterloop.org
This episode is part of a series, Funding To Fight Lead.
A group of experts from government, banking, and advocacy recently gathered at the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C. to discuss funding options and opportunities and how to advance the work.
This episode features presentations from the event on topics including federal loan programs, activities at the municipal level, technical assistance for communities, use of bond financing, and resources to navigate funding.
The speakers are:
-Anita Thompkins, Director of Drinking Water Infrastructure Division at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
-Tom Neltner, Senior Director of Safer Chemicals at the Environmental Defense Fund
-Carolyn Berndt, Legislative Director for Sustainability at the National League of Cities
-Cynthia Koehler, Executive Director at the WaterNow Alliance
-Nathan Anderson, Assistant Vice President at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
-Maureen Cunningham, Chief Strategy Officer at the Environmental Policy Innovation Center
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
This episode is made possible by support from the WaterNow Alliance and Environmental Policy Innovation Center and is sponsored by:
-120Water offers cloud-based software and digital sampling kits to help water systems and states to execute lead programs. Visit 120water.com
-LeadCopperRule.com helps utilities proactively manage lead communications and public information emergencies. Visit leadcopperrule.com
-BlueConduit has developed cutting-edge, predictive machine learning software to effectively locate lead service lines. Visit blueconduit.com
Fresh perspectives and innovative ideas play a pivotal role in addressing the challenges of the 21st century, such as climate change, water equity, and environmental justice.
This is why it's crucial to identify, recognize, and nurture emerging leaders, a topic explored in this episode with Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome, Senior Director for Environmental Justice at The White House Council on Environmental Quality. She joins the podcast to celebrate the recipients of the WaterNow Alliance 2023 Emerging Leader Award.
During the conversation, she delves into the intersection between emerging leaders and environmental justice, emphasizes the significance of effecting change at the grassroots level, and underscores the imperative for early and mid-career water professionals to be bold in their pursuits.
This episode is a collaboration with WaterNow Alliance. Learn more about their 2023 Emerging Leader Award Winners.
This episode is supported by Flume Utility & Business Solutions, which delivers comprehensive residential water data analytics to entities tasked with creating a sustainable water future. Learn more at flumewater.com and connect at partnerships@flumewater.com.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
There are one million people in California without safe drinking water and many of them live in the San Joaquin Valley, a region dominated by agriculture. Many residents, particularly low-income, Latino farmworkers in rural communities, face the harsh reality of dry wells or contaminated water sources due to the excessive water consumption and pollution caused by the agricultural industry.
But there are organizations fighting for fairness in water access, as discussed in this episode with Susana De Anda of Community Water Center, Linda Gutierrez of the Yettum-Seville Community Services District, and Jessi Snyder of Self-Help Enterprises.
They talk about the basic assistance of providing emergency tanks, delivering water, and drilling wells for homes. They also explain efforts to unite tiny utilities, build networks of community leaders, assist towns with operations, and raise the voice of those in need.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
Sports have tremendous influence and impact on many facets of society, including the environment. The potential to turn the sports industry into a powerful driver of sustainability led to the formation of the Green Sports Alliance in 2010.
Over a decade later, its member teams, leagues, venues, and businesses are creating change, as discussed in this episode with Dune Ives, the organization’s co-founder and board member.
Dune explains how the Green Sports Alliance was initially focused on energy and waste, but that water is now becoming a more prominent issue. She talks about a new playbook that aims to help venues improve water management and the opportunities for the water and sports industries to deepen collaboration.
This episode is supported by Open Water, the ultra-purified, electrolyte-packed water canned in the U.S. in BPA-free aluminum packaging. Learn more at drinkopenwater.com
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
This episode is part of a series The PFAS Puzzle: Lessons From A Contaminated Cape Fear. The forever chemicals were dumped in the North Carolina river for nearly 40 years before being discovered. The series explores how a community responds when it is the epicenter of PFAS pollution.
This episode is about regulations.
Some of the big questions about PFAS are how industrial facilities have been able to discharge the chemicals and whether regulations like the Clean Water Act are being properly utilized.
Those regulatory issues and the situation for the Cape Fear River are discussed in this episode with Elizabeth Biser, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, and Geoff Gisler, Program Director at the Southern Environmental Law Center.
They talk about the requirements for compliance with a consent order and groundbreaking permit for a facility on the Cape Fear. Geoff summarizes the variety of PFAS litigation around the country and direction of the legal fight, while Elizabeth explains the response and approach by state regulators.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
This series is sponsored by:
Black & Veatch, providing end-to-end consulting, engineering, and construction services to address each community's unique PFAS needs. Learn more at bv.com/pfas
PFASComms.com, who makes utilities the trusted, go-to-source for PFAS information in the community. Visit pfascomms.com
ALTRA, a company with the most robust PFAS treatment solution. Visit logistec.com/pfas-solutions/
Athletes have tremendous influence - on fans, teams, brands, and more.
That power can be used to create positive change for the environment, as discussed in this episode with Chris Dickerson, a former Major League Baseball player and co-founder of Players For The Planet.
Chris explains how he developed an interest in sustainability when surrounded by single-use plastic in a baseball clubhouse and then launched the organization to create opportunities for athletes to take action. He also talks about the growing interest among players and the need for teams and venues to move faster.
From a conversation at the Green Sports Alliance Summit.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet exploring solutions for sustainability and equity. Visit waterloop.org
Many people, particularly in younger generations, want careers that make a positive impact on broad issues such as social justice and climate change. The water industry is promoting that it has jobs that deliver results for people and the planet.
One of the messengers is Maura Jarvis, a community outreach consultant for the Philadelphia Water Department. In this episode, Maura discusses how water careers are excellent opportunities to create change in communities, the impact of her work in public engagement, and advice for people interested in entering the industry.
This episode is from a conversation at the Reservoir Center for Water Solutions in Washington, D.C. where waterloop is a media partner. Learn more at reservoircenter.org
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
This episode is part of a series, Funding To Fight Lead.
Replacing the nation’s lead service lines in a timely manner is going to require funding beyond government dollars. The municipal bonds that utilities use for a variety of water infrastructure projects are an untapped resource for lead service line replacement.
This episode about the use of municipal bonds is particularly of interest to utility leadership, financial staff, and municipal managers. The conversation features Marc Uy, portfolio manager for municipal impact at AllianceBernstein; Stephen Spitz, leader of the water and wastewater financing team at Orrick; and Clifford Gerber, tax lawyer at Norton Rose Fulbright.
The guests discuss how impact investors are interested in water infrastructure such as lead service line replacement, the ability for municipalities to finance the work on private property because of the public benefit, and the tax implications including exemption.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
This episode is made possible by support from the WaterNow Alliance and Environmental Policy Innovation Center and is sponsored by:
120Water offers cloud-based software and digital sampling kits to help water systems and states to execute lead programs. Visit 120water.com
LeadCopperRule.com helps utilities proactively manage lead communications and public information emergencies. Visit leadcopperrule.com
BlueConduit has developed cutting-edge, predictive machine learning software to effectively locate lead service lines. Visit blueconduit.com
Philadelphia is one of the country’s leaders in the use of green infrastructure to manage stormwater and bring benefits to communities. Since launching its Green City, Clean Waters initiative in 2011, Philly has installed 2,800 green tools at more than 800 sites, which together capture a staggering 3 billion gallons of water.
The city’s approach and accomplishments are discussed in this episode with Stephanie Chiorean, Environmental Scientist Specialist and Planner at the Philadelphia Water Department.
Stephanie leads visits to three standout locations for green infrastructure - the American Street, Adaire School, and Waterloo Playground. Along the way she provides insights on lessons learned and advice for other cities working to go green.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
For a long time, the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C. was nicknamed the Forgotten River due to a lack of investment, heavy pollution, and surrounding low-income neighborhoods.
Now ecological restoration and a development boom have brought attention to the Anacostia.
This episode is a ride on the river with Trey Sherard, Anacostia Riverkeeper.
Trey talks about challenges such as environmental racism, toxic sediment, and gentrification, as well as progress on sewer overflows, stormwater controls, and community engagement.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
Societal events of the past few years have many water utilities working to address diversity, equity, and inclusion within the workforce.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has established an Office of DEI that is focusing on an array of work and has a top executive that reports directly to the general manager rather than the human resources department.
These efforts are discussed in this podcast with Cathie Chavez-Morris, Utility Services Manager with the LADWP Office of DEI.
She talks about striving for improvements in the areas of workforce, workplace, and marketplace. Cathie also explains the opportunity to use historic levels of infrastructure funding to make progress on DEI.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
Over the past 20 years, trust in public institutions has plummeted and sales of bottled water have skyrocketed. A new book titled Profits Of Distrust explores how these trends are related and the correlation between distrust of tap water and government agencies such as utilities.
The analysis is discussed in this episode with Manny Teodoro, one of the book’s authors and a Professor of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
In addition to outlining the problem, the book presents a series of reforms that could rebuild public trust in the water coming out of the tap. Manny talks about several of them including consolidation of utilities, enforcement of the Safe Drinking Water Act, improving Consumer Confidence Reports, paying attention to the taste of tap water, and providing universal service across America.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
This episode is part of a series The PFAS Puzzle: Lessons From A Contaminated Cape Fear. The forever chemicals were dumped in the North Carolina river for nearly 40 years before being discovered. The series explores how a community responds when it is the epicenter of PFAS pollution.
This episode is about health.
The emergence of PFAS has epidemiologists and toxicologists working to understand the health impacts. Researchers in North Carolina are on the leading edge of the science and in this episode Dr. Jane Hoppin of North Carolina State University and Dr. Jamie DeWitt of East Carolina University discuss what is known about human health impacts.
They talk about studying the blood of people in the Cape Fear region and finding higher levels of PFAS than the average American, communicating those results to people, and sharing recommendations for monitoring health moving forward. Jane and Jamie share what they have learned as researchers and offer advice for other scientists working on PFAS.
This series is sponsored by:
Black & Veatch, providing end-to-end consulting, engineering, and construction services to address each community's unique PFAS needs. Learn more at bv.com/pfas
PFASComms.com, who makes utilities the trusted, go-to-source for PFAS information in the community. Visit pfascomms.com
ALTRA, a company with the most robust PFAS treatment solution. Visit logistec.com/pfas-solutions/
What will water look like in the year 2050?
Envisioning the future and the forces shaping it can help the water utility sector to plan and be proactive, as discussed in this episode with David LaFrance, Chi Ho Sham, and Joe Jacangelo of the American Water Works Association.
They talk about brainstorming water in 2050 with a group of experts and the drivers of sustainability, technology, governance, economics, and demographics.
This episode is from a conversation at the Reservoir Center for Water Solutions in Washington, D.C. where waterloop is a media partner. Learn more atreservoircenter.org
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
New Orleans has a complicated relationship with water. The city draws much of its identity from the Mississippi River, the bayous and swamps of southern Louisiana, and the nearby Gulf of Mexico. But the location and topography mean New Orleans has historically faced storms and flooding, which are worsening due to climate change.
The traditional use of large, engineered infrastructure to manage water is not enough. This episode explores how New Orleans is adopting a Living With Water approach to bolster its resilience.
Rami Diaz, an architect with Waggonner & Ball, discusses lessons from the Dutch in allowing water to be part of the landscape and how spaces across the city are being transformed. Meagan Williams, Urban Water Program Manager with the City of New Orleans, explains how green infrastructure is being implemented on public property and reducing floodwaters. Angela Chalk, Executive Director of Healthy Community Services, talks about helping residents in the 7th Ward install nature based solutions at their homes and improve their neighborhood.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
This episode is part of a series, Funding To Fight Lead. There are perhaps 10 million lead service lines in the ground in the U.S. and it may cost $50 billion to remove them. The series explores financing lead service line replacement, technical assistance for under-resourced communities, and examples of successful approaches.
This episode is about how Denver did it.
When Denver Water decided to replace 64,000 to 84,000 lead service lines over 15 years, the question arose of how to pay for the work. The utility ultimately decided to use public funds for the work on private property.
The decision came after much research into the financial approach and clarification that it was permissible from the Government Accounting Standards Board, as discussed in this episode with Angela Bricmont, Chief Financial Officer of Denver Water, and Ed Harrington, former President of the Government Finance Officers Association.
Angela and Ed also talk about building comfort with this method of funding lead service line replacement and the significant interest in the approach from other water utilities.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
This episode is made possible by support from the WaterNow Alliance and Environmental Policy Innovation Center and is sponsored by:
120Water offers cloud-based software and digital sampling kits to help water systems and states to execute lead programs. Visit 120water.com
LeadCopperRule.com helps utilities proactively manage lead communications and public information emergencies. Visitleadcopperrule.com
BlueConduit has developed cutting-edge, predictive machine learning software to effectively locate lead service lines. Visit blueconduit.com
This episode is part of a series The PFAS Puzzle: Lessons From A Contaminated Cape Fear. The forever chemicals were dumped in the North Carolina river for nearly 40 years before being discovered. The series explores how a community responds when it is the epicenter of PFAS pollution.
This episode is about advocacy.
PFAS poses difficult challenges on multiple fronts for environmental advocacy groups. High levels of PFAS in the Cape Fear River meant local advocates had to learn about the complex chemicals and at the same time provide information to concerned community members and take steps to address the pollution.
The work and the lessons learned are discussed in this podcast with Dana Sargent, Executive Director of Cape Fear River Watch, and Kemp Burdette, the Cape Fear Riverkeeper.
Dana and Kemp also talk about pursuing legal action against state regulators and the industrial polluter, working with the water utility and public health researchers, and advise for advocates dealing with PFAS in other communities.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet.
This series is sponsored by:
PFASComms.com, who makes utilities the trusted, go-to-source for PFAS information in the community. Visit pfascomms.com
ALTRA, a company with the most robust PFAS treatment solution. Visit logistec.com/pfas-solutions
Black & Veatch, providing end-to-end consulting, engineering, and construction services to address each community's unique PFAS needs. Learn more at bv.com/pfas
For 50 years, American Rivers has worked to protect and restore waterways across the country. During the organization’s existence and through its efforts, many rivers have improved, such as the Neuse and Elwha, while others are in tough shape, like the Colorado and Snake.
The progress and challenges are discussed in this episode with Tom Kiernan, President and CEO of American Rivers.
Tom also talks about the goal of protecting one million miles of rivers and removing 30,000 dams by the year 2050, as well as how the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act can help with the work.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
Science has always been foundational to water management. That tradition continues in 2023, with a staggering breadth and depth of research underway.
It’s particularly important to gain knowledge about emerging contaminants, impacts of climate change, and water reuse, as discussed in this podcast with Peter Grevatt, CEO of The Water Research Foundation.
Peter explains how research can be applied to improve water management, the opportunity for regulators to use research to accelerate solutions, and the science of PFAS.
This episode is from a conversation at the Reservoir Center for Water Solutions in Washington, D.C. where waterloop is a media partner. Learn more at reservoircenter.org
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed drinking water regulations for several types of PFAS, the so-called forever chemicals that are pervasive in society and the environment and pose a risk to human health.
The announcement was made at an event in Wilmington, North Carolina and this episode features the remarks by EPA Administrator Michael Regan and commentary by waterloop host Travis Loop.
The episode also includes reactions from Secretary Elizabeth Biser of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, La’Meshia Whittington of The Green Majority, and Emily Donovan of Clean Cape Fear.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
This episode is part of a series, Funding To Fight Lead. There are perhaps 10 million lead service lines in the ground in the U.S. and it may cost $50 billion to remove them. The series explores financing lead service line replacement, technical assistance for under-resourced communities, and examples of successful approaches.
This episode is about the role of state and local policy.
State and local policies play a central role in financing of lead service line replacement. The ability of utilities to use public funds for work on private property is often the key challenge, as discussed in this episode with Tom Neltner of the Environmental Defense Fund. He cites Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania as examples of states that have adopted policies to facilitate financing of the work.
Successful funding approaches at the local level are also highlighted in this episode by Kareem Adeem of Newark Water and Sewer and Nancy Quirk of Green Bay Water.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. This episode is made possible by support from the WaterNow Alliance and Environmental Policy Innovation Center and is sponsored by:
LeadCopperRule.com helps utilities proactively manage lead communications and public information emergencies. Visit leadcopperrule.com
120Water offers cloud-based software and digital sampling kits to help water systems and states to execute lead programs. Visit 120water.com
BlueConduit has developed cutting-edge, predictive machine learning software to effectively locate lead service lines. Visit blueconduit.com
Analysis has shown a significant lack of diversity in the sources cited in media coverage. This means failing to include Black, Latino, and Indigenous water experts and to present the stories of people within impacted communities.
The Color of Water platform was created to counter this trend. It’s an online directory that journalists can use to connect with a diverse set of experts, as discussed in this episode with Jose Aranda, Relationships Manager for the Water Hub.
Jose explains how the Color of Water is training these experts to bolster their skills, sharing where they appear in media coverage, and aiming to add their voices to policy discussions and professional gatherings.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
Nearly two decades after Hurricane Katrina, there are continued efforts to make New Orleans more resilient to storms and climate change.
A recent innovation is the green mortgage, a program that helps lower-income people buy a home and provides a budget for retrofits for water, wind, and energy projects. The green mortgage concept is discussed in this episode with Damon Burns, President and CEO of Finance New Orleans.
He explains how green mortgages can also be used to bolster resilience of multi-family affordable housing developments and surrounding water infrastructure. Damon talks about creating an environmental impact bond to finance the program.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. This episode was made possible by support from Spring Point Partners.
Visit waterloop.org
This episode is part of a series The PFAS Puzzle: Lessons From A Contaminated Cape Fear. The forever chemicals were dumped in the North Carolina river for nearly 40 years before being discovered. The series explores how a community responds when it is the epicenter of PFAS pollution.
This episode is about the drinking water.
The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority in Wilmington, N.C. found itself in a difficult situation when high levels of PFAS were discovered in its water. How should the utility manage the forever chemicals, particularly in the absence of drinking water standards, information about health impacts, and a method of removal?
In this episode, Ken Waldroup, executive director of CFPUA, discusses the lessons learned by the utility. He talks about building a $43 million treatment system for PFAS, pursuing the company responsible for the pollution, and rebuilding public trust in the water coming from the tap.
This series is sponsored by:
Black & Veatch, providing end-to-end consulting, engineering, and construction services to address each community's unique PFAS needs. Learn more at bv.com/pfas
PFASComms.com, who makes utilities the trusted, go-to-source for PFAS information in the community. Visit pfascomms.com
ALTRA, a company with the most robust PFAS treatment solution. Visit logistec.com/pfas-solutions/
Black people in environmental conservation have not historically received the same visibility in the media. This not only fails to acknowledge their contributions, but also leaves young people without role models in fields such as water.
That’s why a conservationist is profiled each day during Black History Month by Sierra Taliaferro, founder of the Green Obsidian. In this episode, she talks about five years of writing the profiles and shares examples of people she is highlighting this year.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
This episode is part of a series, Funding To Fight Lead. There are perhaps 10 million lead service lines in the ground in the U.S. and it may cost $50 billion to remove them. The series explores financing lead service line replacement, technical assistance for under-resourced communities, and examples of successful approaches.
This episode is about the menu of options.
The ways to fund lead service line replacement and some of the key financial aspects are discussed in this episode with Cynthia Koehler of the WaterNow Alliance and Tim Male of the Environmental Policy Innovation Center. Cynthia and Tim talk about the $15 billion for lead pipe removal from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the use of municipal bonds to fund work on private property, the role of state and local policies, and help for communities in need.
This episode is made possibly by support from the WaterNow Alliance and Environmental Policy Innovation Center. The episode is sponsored by:
BlueConduit has developed cutting-edge, predictive machine learning software to effectively locate lead service lines. Visit BlueConduit.com
120Water offers cloud-based software and digital sampling kits to help water systems and states to execute lead programs. Visit 120Water.com
LeadCopperRule.com helps utilities proactively manage lead communications and public information emergencies. Visit LeadCopperRule.com
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
This episode is part of a series The PFAS Puzzle: Lessons From A Contaminated Cape Fear. The forever chemicals were dumped in the North Carolina river for nearly 40 years before being discovered. The series explores how a community responds when it is the epicenter of PFAS pollution. This episode is about the science.
Dr. Detlef Knappe of North Carolina State University is one of the leading scientists who found PFAS in the river and has conducted continued research on its presence. In this episode, Detlef discusses discovering the chemicals, identifying sources of the pollution, and sharing information with government regulators and utilities. He explains how PFAS levels have been lowered, shares the lessons he learned about research, and offers advice for communities with concerns about the chemicals.
This series is sponsored by:
ALTRA, a company with the most robust PFAS treatment solution. Visit logistec.com/pfas-solutions/
Black & Veatch, providing end-to-end consulting, engineering, and construction services to meet each community's unique PFAS needs. Visit bv.com/pfas
PFASComms.com, who makes utilities the trusted, go-to-source for PFAS information in the community. Visit pfascomms.com
How can the affordability of water bills be properly addressed without consistent and comprehensive data?
New Jersey decided to get a clearer look at the situation. A state law now requires all water utilities to report on a monthly and zip-code basis affordability metrics including rates, customer bills, water usage, arrears, shutoffs, and tax liens sold on homes for non-payment.
The law is discussed in this episode with Larry Levine, Director of Urban Water Infrastructure and a Senior Attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Larry also talks about the coalition that developed and lobbied for the legislation, how the law will be implemented, and NRDC’s affordability toolkit.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet helping water leaders to discover solutions and drive change. Visit waterloop.org
Nonprofit media outlet waterloop is expanding its coverage of solutions to today’s critical water challenges, including features on lessons learned from PFAS pollution in North Carolina’s Cape Fear River, options for funding the removal of lead service lines to protect drinking water, and visits with people leading change in disadvantaged communities. In this episode, waterloop founder Travis Loop discusses the expansion and also shares his professional and personal journeys that led to waterloop.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet helping water leaders to discover solutions and drive change. Visit waterloop.org
How does someone develop the mentality of a mentor and create opportunities for others? For Tim Alston it started in high school, when the people selected for a leadership program didn’t reflect the diversity of the student population. That sparked Tim to start a mentorship program for younger students of color in the local community and launched him on the path of helping others to enter STEM education and occupations.
In this episode, Tim discusses what motivates him as a mentor and how he has encouraged minorities to pursue STEM at the University of Illinois, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and as a Plant Manager at the Gary Sanitary District.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet helping water leaders to discover solutions and drive change. Visit waterloop.org
This episode was made possible by support from Spring Point Partners.
During the last century, large engineering projects were used to control water resources. But in many ways, that man-made infrastructure is failing to meet challenges in the 21st century such as drought, flooding, pollution, and population growth.
How can a pivot back to nature provide more sustainable solutions for water management?
The nature-based approach is discussed in this episode with Sandra Postel, the author of Replenish and the Director of the Global Water Policy Project. Sandra discusses a variety of examples from across the U.S. of the benefits of nature-based solutions, including restoring the flow of rivers, putting watersheds to work, providing room for floods, and bringing down dams.
waterloop is sponsored by Varuna, the tool that provides water utilities with full system awareness and offers a new resilience dashboard that identifies internal and external risks. Learn more at Varuna.city
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet helping water leaders to discover solutions and drive change. Visit waterloop.org
In an increasingly thirsty world, there is much potential in desalination, the process of removing salt from seawater. But desalination has historically posed challenges - it consumes massive amounts of expensive energy, produces a waste called brine, and raises concerns about impacts on aquatic life.
So how is desalination becoming more of an option for the creation of freshwater?
That question is answered in this episode with Peter Fiske, Executive Director of the National Alliance for Water Innovation and Director of the Water-Energy Resilience Research Institute.
Peter explains how desalination is becoming more efficient and effective through innovation in membranes, technologies for handling brine, and extraction of valuable elements. He also talks about upcoming pilot projects, the role of desalination in addressing Western water scarcity, and international collaboration.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet helping water leaders to discover solutions and drive change. Visit waterloop.org
In a recent poll, U.S. voters overwhelmingly agreed that water is a human right, clean waterways are important, and infrastructure investments are critical. While those results are encouraging, the real value of polls are in how they can be used to test language, create messages, and influence policy.
That work is discussed in this episode with Nicole Lampe of Water Hub, Yasmin Zaerpoor of PolicyLink, and Jenifer Collins of the National Wildlife Federation. They talk about opportunities to use the poll results to shape specific policies such as jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act, financial assistance with water bills for low-income Americans, and the upcoming Farm Bill.
waterloop is the podcast helping water leaders to discover solutions and drive change. Visit waterloop.org
waterloop is sponsored by Varuna, the tool that provides water utilities with full system awareness and offers a new resilience dashboard that identifies internal and external risks. Learn more at Varuna.city
P3 involves a public agency partnering with a private entity on a project. A twist on the traditional public-private partnership puts the community first and focuses on its challenges and opportunities.
This approach works particularly well with green infrastructure, as discussed in this episode with Dominique Luechenhoff, a former water official for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and a Senior Fellow at the U.S. Water Alliance.
Dominique talks about the creation of community based P3s to advance green infrastructure as part of the Chesapeake Bay TMDL, beginning in Prince George’s County, Maryland. She also explains how Chester, Pennsylvania used the formula to establish a stormwater utility.
waterloop is sponsored by Varuna, the tool that provides water utilities with full system awareness and offers a new resilience dashboard that identifies internal and external risks. Learn more at Varuna.city
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet featuring conversations about solutions and science. Visit waterloop.org
2022 is the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, which fundamentally changed regulation and management of water resources in the U.S. The Clean Water Act Owner’s Manual was created to help people understand and use the law to reduce pollution. The tool is discussed in this episode with Katherine Baer, Vice President of River Programs at the River Network, and Matt Rota, Senior Policy Director at Healthy Gulf. Katherine and Matt talk about how citizens own the Clean Water Act, using the owner’s manual to tackle specific problems, and the addition of climate change and environmental justice to the version released for the 50th anniversary.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet featuring conversations about water solutions and science. Visit waterloop.org
waterloop is sponsored by Varuna, the tool that provides water utilities with full system awareness and offers a new resilience dashboard that identifies internal and external risks. Learn more at Varuna.city
Algae blooms that pollute waterways, produce toxins, and cause dead zones are one of the most widespread and challenging environmental problems in the U.S. Nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural land is the leading fuel for the algae blooms, but efforts to reduce the nutrient pollution from farms have largely been unsuccessful.
In this episode, Dr. Donald Boesch, President Emeritus of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, says it’s time to change the approach and create a national strategy for regulating agriculture pollution. Don talks about approaches for reducing the use of fertilizers, paying farmers for performance, stopping production of corn-based ethanol, and improving water quality as part of fighting climate change.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet featuring conversations about solutions and science. Visit waterloop.org
waterloop is sponsored by Varuna, the tool that provides water utilities with full system awareness and offers a new resilience dashboard that identifies internal and external risks. Learn more at Varuna.city
Problems of environmental justice and water equity haven’t historically received proper coverage by traditional media. And if they did get in the news, chances are the reporter didn’t look like the impacted population. That’s changing in Baltimore and around the Chesapeake Bay, where a nonprofit is helping young people in communities of color to tell their stories. The Environmental Justice Journalism Initiative is discussed in this episode with its Co-Founders, Donzell Brown and Rona Kobell.
They talk about teaching students from the city about environmental justice and how to produce stories about the issues. Donzell and Rona hope that the skills and experience the young people gain enable them to be effective advocates and potentially journalists for larger new outlets.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
waterloop is sponsored by Varuna, the tool that provides water utilities with full system awareness and offers a new resilience dashboard that identifies internal and external risks. Learn more at Varuna.city
Despite the direct and often disproportionate impacts of water problems on Latinos in California, there was historically a lack of water knowledge and advocacy by the leaders in their communities. That led to the creation of an organization to educate and motivate Latino local elected officials across the state. This level of government is the closest to the people and the solutions, as discussed in this episode with Victor Griego, President and Founder of Water Education For Latino Leaders.
Victor explains how the organization focuses on inspiring Latino leaders to care about water issues and giving them the leadership and storytelling skills necessary to create change.
waterloop is sponsored by Varuna, the tool that provides water utilities with full system awareness and offers a new resilience dashboard that identifies internal and external risks. Learn more at Varuna.city
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
Thousands of water utilities across the U.S. are smaller and under-resourced, often leaving them consumed by daily operations and unable to take on projects to increase efficiency and reduce costs. But external experts can help these utilities to triage pressing challenges and then turn to strategic improvements, as discussed in this episode with George Hawkins, CEO and Founder of Moonshot Missions.
George talks about bringing his experience, including as the head of DC Water, and building a team to work with utilities and launch them on a path of progress. He also provides his take on infrastructure funding, consolidation, affordability, cybersecurity, and PFAS.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet featuring conversations about solutions and science. Learn more at waterloop.org
waterloop is sponsored by Varuna, the tool that provides water utilities with full system awareness and offers a new resilience dashboard that identifies internal and external risks. Learn more at Varuna.city
Traveling presents the opportunity to make observations about many aspects of the world including about water. In this episode, waterloop host Travis Loop discusses his summer trip to Germany and a variety of ways that water caught his attention in cities such as Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and Munich. Topics include public refill stations, bottled water in restaurants, the presence of green roofs, and river surfing.
waterloop is sponsored by Varuna, the tool that provides water utilities with full system awareness and offers a new resilience dashboard that identifies internal and external risks. Learn more at Varuna.city
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
Artificial intelligence has emerged as a powerful tool in the fight to find lead water lines in the U.S., which could number up to 10 million and pose a threat to human health. The use of AI allows for much more accurate predictions of the location of lead lines by using a variety of factors such as the age of a house, size of the property, and prevalence in the area.
This approach has helped cities like Newark, Detroit, and Toledo to dramatically reduce the time and cost of finding and replacing lead lines, as discussed in this episode with Eric Scwartz, CEO and Co-Founder of BlueConduit. Eric talks about how funding from the Rockefeller Foundation is allowing BlueConduit to provide free access to an inventory tool, launch a nationwide map of lead lines, and increase outreach to under-resourced communities.
waterloop is sponsored by Varuna, the tool that provides water utilities with full system awareness and offers a new resilience dashboard that identifies internal and external risks. Learn more at Varuna.city
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
Many of the one million people in California who lack access to safe and reliable drinking water are Latino agricultural workers living in small communities throughout the state’s Central Valley. Despite agriculture’s reliance on them as a workforce, the industry uses vast quantities of water and often pollutes resources.
Change is difficult because these people are on the absolute bottom of the political pyramid and lack a voice in government, as discussed in this episode with Janaki Anagha, Director of Community Advocacy at the Community Water Center. Janaki talks about the need to focus on changing representation in local water boards and how her organization is helping to identify, train, and support people as candidates for political office.
waterloop is sponsored by Varuna, the tool that provides water utilities with full system awareness and offers a new resilience dashboard that identifies internal and external risks. Learn more at varuna.city
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
Some coastal communities experience flooding of low-lying areas on sunny days due to exceptional high tides. The frequency and severity of these events, also called blue sky flooding or nuisance flooding, are increasing due to sea level rise and are projected to triple in the U.S. by the year 2050.
Sunny day flooding is discussed in this episode with Miyuki Hino, an Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina. Miyuki explains a variety of the current research on the flooding, including her work in coastal North Carolina, and how the information is used to understand trends and help communities adapt. She also explains some of the response measures such as retrofitting infrastructure, using nature-based solutions, and employing managed retreat from flood prone areas.
waterloop is sponsored by Varuna, the tool that provides water utilities with full system awareness and offers a new resilience dashboard that identifies internal and external risks. Learn more at varuna.city
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
As climate change and other crises strain water supplies, more attention is being paid to the water footprint, the amount of water used by an individual or household over a certain period of time. A water footprint includes the water that is directly used by taps, showers, toilets, and household appliances, as well as for outdoor uses. But the water used to make the food we eat, consumer products we buy, and energy we use is also part of a water footprint.
The rise and importance of the water footprint is discussed in this episode with Kai Olson-Sawyer, manager of the Water Footprint Project for GRACE Communications Foundation. Kai explains how people can use the Water Footprint Calculator to learn about their personal consumption and shares ways that individuals can reduce their impact.
waterloop is sponsored by Varuna, the tool that provides water utilities with full system awareness and offers a new resilience dashboard that identifies internal and external risks. Learn more at varuna.city
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
As an historic flood devastated Yellowstone National Park and downstream communities in Montana, the U.S. Geological Survey was busy measuring streamflows, monitoring equipment, sharing data, and even making repairs in the field. Early data shows the flood could be a one in 500-year event and the gauge just outside the park measured water levels 50 percent higher than the previous record.
The role and response of USGS during these storms is discussed in this episode with Katherine Chase, surface water specialist at the USGS Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center. She says that trends show increases in peak flow over the years, a possible indication of how climate change is bringing more intense rainfall and melting snowpack more rapidly in the Yellowstone area. Katherine also talks about how to accurately describe the frequency of flood events and the ways USGS coordinates its science with other federal agencies.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. For all content visit waterloop.org
waterloop is sponsored by Varuna, the tool that provides water utilities with full system awareness and offers a new resilience dashboard that identifies internal and external risks. Learn more at varuna.city
A new report finds that the 2.2 million people in America who live without running water or a toilet at home is costing the U.S. economy over $8.5 billion a year. The biggest impacts to the GDP come from lost productivity, time lost at work or school to access water, physical health impacts, water purchase costs, and mental health impacts.
In this episode, George McGraw, CEO and Founder of DigDeep, discusses the report and how closing the water gap would generate $200 billion over the next 50 years. George also talks about recommendations to treat the water access gap as a crisis, refocusing federal funding, and building a domestic WASH sector.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. For all content visit https://www.waterloop.org
waterloop is sponsored by Varuna, the tool that provides water utilities with full system awareness and offers a new resilience dashboard that identifies internal and external risks. Learn more at https://bit.ly/waterloopVaruna
In Baltimore, there are vast, disturbing differences from neighborhood to neighborhood in factors such as employment, education, crime, and life expectancy. While it will take a wide variety of efforts to address the root causes, an effort is underway to evaluate how green stormwater infrastructure could provide benefits for residents and improve equity across the city.
In this episode, Meghan Hazer, a city planner with the Baltimore Department of Public Works, explains how a map that prioritizes work locations was created using socio-economic and health data along with suitability of the environment for green infrastructure. Meghan also discusses the importance of asking residents about their preferred projects rather than the city dictating what will happen.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. For all content visit https://www.waterloop.org
waterloop is sponsored by Varuna, the tool that provides water utilities with full system awareness and offers a new resilience dashboard that identifies internal and external risks. Learn more at https://bit.ly/waterloopVaruna
It took thousands of years for the Mississippi River to build the coastline of southern Louisiana and its vast network of wetlands and bayous. It only took several generations of people to disrupt the natural, land-building flow by controlling the river with concrete and levees.
Now a state-of-the-art, 10,000 square foot physical model is used to plan restoration projects for the area, as discussed in this episode with Clint Willson, the Director of the Center for River Studies at Louisiana State University. Clint explains how the Mississippi River Delta model operates and the unique learning opportunities it provides to students, scientists, and resource managers.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org
The water industry is often described as conservative, risk-averse, and slow to change. That behavior and accompanying acceptance of the status quo frustrate Will Sarni, Founder and CEO of the Water Foundry, who believes the industry needs disruption, particularly to tackle “wicked problems.”
In this episode, Will explains how the government could play a key role in enabling more activity and faster innovation in water. He also discusses the importance of terminology used in reporting on water challenges, the launch of the Colorado River Basin Fund, and how corporations are doing on water sustainability.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet made possible in part by a grant from Spring Point Partners. Find all content at waterloop.org
Note: This episode is in Spanish. Watch it with English subtitles or read a transcript in English at https://bit.ly/TwoNationPark
The Rio Grande River serves as the border between the United States and Mexico and in many ways keeps people apart. A historic project is underway to create a binational park along the river in Laredo in Texas and Nuevo Laredo in Mexico as a way to bring the two communities and nations together, as well as provide a variety of amenities. The vision for the park is discussed in this Pass The Mic episode, which is guest hosted by Mariana Del Valle Prieto Cervantes of Green Latinos. She speaks with Tricia Cortez and Martin Castro of the Rio Grande International Study Center, who explain that the aim is for the six-mile-long park to benefit the health of the Rio Grande and provide a gathering space for people, showcase local culture, drive tourism, and generate economic activity.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit www.waterloop.org
Hundreds of millions of people around the world that lack water and sanitation spend money and valuable time to get access. The market-based model of Water.org has helped 43 million people to use microloans to gain proper access to water and sanitation and then use the saved money and time to better their lives.
The approach is discussed in this episode with Gary White, Co-founder and CEO of Water.org and author of a new book titled The Worth Of Water. Gary also shares stories of how people have lifted themselves out of poverty, the role and impact of actor and Water.org co-founder Matt Damon, and the path forward for the organization, which includes helping water providers expand services to reach more people.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit https://www.waterloop.org
The Colorado River has been named the most endangered river in the U.S. by American Rivers, with the organization citing the challenges it faces from the impacts of climate change, outdated water management practices, overallocation of resources, and a failure to manage the river equitably.
These problems and the overall state of the Colorado River are discussed in this episode with Matt Rice, Director of the Southwest Region for American Rivers. Matt also talks about how to respond to the challenges, including through funding from the new infrastructure act, expansion of a wide range of water efficiency measures, and by fully involving tribes in decisions and management.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet focused on solutions and science. Visit https://www.waterloop.org
Tremendous attention is paid to decisions, dollars, and officials at the federal and state levels, but local government is arguably the key cog in water management. Local leaders and staff are the ones ultimately spending funds, setting policy, and implementing programs that directly impact water resources and people’s daily lives.
That’s why it is vital to listen to and assist those at the local level, as explained in this episode with Cynthia Koehler, Executive Director of the WaterNow Alliance. She talks about top challenges and current trends for local government in the areas of finance, equity and affordability, and adoption of innovation, as well as how water utilities are becoming anchor institutions in the community.
Find all content at www.waterloop.org
In many parts of the U.S., political partisanship and climate change pose challenges for environmental progress. Meanwhile, the Great Lakes have shown to be a place for rare bipartisan support for investing in clean water and healthy communities. Also, climate change could offer silver linings for the region, such as a longer growing season for agriculture and as a refuge for people migrating from impacts like drought or sea level rise.
These opportunities are discussed in this episode with Joel Brammeier, President and CEO of the Alliance for the Great Lakes. Joel also talks about progress in cleaning up highly polluted areas, combating invasive species like Asian Carp, and engaging communities in shaping water projects.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet focused on solutions and science. Visit https://www.waterloop.org
The relationship between water and conflict has a long history. Sometimes a fight arises over water resources. Other times water is used as a weapon during war. In other cases water is collateral damage. The history is detailed in the Water and Conflict Chronology and discussed in this episode with Peter Gleick, President Emeritus and a Senior Fellow at the Pacific Institute.
Peter also talks about examples from the chronology such as the first entry from 2400 B.C. in Mesopotamia, the destruction of a water system in New York City during the Revolutionary War, and the involvement of water in the current invasion of Ukraine.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet focused on solutions and science. Visit https://www.waterloop.org
Water is a rather simple chemical compound, with two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Yet this seemingly basic substance is necessary for all known forms of life, comprises two-thirds of the human body, and covers 70 percent of the Earth. Water also displays a wide range of unique behaviors, such as how it sticks to itself, goes against gravity, and dissolves many other substances.
The wonder and weirdness of water is discussed in this episode with Alok Jha, author of The Water Book. He talks about water’s strange properties, cosmic origins, arrival on this planet, and presence throughout the universe. Alok says that although water is arguably the most studied substance in history, it is also one of the most mysterious.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet focused on solutions and science. Visit https://www.waterloop.org
Before Hurricane Katrina, the work to protect and restore Louisiana’s coast was fragmented among various government agencies with limited budgets and little coordination. The devastation of the storm and continued catastrophic loss of land and wetlands spurred the formation of a central agency to coordinate all activities and funds as the state recommitted to saving the coast.
The efforts of that government agency and the 50-year, $50 billion plan it spearheads is discussed in this episode with Chip Kline, Chairman of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority for Louisiana. Chip also talks about following the best science, specific projects to bolster hurricane protection and coastal restoration, and the need for both traditional infrastructure and natural buffers.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet focused on solutions and science. Visit https://www.waterloop.org
Utah is one of the driest states in the U.S. and the strain on water resources is growing as its population booms and climate change fuels aridification across the American West. But instead of aggressively advancing water conservation as other states are doing, Utah is brazenly rejecting that approach and pursuing costly infrastructure projects like pipelines, a situation covered by Mark Olalde, a reporter for ProPublica. In this episode, Mark discusses his story, the outsized influence of water districts and lobbyists on state policy, and examples of how Utah has shunned conservation measures such as demand management, native landscaping, and water loss tracking.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet, made possible in part by a grant from Spring Point Partners. Find all content at waterloop.org
Listeners can support waterloop and get exclusive opportunities through Patreon.
The water industry functions better when the workforce has a diverse blend of backgrounds and perspectives. This includes having individuals that bring experience in public administration and a mindset of service to others.
In this episode, Amanda Jones, Founder of Womxn in Water, discusses how her journey in government and focus on helping people were beneficial at the water department in Marana, Arizona. Amanda talks about applying public administration skills at a water utility, making customer service more about assisting the community, why affordability is a forefront issue, and launching an organization to support women in water.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet focused on solutions and science. Visit waterloop.org
The amount of plastic - trillions of pieces and millions of tons - in the ocean is one of the planet’s most daunting environmental challenges. But many people are undeterred and drawn to projects to address the pollution, some even traveling thousands of miles across the ocean to study the problem and starting organizations dedicated to solutions.
That’s the personal journey discussed in this episode with Bonnie Monteleone, Founder and Executive Director of the Plastic Ocean Project. Bonnie talks about the use of art in public outreach, enlisting businesses to reduce plastic, the enthusiasm of young people for tackling the pollution, and working on the issue from the North Carolina coast.
Visit https://www.waterloop.org
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet, made possible in part by a grant from Spring Point Partners.
Listeners can support waterloop and get exclusive opportunities through Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/thewaterloop
The water challenges are serious for Navajo Nation, including one in three families lacking running water, impacts of climate change straining the land, and legacy pollution tainting some sources. But a spirit of resilience and leadership from within are steadily leading Navajo Nation toward a more sustainable water future.
A focus on solutions instead of obstacles is also key, as discussed in this Pass The Mic episode, which is guest hosted by Emma Robbins, Executive Director of the Navajo Water Project at DigDeep.
Emma speaks with Crystal Tulley-Cordova, Principal Hydrologist at the Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources, about her experience growing up in a home without running water, her journey as a woman in science and government, her belief in collaboration and partnerships, and an unwavering commitment to helping her community.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet, made possible in part by a grant from Spring Point Partners.
Listeners can support waterloop and get exclusive opportunities through Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/thewaterloop
Five decades ago, Cleveland was infamous for major water problems, including the Cuyahoga River catching on fire and Lake Erie being proclaimed dead. But the challenges attracted attention, resources, businesses, and problem-solvers. 50 years later, the city is an epicenter for water innovation and technology, as discussed in this episode by Bryan Stubbs, President and Executive Director of the Cleveland Water Alliance. Bryan talks about the effort to make Erie a smart lake, solutions emerging from the Erie Hack, creation of a testbed for tech, and Cleveland’s thriving water community.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet, made possible in part by a grant from Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by Hydraloop, the innovative water recycling system for homes and businesses. Use water twice with Hydraloop. Learn more at hydraloop.com
Listeners can support waterloop and get exclusive opportunities through Patreon at patreon.com/thewaterloop
In 2014, a toxic algae bloom in Lake Erie forced the shutdown of Toledo’s drinking water system, cutting off the vital service for 400,000 people. In the years since, the City of Toledo responded by forging partnerships to monitor conditions in the lake, investing in upgrades to infrastructure and water treatment, and communicating in a transparent and comprehensive manner with the public. The lessons learned and level of preparedness is discussed in this episode with Patekka Bannister, Commissioner of Operations for the City of Toledo Department of Public Utilities. Patekka also explains how water managers from around the country and world often consult Toledo about how to deal with toxic algae blooms and how the experiences shaped her perspective as a water leader.
Find more content at waterloop.org
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet, made possible in part by a grant from Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by Hydraloop, the innovative water recycling system for homes and businesses. Use water twice with Hydraloop. Learn more at hydraloop.com
Listeners can support waterloop and get exclusive opportunities through Patreon at patreon.com/thewaterloop
Illinois is the state with the most lead service lines for drinking water in the country, estimated to be between 700,000 and 1.4 million, with a large number of those found in Chicago. But in 2021, the efforts of a diverse coalition of stakeholders led to passage of landmark legislation that made Illinois one of only two states to require replacement of all lead service lines. An inside look at the Illinois legislation is provided in this Pass The Mic episode, which is guest hosted by Jeremy Orr, an environmental attorney specializing in Safe Drinking Water Act enforcement who previously worked at the Natural Resources Defense Council and now is at Earthjustice. Jeremy talks with Justin Williams of the Metropolitan Planning Council in Chicago about the problem of lead service lines, the disproportionate impact on communities of color, the extensive work it took to pass legislation, and expected benefits for people and the economy.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet, made possible in part by a grant from Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by Hydraloop, the innovative water recycling system for homes and businesses. Use water twice with Hydraloop. Learn more at https://www.hydraloop.com
Listeners can support waterloop and get exclusive opportunities through Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/thewaterloop
Wilmington, North Carolina is home to the USS North Carolina, a retired World War II battleship that is open as a museum that draws over a quarter of a million visitors each year and serves as a memorial to the North Carolinians who died in the war. But now this special piece of American history faces an unlikely challenge - water. That’s because blue sky flooding, made increasingly frequent by sea level rise, is impacting visitor access to the battleship. The path forward is a Living With Water approach that will convert flooded parking lots into wetland, capture stormwater from the remaining parking area, and restore a natural shoreline.
The Battleship North Carolina project is discussed by Captain Terry Bragg, Executive Director of the Battleship North Carolina; Dawn York, Senior Coastal Scientist at Moffatt and Nichol; Jenny Davis, Research Ecologist at NOAA National Ocean Service; and Rami Diaz, Senior Project Designer at Waggonner & Ball.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet, made possible in part by a grant from Spring Point Partners.
Listeners can support waterloop and get exclusive opportunities through Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/thewaterloop
waterloop is sponsored by Hydraloop, the innovative water recycling system for homes and businesses. Use water twice with Hydraloop. Learn more at https://www.hydraloop.com
The Great Lakes are the largest freshwater ecosystem in the world, containing over 20 percent of Earth’s surface freshwater. This makes the Great Lakes an incredibly unique and critical place for water research, including in the areas of invasive species, microplastics, emerging contaminants, and climate change. The opportunities to learn and devise solutions for water challenges is discussed in this episode with Rebecca Klaper, the Vice Dean of the School of Freshwater Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Rebecca also talks about how the university attracts students from a wide range of backgrounds who then go into a diversity of fields after graduation, highlighting the cross-disciplinary nature of water.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet, made possible in part by a grant from Spring Point Partners.
Listeners can support waterloop and get exclusive access through Patreon at patreon.com/thewaterloop
waterloop is sponsored by Hydraloop, the innovative water recycling system for homes and businesses. Use water twice with Hydraloop. Learn more at hydraloop.com
Healthy and resilient coastlines depend on action by states to properly manage development and prepare for climate change. While the Surfrider Foundation’s 2021 State of the Beach report found only two-thirds of states performing at poor to adequate levels, nine states did improve their scores from last year. The highest scoring states had strong policies for coastal building setbacks, restrictions on coastal armoring, limits on development in harm’s way, and progressive sea level rise policies, as discussed in this episode with Stefanie Sekich-Quinn, Coastal Preservation Manager at the Surfrider Foundation. Stefanie also explains why Gulf Coast and Great Lakes states have low grades, the role of the federal government in state actions, and how advocates can use the report to drive change.
Support waterloop on Patreon at patreon.com/thewaterloop
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by Hydraloop, the innovative water recycling system for homes and businesses. Use water twice with Hydraloop. Learn more at hydraloop.com
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
Local government officials and staff responsible for water management often have limited resources and must avoid risk, putting them on the constant search for proven solutions that work for their peers. Enter The Atlas, an online community where they can browse case studies, follow topics, and crowdsource ideas and advice, as discussed in this episode with Ellory Monks, Co-Founder of The Atlas. Ellory explains that water content has always been extremely popular on the platform and that lead, green infrastructure, data and technology, and sea level rise are leading categories of case studies.
Find more content at waterloop.org
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by Hydraloop, the innovative water recycling system for homes and businesses. Use water twice with Hydraloop. Learn more at hydraloop.com
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
Over time many property owners in New Orleans have replaced green spaces in favor of concrete and other impervious surfaces in order to gain more parking and reduce yard maintenance. The amount of hard surfaces contributed to serious flooding problems across the city. Now a program incentivizes homeowners to replace the pavement with grass and other permeable materials to allow rain to soak into the ground and reduce stormwater runoff.
The Front Yard Initiative is explained in this episode with Dana Eness, Executive Director of The Urban Conservancy. Dana discusses how the process empowers property owners to design their front yard, the growing understanding of green solutions among New Orleans residents, and the success of the program, which captures 2 million gallons of water per year.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by Hydraloop, the innovative water recycling system for homes and businesses. Use water twice with Hydraloop. Learn more athydraloop.com
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
Managing water in New Orleans is a challenge because of the city’s unique hydrology, system of pipes and pumps, and intense rainfall events. Instead of relying only on traditional gray infrastructure, the city is embracing the use of green infrastructure to contain water, reduce flooding, transform public spaces, and beautify neighborhoods. The approach is discussed in this episode with Meagan Williams, Stormwater Program Manager for the City of New Orleans Department of Public Works.
Meagan also shares her own journey, from being motivated to help find solutions after Hurricane Katrina devastated her city as a teenager to becoming an engineer in college and now an advocate for green approaches. She talks about the Pontilly Neighborhood Stormwater Network project that reduces flood risk and beautifies green spaces in the Pontchartrain Park and Gentilly Woods neighborhoods.
waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Learn more at waterloop.org
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by Hydraloop, the innovative water recycling system for homes and businesses. Use water twice with Hydraloop. Learn more athydraloop.com
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
Growing up and working in water in Puerto Rico, Yajaira Morphonios saw people who didn’t have access to clean drinking water and she gained a unique understanding of the essential nature of water services to the well-being of a community. Since relocating to Kentucky and continuing to work in the water industry, she holds onto her Puerto Rico experiences and believes utilities and infrastructure projects can lift people up, support local businesses, and have an impact on quality of life, even in modern U.S. cities. This episode explores the journey and perspective of Yajaira, an emerging water leader who is Capital Programs Control Manager at Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District. She also discusses the value that diverse voices and different backgrounds can bring to an organization and the benefits she gained from Duke University’s Water Innovation Leadership Development program.
Find all episodes at waterloop.org
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by Hydraloop, the innovative water recycling system for homes and businesses. Use water twice with Hydraloop. Learn more at hydraloop.com
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
Coastal communities need accurate, reliable, and accessible information on tides, particularly as they confront rising sea levels and need to adapt to flooding events. But federal gauges are spread out on the U.S. coastline, which leaves extensive areas in between without precise predictions and real-world tracking of tides. That vital information gap can be closed using low-cost sensors, as discussed in this episode with Brian Glazer and Nicole Elko, Co-Founders of Hohonu. They explain that work to restore ancient Hawaiian fishponds revealed the need for ultra-precise tidal data and how it led to a network of sensors being established across the Southeast coastline. Brian and Nicole also talk about the accuracy provided during recent King Tides, the variety of people that can benefit from improved tidal predictions, and the broader push to democratize access to ocean data.
Visit waterloop.org
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by Hydraloop, the innovative water recycling system for homes and businesses. Use water twice with Hydraloop. Learn more at hydraloop.com
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
Resilience is one of the words frequently heard in discussions about water resources. But what does it actually mean? It’s important to have a common understanding of resilience, particularly as climate change accelerates water challenges and resilience becomes a critical goal, according to the Pacific Institute’s Jason Morrison, President, and Heather Cooley, Director of Research. In this episode they discuss the organization’s new definition of resilience as the ability of water systems to function so that nature and people, including those on the frontlines and disproportionately impacted, thrive under shocks, stresses, and change. Jason and Heather also talk about dimensions of resilience, the difference from sustainability and security, and ways that communities should take action.
Find all episodes at waterloop.org
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by Hydraloop, the innovative water recycling system for homes and businesses. Use water twice with Hydraloop. Learn more at hydraloop.com
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
While precipitation like rain and snow get all the attention, the amount of evapotranspiration - water transferred from land and planets to the atmosphere - is also critical to water management. But there hasn’t been an effective tool for farmers, communities, and other water stakeholders to track evapotranspiration. Enter OpenET, a powerful platform that provides easily accessible satellite-based estimates and allows users to explore data down to a quarter-acre resolution or at a broader scale for millions of fields. The development and uses of OpenET is discussed in this episode with Robyn Grimm, Director of Climate Resilient Water Information Systems at the Environmental Defense Fund, and Forrest Melton, Research Scientist at California State University Monterey Bay. Robyn and Forrest talk about building OpenET through a massive partnership, which involves NASA, Google, EDF, the Desert Research Institute, and a variety of federal agencies and universities. They also discuss pilot projects across Western states and how the tool can support irrigation efficiency, groundwater management, and trading programs.
Find all episodes at https://www.waterloop.org
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Historically the water industry preferred to be reactive in communications, especially in dealing with the media. That approach left utilities to play defense and often end up on the losing side of public relations. Now the winning strategy is to embrace proactive communications, build productive relationships with the media, and connect with customers, as discussed in this episode with Mike McGill, President of WaterPIO. Mike talks about positive opportunities the water industry has for storytelling, some examples of utilities he sees as comms leaders, and how an organization should conduct a SWOT analysis.
Find more at waterloop.org
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
An estimated 2.2 million people in America lack clean water and proper sanitation. These individuals are found all across the country - in indigenous communities, California’s Central Valley, the U.S.-Mexico border, Appalachia, the Deep South, and in urban neighborhoods. In this episode George McGraw, Founder and CEO of DigDeep, says it’s time for an international-style WASH sector to form in the U.S. and that’s why a new database lists organizations that work on the issues. George also talks about the community focused approach that DigDeep takes, how a lack of running water worsened the COVID pandemic for Navajo Nation, and rebuilding infrastructure in West Virginia.
Find all episodes at waterloop.org
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
An estimated 2.2 million people in America lack clean water and proper sanitation. These individuals are found all across the country - in indigenous communities, California’s Central Valley, the U.S.-Mexico border, Appalachia, the Deep South, and in urban neighborhoods. In this episode George McGraw, Founder and CEO of DigDeep, says it’s time for an international-style WASH sector to form in the U.S. and that’s why a new database lists organizations that work on the issues. George also talks about the community focused approach that DigDeep takes, how a lack of running water worsened the COVID pandemic for Navajo Nation, and rebuilding infrastructure in West Virginia.
Find all episodes at waterloop.org
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
For decades, advocates and activists have worked relentlessly to elevate water issues and drive policy changes and government funding. Now it seems water has risen to be a top priority, in large part because of those years of advocacy, crumbling water infrastructure, high-profile crises such as Flint, and the impacts of climate change like drought, flooding, and storms. The opportunity on water has arrived, as discussed in this episode with Nicole Lampe, Managing Director of the Water Hub. Nicole talks about a report on how to meet this moment for water, which features results of public polling and recommendations for policymakers, funders, and advocates.
Find all episodes at waterloop.org
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
Polling shows that large majorities of Latinos feel that outdoor activities involving water are a way of life, that protecting water is vital to their culture and the economy, and that the government should combat water pollution. Historically large environmental organizations haven’t represented the Latino community and that has led to the rise of groups like GreenLatinos that give them a voice, as discussed in this episode with Mariana Del Valle Prieto Cervantes, Water Equity and Ocean Program Manager for GreenLatinos. Mariana talks about the challenges and work to address issues including environmental justice, water affordability, and access to coasts and oceans.
See all episodes at waterloop.org
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
The scope of waters covered by the federal Clean Water Act - called Waters of the U.S. - is one of the most complex, controversial, and contentious issues in environmental policy. Waters of the U.S. has been the focus of Supreme Court rulings, lobbying and litigation by stakeholders, and rulemakings by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Obama and Trump administrations. The history is explained in this episode with Ken Kopocis, the head of water at EPA under President Obama, and Dave Ross, the head of water at EPA under President Trump and now a partner at Troutman Pepper.
Ken and Dave discuss the difficulty of defining Waters of the U.S., misconceptions and distortions of their respective rulemakings, their approach to working with stakeholders, the influence of politics on the issue, and if there could ever be a compromise.
Find all episodes at waterloop.org
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
Brewers are seeing the impacts of climate change on essential ingredients for beer. Unusual temperatures and precipitation are damaging crops like barley and hops while water resources are stressed by drought or polluted by algae blooms and wildfires, as explained in this episode with Katie Wallace, Director of Social and Environmental Impact at New Belgium Brewing. This led New Belgium to brew Torched Earth, a take on how bad beer could taste in a future with unchecked climate change. Katie also talks about Fat Tire becoming the first carbon neutral beer in North America, consumer demand for sustainability, and ways that brewers are improving water efficiency and engaging in stewardship in watersheds.
Find all episodes at waterloop.org
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
As the world’s largest freshwater ecosystem, the Great Lakes benefit from massive financial investment in restoration and protection activities each year. Yet one unique entity acts as a force multiplier, not by contributing the most dollars, but by targeting funds to emerging and innovative ideas that can yield exponential returns and transformative impacts. That’s the approach of the Great Lakes Protection Fund, as discussed in this episode with David Rankin, it’s Executive Director. David explains how the governors of the Great Lakes states launched the Fund in 1989 as the first private endowment dedicated to an ecosystem. He also talks about notable accomplishments including reducing the influx of invasive species, developing standards for sustainable forestry, and reestablishing natural flows after dam removals.
Find all episodes at waterloop.org
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
Water management has long been an essential part of operations for beverage companies, but in an increasingly water-stressed world the industry is focused on finding ways to reduce risk, help at the community level, and benefit the bottom line. This includes a constant drive to improve water efficiency at facilities and contribute to stewardship in watersheds. Global competitors are even becoming collaborators on water sustainability, as discussed in this episode with Nick Martin, Executive DIrector of the Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable, and Andre Fourie, Global Director of Water Sustainability at AB InBev. Nick and Andre talk about the perspectives and pressures from consumers and investors, the difference between greenwashing and authentic action, and the positive potential for technology and water reuse in the beverage industry.
Find all episodes at waterloop.org
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
Intense rainfall driven by climate change, impervious surfaces like concrete and asphalt, and aging water infrastructure are part of the formula causing communities across the country to face increased flooding and stormwater runoff. Many municipalities need assistance with planning, management, and funding. Navigate the Flood is a new step-by-step guide and list of technical and financial resources to help tackle flooding and stormwater challenges, as discussed in this episode with Erica Depalma, Research Program Coordinator at the Water Center at Penn, and Caroline Koch, Water Policy Director at the WaterNow Alliance. Erica and Caroline explain that the guide is useful for officials and staff in local government, it outlines five steps to increase resilience, and has helpful examples from communities such as New Orleans; Sheboygan, Wis.; San Mateo, Calif.; and Camden, N.J.
Find all episodes at https://www.waterloop.org
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com
There have been lofty expectations for how sensors, remote monitoring, data, and the Internet of Things would impact the operation of water infrastructure. In many ways the digital tools are beginning to live up to the hype and allowing water managers to have unprecedented and important control of systems, as discussed in this episode with Jamail Carter, Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer of Varuna. Jamail also talks about the opportunities to more fully embrace the power of technology, radically reinvent water infrastructure, and utilize expected federal funding to drive the transformation needed in the 21st century. Find all episodes at waterloop.org
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
As farms in California face another extreme drought this summer, the hope is that lessons learned and policies and tools developed from the last drought can help with water management this time. During drought farms significantly increase use of groundwater and now California is focusing on monitoring, management, and recharge of this foundational water source. The impacts and actions of agriculture during drought are discussed in this episode with Heather Cooley, Director of Research at the Pacific Institute, and Ruth Dahlquist-Willard, Farm Advisor at the University of California Cooperative Extension. They discuss the variety of choices California farms will make during drought, including where to get water, how much to water crops, what crops to fallow, how to improve water efficiency, and even whether to stay in business.
Find all episodes at waterloop.org
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
Philadelphia has embraced the use of arts and culture - from murals and music to superheroes - as a way to communicate with the community about water. The effort has especially focused on educating African-American, Latino, and low-income neighborhoods about the safety of drinking tap water. The use of art as the messenger is discussed in this episode with Tiffany Ledesma and Maura Jarvis of the Philadelphia Water Department. They talk about how artists turn into ambassadors for water, the role of Water Woman in public engagement, and collaborating with Philadelphia poet laureate.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
With climate change putting the West into a permanent drought and water levels in Lake Mead dropping to the lowest levels since Hoover Dam was built in the 1930s, the time is right for the oasis in the desert known as Las Vegas to take a big step toward reducing water consumption. Recently a ban was placed on non-functional grass - the unused grass found at commercial buildings, within shopping centers, along sidewalks, and in road medians. If these 4,000 acres of grass are converted to native landscapes it will reduce water use in the area by 10 percent, as explained in this episode with Bronson Mack, Public Outreach Manager with the Southern Nevada Water Authority. Bronson also discusses public and business support for water conservation, investments made in Lake Mead, and the substantial decline of overall water use even as Las Vegas boomed the past 20 years.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners. waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower.
Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Advancements in technology and computers have allowed scientists to develop a detailed look at the coastal land margin, the dynamic area where the land and ocean interface. The high resolution models are used to better understand the coastal environment and predict where the water goes during storm surge and floods. This science is important for protecting ecosystems and preparing communities, as discussed in this episode with Scott Hagen, Director of the Center for Coastal Resiliency and Louisiana State University. Scott also talks about lessons learned from the computer models, including the ability of marshes to migrate from sea level rise, the value of nature based solutions for adaptation, and embracing the coast as an ever-changing place.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20% off at highsierrashowerheads.com
When water quality tests are conducted at the beach to determine safety for swimming it typically takes 24 hours for results, which isn’t helpful for protecting public health in real-time. But a rapid method of testing can provide information about bacteria levels at the beach in just an hour or two, as discussed in this episode by its developer Dr. Rachel Noble, a Professor at the Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of North Carolina. Rachel explains that most states have not adopted the rapid testing for beach water quality and calls on the federal government to provide more funding for state monitoring programs, particularly because of the role of beaches as economic drivers. She also talks about further evolutions in water quality testing, including the use of autonomous vehicles to monitor water conditions.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
Many environmental problems stem from behavior problems. So over the past decade the environmental field has intensified its use of psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral science to understand how people’s brains operate and how to design programs to change behavior. The trend is explored in this episode with Katie Williamson, Senior Associate at Rare, and Philipe Bujold, Behavior Scientist at Rare. They discuss types of behavior, the levers for triggering change, and examples of initiatives in the water space including conservation efforts in California and Cape Town.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
During the past year of challenges and upheaval in society, many people turned to nature and water in particular for exercise, adventure, escape, and healing. The unique ability for water to elevate well-being - physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually - is discussed in this episode with Wallace J Nichols, author of Blue Mind, and Jaimal Yogis, author of Saltwater Buddha, The Fear Project, and All Our Waves Are Water. J and Jaimal share the role of water in some of their personal experiences of the last year, discuss the host’s first time in a float tank, and talk about surfing as medicine.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
With the ocean and coastal waters under a variety of stressors including pollution and climate change it is vital to gather more scientific data. Rapid advancements in technology have led to a proliferation of sensors for studying the coast and made these tools operable and affordable for a wider group. The use of sensors is discussed in this episode with Phil Bresnahan, an Assistant Professor of Oceanography at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Phil also talks about the need for scientists to improve communication, his invention called Smartfin that is a sensor for surfboards and paddleboards, and why surfers are excellent citizen scientists.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
Historically the relationship between the agriculture sector and conservation community could be described as unproductive, tense, and even adversarial. But a significant shift toward cooperation during the last 20 years was driven by mutual concerns such as drought, urbanization, and sustainability. Forging personal connections and building trust made it possible, as discussed in this episode with Dan Keppen, Executive Director of the Family Farm Alliance, and Taylor Hawes, Colorado River Program Director for The Nature Conservancy. Dan and Taylor talk about a variety of collaborative projects between agriculture and conservation throughout the Colorado River Basin, the role of the Farm Bill in water management, and the pressure that lies ahead from increasing water scarcity.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
Religion is a very prevalent part of life in New Orleans and southern Louisiana, leading conservation organizations to build relationships with local faith leaders and to educate them on environmental issues. Faith leaders often believe that as God’s creation it is important to be stewards of nature and they carry this message to their congregations. The role of the faith community in conservation is discussed in this episode by Helen Rose Patterson, Senior Outreach Coordinator for the Gulf Program at the National Wildlife Federation, and Cory Sparks, Assistant Pastor at Bethany United Methodist Church in New Orleans. Helen Rose and Cory talk about field trips to see coastal problems and projects, training in advocacy for faith leaders, and the impact they have by writing op-eds, speaking at public meetings, and talking to elected officials.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com
A plan to route an oil pipeline through predominantly black neighborhoods in Memphis is an example of how minority communities across the country are overburdened by pollution and subjected to environmental racism, say Chandra Taylor, Senior Attorney and Leader of the Environmental Justice Initiative at the Southern Environmental Law Center, and Marquita Bradshaw, Executive Director of Sowing Justice. They discuss how the cumulative impacts of pollution in communities like southwest Memphis must be considered when proposals such as the pipeline arise. Chandra and Marquita explain how to respond to projects that pose a pollution and public health threat to a community, including the critical need for grassroots mobilization and exploration of all options at the local, state, and federal levels.
See all podcasts at waterloop.org
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
In the Chesapeake Bay watershed, cutting-edge technology is powering the practice of precision conservation, the use of advanced data and imagery for efficient decision making in environmental management. Tools like aerial imagery, LiDAR elevation data, spatial analysis, geomorphology, and machine learning are helping projects to achieve greater impact on the ground. In this episode, Emily Mills, Geospatial Technology Manager, and Adrienne Gemberling, Senior Project Manager, of the Chesapeake Conservancy discuss how the organization has heavily invested in this technology, hired a large and skilled staff, and created the Conservation Innovation Center. Emily and Adrienne talk about the power of the tools, providing information for partners in conservation, and examples of projects to improve stream health in Pennsylvania.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com
For five generations Paul Bruchez’s family has ranched in Colorado, giving him an intimate understanding of water and the Colorado River. As climate change and development strain water resources to the breaking point, agriculture is facing tremendous pressure, pushing to improve water conservation, and collaborating with other stakeholders to find solutions. In this episode with Paul, an owner of the Reeder Creek Ranch and a fly-fishing guide, he discusses demand management and remote sensing projects, the role of agriculture in carbon sequestration, and restoring habitat for fish.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com
During last decade’s severe drought the State of California passed the Open and Transparent Water Data Act in recognition of the critical role of data in water management. That led to the formation of the California Water Data Consortium, a nonprofit that works with the state, local water agencies, farmers, NGOs, and others to improve organization, access, and use of data. In this episode Tara Moran, President and CEO of the California Water Data Consortium, discusses the progress and pilot projects involving lidar, groundwater, urban water, and agriculture.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
The greatest challenge facing the ocean is climate change, which is raising water temperatures, altering chemistry, and shifting major currents. But simultaneously there are opportunities to make progress in ocean health through changes to U.S. policy, particularly in the areas of energy, aquaculture, protected areas, and natural solutions, as explained in this episode with Eric Schwaab, Senior Vice President of Oceans and Ecosystems at the Environmental Defense Fund. Eric also discusses ways that addressing climate change can benefit ocean health and vice versa - how caring for the ocean can actually help mitigate climate change.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
Four dams on the Snake River in Washington State have pushed salmon to the brink of extinction, threatening not just the species but the broader ecosystem, the culture of Native American tribes, and the region’s economy. This crisis led the Snake to be named America’s Most Endangered River in 2021 by American Rivers as explained in this episode by Amy Souers Kober, Vice President of Communications for American Rivers, and Lisa McClane, a consultant for American Rivers. Amy and Lisa discuss a proposal to save the Snake River by Congressman Mike Simpson that would remove the dams, recover salmon populations, provide irrigation for local agriculture, and invest in clean energy.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from Spring Point Partners and the Walton Family Foundation.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com.
For the Colorado River to have a sustainable future, it’s vital to understand its past and present. Blood of the West is an in-development documentary series about the Colorado River that will take viewers on a journey from headwaters to delta and explore the history of the river. In this episode with J.R. Robinson, director of Blood of the West, he explains how his adventures in the basin inspired him to launch the film project. J.R. shares a detailed look at the places and moments that stand out in the history of the Colorado River and that offer lessons for management going forward. Learn more about the project and how to help the film be produced at bloodofthewest.com
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from Spring Point Partners and the Walton Family Foundation.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com.
The Salton Sea is a unique waterbody that has suffered from high salinity levels, agricultural runoff, and water consumption by cities in Southern California, pushing the ecosystem to the brink and threatening the health of surrounding communities. Efforts to help the Salton Sea include expanded resources from the state, wetland restoration projects, and controlling toxic dust, as discussed in this episode with Frank Ruiz, Salton Sea Program Director for Audubon California. Frank also talks about the need to increase collaboration across stakeholders, give a voice to the poor communities around the Salton Sea, and educate young Latinos about environmental issues.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from Spring Point Partners and the Walton Family Foundation.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com.
Water drainage is critical for farms in the Midwest. But farmers don’t usually receive comprehensive and unbiased information about water management and drainage solutions, and have to focus on short-term costs instead of long-term equity. Taking a holistic and objective approach can improve farms and water quality, as explained in this episode with Quint Shambaugh, Co-Founder of DIGS Associates. Quint discusses the opportunities to address agricultural drainage across a watershed, bring farms together on projects, reduce nutrient pollution, and help the health of local waterways and the Mississippi River.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from Spring Point Partners and the Walton Family Foundation.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com.
Proper attention was not paid to sustainability of water resources as the U.S. developed and expanded across the continent over the past few centuries, not only straining water availability for people but for nature itself. There are ways to move from scarcity to sustainability, however, through cooperative relationships, deliberate decision making, and urgent conservation. In this episode Brian Richter, President of Sustainable Waters and previously Director of the Global Water Program of The Nature Conservancy, discusses his experiences working on water projects in more than 30 countries, what the U.S. can learn from other parts of the world, the need to accelerate change, and teaching the next generation of water leaders.
See all podcasts at waterloop.org
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from Spring Point Partners and the Walton Family Foundation.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com.
Many lakes around the country suffer from poor water quality in the same way as Greenfield Lake in Wilmington, N.C. - stormwater runoff into the lake from hard surfaces like roads, parking lots, and buildings causes nutrient pollution, algae growth, and even fish kills. But lakes can go from green to clean through a combination of science, partnerships, and measures to reduce runoff. The effort to restore Greenfield Lake is discussed in this episode with Mike Mallin, a Research Professor at the Center for Marine Sciences at the University of North Carolina Wilmington; Dana Sargeant, Executive Director of Cape Fear River Watch; and Fred Royal, Stormwater Services Manager with the City of Wilmington. They explain how universities, local government, a nonprofit, and an engineering firm are collaborating to target the sources of pollution and clean up a lake that is a community amenity and ecological gem.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from Spring Point Partners and the Walton Family Foundation.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com.
Crews in The Ocean Race, the iconic around-the-world sailing competition, have noticed changes in the water such as more trash and less marine life. But increasingly sailors and organizers are steering toward sustainability, including by gathering scientific data at sea and making changes to the event’s footprint. In this episode Anne-Cecile Turner, Sustainability Director for The Ocean Race, and Simon Fisher, Co-Skipper of the 11th Hour Racing Team, discuss efforts in mapping microplastics, involving more boats in science, and sailors serving as advocates for the ocean.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from Spring Point Partners and the Walton Family Foundation.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Communities of color and low-income suffer disproportionately from polluted water and delivering environmental justice in these situations is essential for achieving broader equity in society. This is reflected in the fight against waste from concentrated animal feeding operations, fossil fuel pipelines, and contaminated drinking water in North Carolina, as discussed in this episode with Jovita Lee, Senior Environmental Justice Campaigner with the Center for Biological Diversity. Jovita explains how these situations in North Carolina reflect challenges facing communities of color around the country and that there are opportunities to ensure cleaner water through regulations and permitting. She also talks about the need to focus resources on the organizations that have championed environmental justice for decades.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from Spring Point Partners and the Walton Family Foundation.
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com
The U.S. coast is unprepared for the increasing impacts of storms and sea level rise on communities, infrastructure, the economy, and the environment itself. Comprehensive changes in leadership, policies, programs, and funding could create a more resilience coastline. In this episode Jeff Peterson discusses his book A New Coast, which offers strategies for responding to devastating storms and rising seas. Jeff outlines needed changes, including to flood insurance and disaster programs, assistance to states and municipalities, and investment in preparedness rather than response.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from Spring Point Partners and the Walton Family Foundation.
waterloop is sponsored by the Flume smart water monitor, the perfect device to track your home's water use in real-time from your smart phone and be alerted to excessive use or leaks. Save 10 percent with promo code waterloop at https://flumewater.com
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com
In the Mississippi Delta there is no bigger force on the economy and the environment than agriculture, with its tens of millions of acres of farmland that both feeds a nation and impacts water quality. In Arkansas programs can help both if they arise from collaboration and provide benefits for farms and conservation, as discussed in this episode with Jason Milks, Delta Projects Manager for The Nature Conservancy of Arkansas. He talks about a variety of success stories including the Wetlands Reserve Program, White River Wildlife Refuge, and controlling runoff from unpaved roads.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from Spring Point Partners and the Walton Family Foundation.
waterloop is sponsored by the Flume smart water monitor, the perfect device to track your home's water use in real-time from your smart phone and be alerted to excessive use or leaks. Save 10 percent with promo code waterloop at https://flumewater.com
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Although New Mexico receives far less attention than many other western states, it is at the precipice of a water crisis, with climate change further straining the arid state and groundwater impacted by the oil and gas industry. The situation is discussed in this episode with Laura Paskus, author of At the Precipice: New Mexico’s Changing Climate, a reporter for New Mexico in Focus, and board member of the Society of Environmental Journalists. Laura explains the status of the Rio Grande River, importance of tribal input into water decisions, efforts to better control groundwater use, and the increasing diversity of voices at the table. She also talks about the public’s appetite for water stories and need for journalists to write in a compelling and engaging style.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from Spring Point Partners and the Walton Family Foundation.
waterloop is sponsored by the Flume smart water monitor, the perfect device to track your home's water use in real-time from your smart phone and be alerted to excessive use or leaks. Save 10 percent with promo code waterloop at https://flumewater.com
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Last century’s approach to water management was based on controlling nature, a fragmented infrastructure system, and general sense there was plenty of water. But the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century have spurred a transition to a water management approach revolving around circularity, scarcity, and nature itself. The past, present, and future are discussed in this episode with Newsha Ajami, the Director of Urban Water Policy at Water in the West at Stanford University and a Senior Research Scholar at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. Newsha explains that she is optimistic because of the rise of nature-based infrastructure, more integration and innovation in water systems, and increased public awareness and behavior change.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from Spring Point Partners and the Walton Family Foundation.
waterloop is sponsored by the Flume smart water monitor, the perfect device to track your home's water use in real-time from your smart phone and be alerted to excessive use or leaks. Save 10 percent with promo code waterloop at https://flumewater.com
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com
A lack of information on groundwater has historically posed challenges for management. Now emerging tools are expanding and organizing the data available for decision-making, as discussed in this episode with Ben Kerr of Foundry Spatial, Melissa Rohde of The Nature Conservancy, and Tom Gleeson of the University of Victoria. They talk about using technology for groundwater management in Canada and California, how the interaction of surface water and groundwater factors into information gathering, and the benefits of visually appealing interfaces for data.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from Spring Point Partners and the Walton Family Foundation.
waterloop is sponsored by the Flume smart water monitor, the perfect device to track your home's water use in real-time from your smart phone and be alerted to excessive use or leaks. Save 10 percent with promo code waterloop at flumewater.com
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
Residents of Toledo, Ohio deal with water challenges ranging from pollution in Lake Erie to lead pipes for drinking water to increasing utility bills. Toledo’s communities of color and low-income have historically lacked information and input in water issues such as these. But now that’s changing through community outreach as discussed in this episode with Alexis Smith, Community Program and Technology Associate for Freshwater Future, Alicia Smith, Director of Community Programming and Associate Director of Policy for Freshwater Future, and Ramon Perez, a Community Organizer for the Junction Coalition. They talk about work to educate and engage Toledo residents, the vision for water equity and environmental justice, and how the situation in Toledo is reflective of other cities around the Great Lakes region.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from Spring Point Partners and the Walton Family Foundation.
waterloop is sponsored by the Flume smart water monitor, the perfect device to track your home's water use in real-time from your smart phone and be alerted to excessive use or leaks. Save 10 percent with promo code waterloop at https://flumewater.com
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Budgets are struggling to keep up with the scale and scope of water projects that need funding in communities across the U.S. At the same time, it is extremely difficult for public agencies to take risks on solutions that could address water challenges in more affordable and effective ways. In this episode Eric Letsinger, CEO of Quantified Ventures, discusses the rise of environmental impact bonds, an innovative financing tool that provides capital from investors for new approaches and bases the return on outcomes. Eric talks about a variety of uses of environmental impact bonds, including for green infrastructure in Washington, D.C.; flood mitigation in Hampton Roads, Virginia; water quality from agriculture in the Midwest; and restoration of coastal wetlands in Louisiana.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from Spring Point Partners and the Walton Family Foundation.
waterloop is sponsored by the Flume smart water monitor, the perfect device to track your home's water use in real-time from your smart phone and be alerted to excessive use or leaks. Save 10 percent with promo code waterloop at flumewater.com
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
The Colorado River is managed under the “Law of the River,” a complex series of agreements, laws, legal decisions, and regulations that originated with the 1922 Colorado River Compact. There are important lessons and successes from the past 100 years to remember as the basin faces urgent water challenges driven by climate change and population growth and stakeholders work on renegotiation of river policy. This episode features a retrospective on the Law of the River with Amy Haas, Executive Director of the Upper Colorado River Commission, and Chris Harris, Executive Director of the Colorado River Board of California. They discuss key moments from the past century and what those changes to river law meant for management. Amy and Chris also share examples of progress such as putting collaboration ahead of litigation, forging a partnership with Mexico, and managing water quality.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from Spring Point Partners and the Walton Family Foundation.
waterloop is sponsored by the Flume smart water monitor, the perfect device to track your home's water use in real-time from your smart phone and be alerted to excessive use or leaks. Save 10 percent with promo code waterloop at https://flumewater.com
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Oysters are an iconic and important part of Louisiana’s coastal ecosystem, culture, and economy. But in addition to harvest pressure, the oysters are under stress from increased freshwater, either from heavy rainfall fueled by climate change or diversions of water from the Mississippi River. In this episode Morgan Kelly, an Associate Professor of Biology at Louisiana State University, discusses the health and prevalence of oysters, how they are stressed by freshwater, and ways to relieve that pressure through management of river diversions, use of hatcheries, and selective breeding.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from Spring Point Partners and the Walton Family Foundation.
waterloop is sponsored by the Flume smart water monitor, the perfect device to track your home's water use in real-time from your smart phone and be alerted to excessive use or leaks. Save 10 percent with promo code waterloop at https://flumewater.com
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Historically bulkheads, seawalls, and other hardened structures were used along the Carolina coast to protect from the forces of erosion, waves, and storms. But there is a rise in the use of living shorelines, a stabilization technique that uses natural materials like rocks, oyster reefs, and plants. Living shorelines are better for water quality, property protection, and fish habitat. This episode features a discussion with Carter Smith, a marine scientist at Duke University, Lexia Weaver, a coastal scientist with the North Carolina Coastal Federation, and Daniel Govoni, a policy analyst for the NC Department of Environmental Quality. They explain the many benefits of living shorelines, incentivizing property owners to install them, and policy changes to support their use.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from Spring Point Partners and the Walton Family Foundation. waterloop is sponsored by the Flume smart water monitor, the perfect device to track your home's water use in real-time from your smart phone and be alerted to excessive use or leaks. Save 10 percent with promo code waterloop at flumewater.com waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
A common market-based approach to environmental conservation is stream mitigation banking, which allows an entity to degrade or destroy a stream while developing property in exchange for restoration of a stream someplace else. A new book Streams of Revenue explores the history of this practice and is authored by Martin Doyle, a professor at the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University, and Rebecca Lave, a professor and Chair of the Department of Geography at Indiana University. In this episode they discuss the difficulty and lack of success of stream mitigation banking and explain why they believe it needs to be reformed to achieve better environmental outcomes.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from Spring Point Partners and the Walton Family Foundation.
waterloop is sponsored by the Flume smart water monitor, the perfect device to track your home's water use in real-time from your smart phone and be alerted to excessive use or leaks. Save 10 percent with promo code waterloop at flumewater.com
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
The higher temperatures and reduced precipitation in the Colorado River Basin are no longer viewed as a short-term drought, but as a longer-term aridification caused by climate change. The alarming strain on the region’s water resources is being met with a more holistic approach to management, a deeper sense of collaboration, and a variety of innovative efforts all aimed at a sustainable future. In this episode Ted Kowalski, Colorado River Initiative Lead and Senior Program Officer at the Walton Family Foundation, discusses the status of water agreements, how farmers and ranchers are leading the way on conservation, the rising role of indigenous communities, and why he calls water a human right.
waterloop is sponsored by the Flume smart water monitor, the perfect device to track your home's water use in real-time from your smart phone and be alerted to excessive use or leaks. Save 10 percent with promo code waterloop at https://flumewater.com
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com
As the drinking water crisis unfolded in Flint, it became clear that removing all of the lead pipes to people’s homes would be a daunting challenge. Among the reasons - a lack of records on locations, competing approaches for the order, and a community that was distrustful and in many ways disconnected. But more than five years later most lead pipes are out of the ground. In this episode reflections on the experience and lessons learned are shared by Ben Pauli, Assistant Professor at Kettering University, Jared Webb, Chief Data Scientist at BlueConduit, and Mona Munroe-Yousif, Executive Director of the Environmental Transformation Movement of Flint. On the technical side, the use of data, machine learning, and predictive analytics proved to be highly effective for locating lead lines. On the human side, community outreach was vital, including engagement with diverse groups, gathering a range of input, and forging new partnerships.
waterloop is sponsored by the Flume smart water monitor, the perfect device to track your home's water use in real-time from your smart phone and be alerted to excessive use or leaks. Save 10 percent with promo code waterloop at https://flumewater.com
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Conversation and collaboration are key ingredients in accelerating change in water management across Pittsburgh and southwestern Pennsylvania, where aging infrastructure, mining and fracking, and emerging pollutants like PFAS are part of the water challenges. In this episode Alison De Luise, Senior Advisor at the Water Center at Penn, and Karl Russek, Director of Applied Research at The Water Center at Penn, talk about their work in the region to understand water challenges and the priorities of a wide spectrum of stakeholders. They also discuss launching a network of organizations, establishing a leadership incubator, and helping small towns find financial and technical assistance.
waterloop is sponsored by the Flume smart water monitor, the perfect device to track your home's water use in real-time from your smart phone and be alerted to excessive use or leaks. Save 10 percent with promo code waterloop at https://flumewater.com
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com
The spectacular California coast is incredibly diverse, from the mega-urban areas of Southern California and the Bay Area to the rugged rural areas of the Central Coast and Northern California. The water challenges are equally diverse, with climate change, stormwater, agriculture, the energy industry, and more as problems. In this episode Sean Bothwell, Executive Director of the California Coastkeeper Alliance, discusses a variety of solutions, including regulations to account for the impact of sea level rise on infrastructure, marine protected areas to support underwater ecosystems, and a Blue Business Council to bring powerful voices to water advocacy.
waterloop is sponsored by the Flume smart water monitor, the perfect device to track your home's water use in real-time from your smart phone and be alerted to excessive use or leaks. Save 10 percent with promo code waterloop at www.flumewater.com
waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Greg Characklis is Director of the Center on Financial Risk in Environmental Systems at the University of North Carolina.
In this episode Greg explains the financial risk to society from variability in the environment, including rainfall, water levels, and temperature, as well as extreme weather events. He discusses the increased attention on the risk from lenders, investors, insurance companies, and credit agencies, and how a variety of traditional and innovative tools can be used to manage financial risk. Greg talks about situations of financial risk in water around the country including the Great Lakes, Mississippi River, and Central Valley in California.
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Greg Characklis is Director of the Center on Financial Risk in Environmental Systems at the University of North Carolina.
In this episode Greg explains the financial risk to society from variability in the environment, including rainfall, water levels, and temperature, as well as extreme weather events. He discusses the increased attention on the risk from lenders, investors, insurance companies, and credit agencies, and how a variety of traditional and innovative tools can be used to manage financial risk. Greg talks about situations of financial risk in water around the country including the Great Lakes, Mississippi River, and Central Valley in California.
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Philip Berke is the Director of the Center for Resilient Communities and the Environment at the University of North Carolina.
In this episode Philip explains the pressing need for communities to focus on planning to become more resilient to climate change. He discusses a variety of approaches, from hardening of infrastructure to managed retreats, that communities are taking in places like Virginia, New Hampshire, and Texas. Philip also talks about efforts to evaluate and expand resilience planning such as the Resilience Scorecard and programs of the National Academies of Science, Urban Institute, and National Science Foundation.
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com/
Kathryn Lucero is Community Environmental Management Specialist at Communities Unlimited.
In this episode Kathryn talks about colonias, the Spanish word for neighborhood, which is used in reference to residential areas along the U.S.-Mexico border that often have substandard housing and lack basic infrastructure such as water. She discusses how efforts of the past 20 years have brought drinking water to a large percentage of colonias, including where she works in Texas. Kathryn explains the benefits for people physically, socially, and economically when they have water services in colonias.
See all podcast at www.waterloop.org
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com/
Heather Stapleton is a professor and Lee Ferguson is an associate professor at Duke University.
In this episode Heather and Lee discuss how discovery of GenX in North Carolina’s Cape Fear River sparked testing for PFAS in waterways across the state, which found elevated levels of the forever chemicals in the Haw River. They explain how an exposure study is examining PFAS in drinking water, resident’s blood levels, and effects on birth outcomes. Heather and Lee also talk about developing policy recommendations for managing PFAS.
Find all podcasts at www.waterloop.org
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com/
An estimated one million people in California lack access to safe, reliable drinking water and most of them are Latino and low-income individuals. Susana De Anda is the Executive Director of the Community Water Center and explains how it uses a blend of education, organizing, and advocacy to address the drinking water crisis in the state. She also discusses the importance of local involvement in solutions, the human right to water, and the work of Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL).
Find all podcasts at waterloop.org
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
Marc Edwards is a Professor of Civil Engineering at Virginia Tech University.
In this episode Marc discusses how he became involved in the drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigan and that it was a failure of responsibility across all levels and aspects of government. He explains the model of investigative science that he and his team uses to examine drinking water quality, and while he dislikes crossing into advocacy and activism he will expose government misconduct if necessary. Marc talks about the engineering ethics course he teaches at Virginia Tech and how students learn to follow scientific obligations to the profession and society.
See all podcast episodes at www.waterloop.org
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Felicia Marcus is a Fellow at Stanford University’s Water in the West Program and member of the Water Policy Group.
In this episode Felicia discusses many of the major water issues in California, drawing from her experience in leadership roles at the U.S. EPA, state Water Resources Control Board, and City of Los Angeles. She talks about California’s response to drought, including the emphasis on water conservation and efficiency, as well as other measures to build resilience to climate change. Felicia also shares her perspective on the role of collaboration in water management and explains her work at Stanford.
See all podcasts at www.waterloop.org
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Peter Colohan is the Executive Director of the Internet of Water project at Duke University and Stacy Timmons is the Associate Director of Hydrology Programs for the New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources.
In this episode Peter and Stacy discuss the challenges of finding and using water data because it is not modernized, integrated, and organized. Peter explains the effort to build the Internet of Water, which is envisioned as an interconnected network where water data are discoverable and accessible so it can be used to manage water resources. Stacy talks about the New Mexico Water Data Initiative and a project to put water data for the Pecos River into modern infrastructure so it can be used by stakeholders for decision-making.
Find all podcasts at www.waterloop.org
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com/
Tim Male is Executive Director of the Environmental Policy Innovation Center and Seyi Fabode is CEO and Co-Founder of Varuna.
In this episode Tim and Seyi discuss the need to reinvent the Consumer Confidence Reports that drinking water utilities are required to provide to customers. They explain that the public can’t understand most reports because they are too technical, difficult to understand, and out of date, but could be positively overhauled by utilities with creative data visualization, a desire to build trust, and a customer service mindset. Tim says the Water Data Prize is a design competition to present new concepts for presenting drinking water information to consumers.
Find all podcasts at https://www.waterloop.org
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com/
Diane Durance is the Director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW).
In this episode Diane explains that the term Blue Economy refers to a range of economic uses of ocean and coastal resources including energy, shipping, fisheries, aquaculture, and tourism. She discusses efforts by UNCW to grow the Blue Economy in southeastern North Carolina by supporting entrepreneurs, attracting funding, forging partnerships, and encouraging companies to set up in the area. Diane talks about preparing students to enter the Blue Economy and providing jobs in areas such as marine engineering, biology, and biotech, as well as coastal resilience.
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com/
Nathan Ohle is the CEO of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership.
In this episode Nathan talks about the communities and character of rural America, and how water challenges often stem from resource and capacity issues. He explains that RCAP provides a blend of training and technical assistance through a network of partners across the country. Nathan also discusses the concept of regionalization and how some rural communities are already collaborating in some form.
Find all episodes at https://www.waterloop.org
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com/
Rick Luettich is Director of the Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of North Carolina.
In this episode Rick explains that climate change is warming the ocean and atmosphere and raising sea level, leading to hurricanes that are stronger and wetter. He discusses the use of computer modeling to study and predict storm surge along the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico, as well as for resiliency planning by communities. Rick also talks about the science of protecting shorelines from coastal storms by using oyster reefs, man-made barriers, and other structural options.
Find all podcasts at https://www.waterloop.org
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com/
Colin Wellenkamp is the Executive Director of the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative.
In this episode Colin discusses how mayors for more than 100 cities and towns on the main stem of the Mississippi River work together on common goals for clean water, sustainable economies, food security, climate resilience, and culture. He explains how climate change is delivering devastating impacts, ranging from extreme heat in the upper Mississippi, to historic flooding in the middle region, to frequent hurricanes in the lower area. Colin talks about approaches to reduce nutrient pollution, including supporting sustainable agriculture, increasing monitoring with sensors, and piloting environmental impact bonds in Memphis and New Orleans.
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com/
Dan Bena is a former water and sustainability executive at PepsiCo and currently a senior consultant for the Safe Water Network.
In this episode Dan discusses how a global company like PepsiCo views its relationship to water and how corporations are approaching water risk and management. He talks about the position of water as a human right and the importance of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Dan also explains why he is an optimist in the face of many water challenges and shares lessons the U.S could learn from the developing world.
Find all podcasts at waterloop.org.
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
Mariah Davis is Policy and Campaigns Manager at the Choose Clean Water Coalition.
In this episode Mariah talks about her journey as a Black woman in the environmental field and how she feels about the intense focus on equity the past several months. She discusses the efforts and roles of the Choose Clean Water Coalition, Chesapeake Bay Program, and funders in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Mariah explains how environmental organizations can use recommendations and a checklist in an action guide to make progress on DE&I.
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com/
Chris Moore is Senior Scientist at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
In this episode Chris discusses the incredible ability of oysters to filter water and provide habitat for other species. He explains how policy changes, restoration projects, and aquaculture are helping to improve oyster populations in the Chesapeake Bay, particularly in some tributaries. Chris also talks about eating oysters, what makes them taste different, and the popularity of Chesapeake Bay oysters in restaurants.
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com/
Bill Teichmiller is the CEO of the EJ Water Cooperative.
In this episode Bill discusses how a not-for-profit, member-owned water cooperative provides services to over 77,000 people and is an alternative to public and private water utilities. He shares what he believes to be the advantages of a co-op, including better service, lower rates, cleaner water, and equity for customers. Bill talks about the challenges of having 53,000 drinking water utilities and how regionalization and cooperatives could provide solutions.
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com/
Haley Plaas is a PhD student in the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina.
In this episode Haley discusses the science of harmful algal blooms, including causes, toxins they can produce, and concerns for human health. She talks about the increase of harmful algal blooms across the U.S. and how nutrient pollution and warmer water from climate change are major factors. Haley explains her research on the potential aerosolization of toxins from algal blooms that she is conducting along the North Carolina coast.
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com/
Jaimal Yogis is the author of Saltwater Buddha, The Fear Project, All Our Waves Are Water, and Mop Rides the Waves of Life.
In this episode Jaimal shares his perspective on the spiritual connection people feel to the ocean and life lessons that can be learned from surfing and waves. He also talks about fatherhood, meditation, and Buddhism. Jaimal discusses his new children’s book, which teaches mindfulness and control of emotions.
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com/
Vipe Desai is Founder of VoteTheOcean, Chair of the Board of the Ocean Institute, and Founding Member of the Business Alliance to Protect the Pacific Coast.
In this episode Vipe discusses the value of disruptive branding and cause-marketing in the environmental field and why the action sports industry is an effective advocate for nature. He talks about the importance of political activism on ocean issues and the need for more people to vote and engage elected officials. Vipe also explains how the business community can exert its influence on coastal policy.
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com/
Judith Enck is founder of Beyond Plastics and a Senior Fellow and Visiting Faculty member at Bennington College, as well as a former Regional Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for New York, New Jersey, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
In this episode Judith explains how advocacy, education, legislation, and individual action are all part of reducing plastic pollution in water. She discusses how the coronavirus pandemic impacted the amount of single-use plastic and lists several films that tell the story of plastics. Judith also talks about PFAS pollution in Hoosick Falls, NY, hurricane recovery and resilience, and damaging changes to water policy under the Trump administration.
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Mark Mattson is the Lake Ontario Waterkeeper and President of Swim Drink Fish Canada.
In this episode Mark talks about the improvements made in Lake Ontario, particularly in the Toronto area, over the past few decades and the role of laws in driving the change. He discusses the importance of connecting people to water by providing public access and opportunities to swim, paddle, and fish. Mark also discusses the development of Swim Guide, a website and app that provides water quality information for over 8,000 beaches.
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Jeremy Orr is a Staff Attorney for the Safe Water Initiative of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
In this episode Jeremy explains that he went into environmental law because he saw a glaring lack of Black representation in the decision-making positions that impacted Black people. He discusses how racism and discriminatory practices created inequitable access to drinking water for communities of color and why environmental justice must be part of delivering equity for Black Americans. Jeremy also talks about a variety of recent progress and success in the fight for safer drinking water in Illinois and Michigan.
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Heather Sackett is Managing Editor at Aspen Journalism and Editor and Report of its Water Desk.
In this episode Heather discusses the rise and importance of nonprofit media outlets such as Aspen Journalism that cover environmental issues. She explains water rights in Colorado and the impact of climate change and the Colorado River Compact on water management. Heather also talks about private investors and hedge funds buying land to gain water rights and the community’s perception of that activity.
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Venky Raghavendra is Vice President of Advancement for the Safe Water Network.
In this episode Venky discusses social entrepreneurship and why it has a vital role in addressing water challenges around the world. He explains how the Safe Water Network emphasizes market-based solutions to provide access to water for people in India and Ghana. Venky also talks about a virtual global convening of young people who are innovators and changemakers for water.
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Fred Tutman is the Patuxent Riverkeeper.
In this episode Fred discusses his experiences as a Black man working in the overwhelmingly white environmental field and shares his perspective on the increased attention from organizations on people of color and diversity. He explains why he refers to it as environmental injustice and why ensuring clean water is part of delivering equity broadly for Black Americans. Fred also talks growing up on a farm by the Patuxent River in Maryland and his spiritual connection to the waterway.
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Erin Savage is Central Appalachian Senior Program Manager for Appalachian Voices.
In this episode Erin explains the practice of mountaintop removal for coal mining, which has destroyed more than 500 mountaintops, 1.2 million acres of forest, and 2,000 miles of streams in the Appalachians. She discusses the harmful impacts to communities including contaminated drinking water, increased flooding, and higher rates of cancer and other health issues. Erin says the coal industry isn’t meeting its responsibility to restore these mountaintops and that local economies need to be restructured to give people alternatives to working in mining.
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Howard Neukrug is the Executive Director of The Water Center at the University of Pennsylvania.
In this episode Howard discusses why there is always activity and innovation around water in the Philadelphia area. He says that The Water Center at Penn is focused on applied research to solve urban water challenges, with faculty, staff, and students all contributing. Howard explains why integrated watershed management and stakeholder engagement are vital to water sustainability in the 21st century.
The waterloop podcast is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Sharee Williamson is Associate General Counsel at the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
In this episode Sharee discusses the wide range of historic places and national treasures that are connected to water. She explains that impacts of climate change such as sea-level rise, stronger coastal storms, and flooding from intense rainfall are threatening many historic sites like Charleston, S.C.; the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C.; and Annapolis, Md. Sharee talks about options for building resilience at historic places and the role of the National Park Service in preservation.
This episode of waterloop is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying an invigorating shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com
Dan Shapley is the Water Quality Program Director at Hudson Riverkeeper.
In this episode Dan discusses various challenges the Hudson River faces as it flows from the Adirondack Mountains to New York City, which include legacy PCB pollution and emerging PFAS problems. He explains how the movement to protect the Hudson eventually spawned the global Riverkeeper program. Dan also talks about the important role of community science in public engagement and the new plan for drinking water source protection.
This episode of waterloop is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart, stylish choice for conserving water, energy, and money while enjoying an invigorating shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Fay Hartman is the Conservation Director of the Colorado River Basin Program at American Rivers.
In this episode Fay talks about the federal government’s history of investing in river and water projects that damage rivers and perpetuate injustices against people of color and low-income communities. She discusses how rivers are powerful economic drivers, particularly through recreation and tourism, and that restoration results in job creation and economic growth. Amy says that American Rivers is calling on Congress to invest $500 billion over 10 years to improve water infrastructure, modernize flood management, and revitalize watersheds.
This episode of waterloop is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart, stylish choice for conserving water, energy, and money while enjoying an invigorating shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Travis Thompson is the Communications Manager at Denver Water.
In this episode Travis discusses the utility’s ambitious plan to remove between 64,000 to 84,000 lead water pipes over the next 15 years. He explains the decision to take a proactive approach to protecting customers from lead and why replacing pipes was chosen over changes to water chemistry. Travis also talks about the extensive outreach to the public to educate them about lead and plans to replace pipes.
This episode of waterloop is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart, stylish choice for conserving water, energy, and money while enjoying an invigorating shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Steve Davis is Senior Ecologist and Communications Director at the Everglades Foundation. In this episode Steve describes the unique landscape, hydrology, and wildlife of the Florida Everglades. He talks about the need to restore water flow and improve water quality in the Everglades, as well as build the ecosystem’s resilience to climate change. Steve says there are positive signs of restoration success and that elevating the Tamiami Trail and building the Everglades Reservoir are major steps forward. This episode of waterloop is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart, stylish choice for conserving water, energy, and money while enjoying an invigorating shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com**
Marleah LaBelle is Owner of Turning Pages Consulting and a Tribal member of the Native Village of Port Graham, Alaska.
In this episode Marleah discusses the place of water in Alaska Native culture and how the lack of running water in many villages negatively impacts health and well-being. She talks about Alaska Natives feeling marginalized and struggling for environmental justice. Marleah also explains that Alaska is experiencing significant impacts of climate change and that the community of Newtok already had to be permanently relocated.
This episode of waterloop is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart, stylish choice for conserving water, energy, and money while enjoying an invigorating shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Anne Schechinger is Senior Economics Analyst at the Environmental Working Group.
In this episode Anne discusses new research from EWG that shows nitrate contamination of drinking water increasing across 10 states. She explains that nitrate is a health risk for infants and is tied to increased risk of several types of cancer. Anne says nitrate is a primary component of fertilizers and manure that can run off farm fields and into groundwater and waterways, and that drinking water standards for nitrate should be lowered.
This episode of waterloop is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart, stylish choice for conserving water, energy, and money while enjoying an invigorating shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com**
Tim Wheeler is Associate Editor and Senior Writer for the Bay Journal.
In this episode Tim discusses the current health of the Chesapeake Bay and the status of key indicators of nutrients, underwater grasses, and blue crabs. He talks about progress toward meeting the “pollution diet” for the Chesapeake by 2025 and the politics among the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and states of Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Tim also explains the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on restoration activities and Bay industries.
This episode of waterloop is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart, stylish choice for conserving water, energy, and money while enjoying an invigorating shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Julia Stein is Project Director of the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law.
In this episode Julia discusses the scope of single-use plastic production and pollution, why recycling isn’t an adequate solution, and the importance of source control. She explains the various laws found at the local level on plastic, including successful approaches and economic benefits. Julia also says federal action is needed on single-use plastics and that there is an impactful bill currently in Congress.
This episode of waterloop is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart, stylish choice for conserving water, energy, and money while enjoying an invigorating shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Chad Nelsen is the CEO of the Surfrider Foundation.
In this episode Chad discusses how the coronavirus pandemic has dramatically impacted beach access and surfing, and how the Surfrider Foundation assembled an expert task force to provide recommendations on public access. He explains that this is also a challenging time for the organization’s federal policy goals as it mostly plays defense against the Trump administration’s environmental attacks. Chad talks about the role of citizens in water quality monitoring, building Ocean Friendly Gardens, nutrient pollution at Florida beaches, and activism by the hard-core surfers of the Great Lakes.
This episode of waterloop is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart, stylish choice for conserving water, energy, and money while enjoying an invigorating shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com**
Ramiro Diaz is Senior Project Designer with Waggonner & Ball, an architecture and environment firm based in New Orleans.
In this episode Ramiro explains the firm’s Living With Water approach to design that revolves around water sustainability, climate resilience, and community livability. He discusses projects including the Greater New Orleans Urban Water Plan, Mirabeau Water Garden, and Dutch Dialogues. Ramiro also talks about the process of collaborating with a variety of stakeholders to shape design and create environmental, social, and economic benefits.
John Deignan is Lead Free DC Program Manager at DC Water.
In this episode John says there are more than 20,000 lead drinking water lines on private property in Washington, DC and the utility’s new program provides funding for replacement and requires disclosure of lead by landlords and property sellers. He discusses the financial and logistical challenges of replacing lead lines and how DC Water built an online searchable map using historical records. John also explains that lead lines for drinking water are an environmental justice issue and that a report by American University and the Environmental Defense Fund found that programs relying on customers to pay to have their lead pipe fully replaced put low-income and African American households at greater risk of lead exposure.
Rob Puentes is the President and CEO of the Eno Center for Transportation.
In this episode Rob discusses various intersections of water and transportation, including the challenges and opportunities with both types of infrastructure simultaneously in need of massive investment to modernize and expand. He talks about the impact that paved surfaces such as highways and roads have on stormwater pollution and the resulting trend to utilize more green infrastructure in transportation projects. Rob also explains that coastal cities are having to adapt transportation infrastructure in the face of climate change impacts such as sea level rise and the benefits to quality of life in cities that remove highways that block public access to waterfronts.
This episode of waterloop is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart, stylish choice for conserving water, energy, and money while enjoying an invigorating shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com**
Carla Burns is a Research and Database Analyst with the Environmental Working Group. In this episode Carla discusses the safety and effectiveness of sunscreens, including EWG’s review of more than 1,300 products that found only 25 percent offer sufficient protection and don’t contain ingredients of concern such as oxybenzone. She explains that the best sunscreens are mineral-based and offer broad-spectrum protection, particularly against UVA rays. Carla also talks about the importance of minimizing exposure to the sun by wearing a hat and sunglasses, finding shade, and avoiding the sun in the middle of day. waterloop is brought to you by the Flume Smart Water Monitor. With Flume you can track your home's water use in real-time on a smartphone and receive alerts about excessive use and leaks. Use promo code waterloop for 15% off at https://flumetech.com/
Nancy Stoner is the President of the Potomac Riverkeeper Network. In this episode Nancy describes how the health of the “Nation’s River” has significantly improved over the past several decades and how it is doing today. She discusses the continued sources of pollution to the Potomac River, which includes agriculture in the rural part of the watershed and stormwater in the urban areas, particularly the Washington, D.C. metro region. Nancy explains how the Potomac Riverkeeper Network is working to reduce contamination from coal ash ponds, use citizen science to monitor water quality, and grow freshwater mussels to filter water. This episode of waterloop is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart, stylish choice for conserving water, energy, and money while enjoying an invigorating shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com**
Tiffani Ashley Bell is the Executive Director of The Human Utility. In this episode Tiffani talks about the impacts on a person when their water is shut off and how The Human Utility pays water bills to restore service in Detroit and Baltimore. She explains how families, elderly, and those with health issues are among the priorities for assistance and the positive feeling when they can be helped. Tiffani also discusses how the moratoriums on water shut offs during the coronavirus pandemic are expected to be temporary. waterloop is brought to you by the Flume Smart Water Monitor. With Flume you can track your home's water use in real-time on a smartphone and receive alerts about excessive use and leaks. Use promo code waterloop for 15% off at https://flumetech.com/
Mathew Hauer is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Florida State University who studies the impacts of climate change on society.
In this episode Mathew explains that an estimated 13 million Americans will need to move because of rising sea levels by the end of the century. He discusses how these climate refugees from coastal areas in states like Florida, Louisiana, the Carolinas, and Virginia will create a variety of pressures on local economies and society as they relocate to inland cities. Mathew also talks about his research on how climate change may decrease human fertility and increase human mortality in the coming decades.
This episode of waterloop is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart, stylish choice for conserving water, energy, and money while enjoying an invigorating shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com**
Kara Meyer is the Managing Director of + POOL, a nonprofit working to build a swimming pool in the East River in New York City.
In this episode Kara discusses the vision for + POOL including how it would filter river water and provide a recreational resource for New Yorkers. She explains the time-consuming process of gaining various approvals and building necessary support that is underway. Kara also talks about the public art installation of an illuminated plus sign in the river that changed colors based on water quality and raised public awareness about the project and the urban waterway’s health.
waterloop is brought to you by the Flume Smart Water Monitor. With Flume you can track your home's water use in real-time on a smartphone and receive alerts about excessive use and leaks. Use promo code waterloop for 15% off at https://flumetech.com/**
Vaughn Hagerty is the Public Information Officer for the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority in Wilmington, North Carolina.
In this episode Vaughn discusses the discovery that GenX, a PFAS chemical, was dumped into the Cape Fear River for nearly 40 years by Chemours, a DuPont spin-off company, and ended up in local drinking water. He talks about the community’s response, the agreement reached with Chemours, and the $43 million the utility is spending to upgrade water treatment. Vaughn also explains his decision to join Cape Fear PUA after being a reporter that broke the story and how it has approached communication with customers in Wilmington.
This episode of waterloop is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart, stylish choice for conserving water, energy, and money while enjoying an invigorating shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com
La’Meshia Whittington-Kaminski is Deputy Political Director for Advance Carolina and Organizing Campaigns Director for the NC Black Alliance.
In this episode La’Meshia explains how the environmental justice movement began in North Carolina and the disproportionate impacts that low-income communities and communities of color have faced in the state, including GenX in drinking water, pollution from factory farms, and hurricane damage. She discusses the role political maps - specifically gerrymandering - has played and why there is a lack of public awareness of environmental justice issues. La’Meshia says that organizations have improved situations for communities through partnerships, communication, and grassroots support.
waterloop is brought to you by the Flume Smart Water Monitor. With Flume you can track your home's water use in real-time on a smartphone and receive alerts about excessive use and leaks. Use promo code waterloop for 15% off at https://flumetech.com/
Rob Bilott is an environmental attorney and author of Exposure: Poisoned Water, Corporate Greed, and One Lawyer's Twenty-Year Battle against DuPont.
In this episode Rob details his two-decade legal fight to reveal the harm done by PFAS to people in Parkersburg, W.V. and to call widespread attention to the unique threat the “forever chemicals” pose to human health. He discusses how it feels to be the person most responsible for revealing the dangers of PFAS and the value of having the film Dark Waters and its star Mark Ruffalo highlight the story for the masses. Rob says that his work is not over and he is pursuing class-action status for everyone in the United States who has been exposed to PFAS.
This episode of waterloop is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart, stylish choice for conserving water, energy, and money while enjoying an invigorating shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Micah Ragland is a native of Flint, Michigan and served as a public outreach official in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency during the Obama Administration.
in this episode Micah describes the history and people of Flint, as well as his experience growing up in the city. He explains how the Flint drinking water crisis unfolded for him, beginning with texts from relatives and then spending 11 months in the community as a central part of EPA’s response. Micah talks about the current situation in Flint and the remaining work to address the lead problem.
waterloop is brought to you by the Flume Smart Water Monitor. With Flume you can track your home's water use in real-time on a smartphone and receive alerts about excessive use and leaks. Use promo code waterloop for 15% off at https://flumetech.com/
Luke Runyon is a reporter at KUNC in Colorado and produces stories focused on water for a network of NPR stations throughout the Southwest. In this episode Luke describes the iconic Colorado River, including the perspective from his flight over its course, from mountains to the Pacific Ocean, which its waters fail to reach. He explains how states negotiate water allocations, and how the river is strained by demand and climate change. Luke shares examples of water as a unifying force and touches on a variety of stories such as cloud seeding and sports gambling to fund water projects. This episode of waterloop is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart, stylish choice for conserving water, energy, and money while enjoying an invigorating shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20% off at https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com/
Eric Adler is the CEO of Flume. In this episode Eric explains how in the era of residential water conservation and wired homes the Flume Smart Water Monitor allows people to track their house's water use in real-time on a smartphone and provides alerts about excessive use and leaks. He says a few years ago the severe California drought and water restrictions led him to create Flume as a project at Cal Poly University. Eric discusses how utilities want to encourage customers to conserve water and help them understand water bills so many are offering rebates for Flume.
waterloop is brought to you by the Flume Smart Water Monitor. With Flume you can track your home's water use in real-time on a smartphone and receive alerts about excessive use and leaks. Use promo code waterloop for 15% off at https://flumetech.com/
Emma Robbins is Director of the Navajo Water Project. In this episode Emma talks about the Navajo Nation and how Navajo are 67 times more likely than other Americans to live without running water, with one in three families hauling water home every day. She explains that the Navajo Water Project is a community-managed utility alternative that brings hot and cold running water to homes without access to water or sewer lines. Emma discusses success stories and the powerful impact of seeing people gain running water for the first time.
waterloop is brought to you by the Flume Smart Water Monitor. With Flume you can track your home's water use in real-time on a smartphone and receive alerts about excessive use and leaks. Use promo code waterloop for 15% off at https://flumetech.com/
Seth Siegel is the author of Troubled Water: What’s Wrong With What We Drink. In this episode Seth discusses why he opened the book with the story of PFAS pollution in Hoosick Falls, the concept that chemicals are considered innocent to public health until proven guilty, and the state of drinking water science. He explains the problems with EPA’s oversight of drinking water quality and the Safe Drinking Water Act. Seth talks about a variety of ways to improve drinking water including a technology leap, an improvement fund, and vouchers for low-income people.
This episode of waterloop is brought to you by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart, stylish choice for conserving water, energy, and money while enjoying an invigorating shower. Use promo code waterloop for 20 percent off at www.highsierrashowerheads.com
Jane Gilbert is the Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Miami. In this episode Jane explains how climate change is impacting Miami, including through increased heat, sea level rise, and stronger storms. She explains the new Miami Forever Climate Ready plan and how the city is adapting with infrastructure, land use codes, and green space. Jane talks about the role of community involvement, partnership with state and federal government, and lessons learned from other cities around the world.
waterloop is brought to you by the Flume Smart Water Monitor. With Flume you can track your home's water use in real-time on a smartphone and receive alerts about excessive use and leaks. Use promo code waterloop for 15% off at https://flumetech.com/
Dr. John Burns is an Assistant Professor at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. In this episode John explains the critical importance of coral reefs to the ocean ecosystem and coastal communities. He talks about the health of coral reefs in Hawaii and globally, as well as what changes in reefs reveal about the health of the ocean and planet. John also discusses the science behind Hawaii’s ban on sunscreens with oxybenzone and octinoxate and how these chemicals may impact coral reefs.
Apryl Boyle is the Founder and Executive Director of El Porto Shark. In this episode Apryl discusses misconceptions about sharks, the importance of changing public opinion, ways to raise awareness, and the role of partnerships in protection. She talks about aggregation of shark conservation data and forecasting marine life populations. Apryl also explains the role of sharks in climate change adaptation.
Earl Swift is author of Chesapeake Requiem: A Year with the Watermen of Vanishing Tangier Island. In this episode Earl explains how the unique community in the Chesapeake Bay is struggling as the island disappears through a combination of erosion, subsidence, and rising seas from climate change. He talks about his time living on Tangier Island, the life of a watermen, and the iconic blue crab. Earl also discusses the reaction to his book and the difficult decisions around saving communities from climate change.
Sean Swentek is Executive Director of A Walk On Water and a member of the Board of Directors for the International Surf Therapy Organization. In this episode Sean discusses the use of surfing as therapy for a wide range of issues including children with special needs, individuals with disabilities, veterans coping with PTSD, and people with mental health challenges. He explains how surf therapy also positively impacts family and friends that attend, as well as the volunteers themselves. Sean talks about the existing research on the benefits of surf therapy and efforts to expand the science.
Dr. Denise Herzing is the Founder and Research Director of the Wild Dolphin Project. In this episode Denise talks about her 35 years spent studying dolphins in the wild and why it is a unique and important approach. She discusses what science knows about the high intelligence level of dolphins, how they communicate, and their social structure and behaviors. Denise also explains the negative impacts of climate change and overfishing on dolphins, but offers ways people can support dolphin conservation and research.
Ryan Bigelow is the Senior Program Manager for Seafood Watch at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. In this episode Ryan discusses how the popular Seafood Watch guide helps consumers and businesses choose seafood that's fished or farmed in ways that support a healthy, more sustainable ocean. He explains how people can evaluate seafood choices at restaurants and grocery stores, as well as ways that the industry is shifting toward sustainability.
Mark Price is the CEO of Firewire Surfboards. In this episode Mark discusses how Firewire makes more sustainable surfboards, leashes, and traction pads that are better for people - including shapers - and the environment. He talks about the impact of having Kelly Slater and Rob Machado as advocates and why Firewire supports a variety of conservation organizations.
Dr. Vanessa Pirotta is a marine biologist in Australia who uses technology to study whales. In this episode Vanessa discusses collecting whale snot with drones, her research on the impact of global shipping on marine giants, how alarms can prevent entanglement in fishing nets, and the importance of science communications.
Chad Nelsen is the CEO of the Surfrider Foundation. In this episode Chad discusses the organization's mission, Smartfin technology, plastic pollution, offshore drilling, climate change, and surfers as scientists and environmental advocates.
Katie Wallace is the Director of Social and Environmental Impact for New Belgium Brewing and co-chair of the sustainability committee for the Brewers Association. In this episode, Katie discusses the role of water in beer, how brewers are water conscious, the ways breweries are conserving water, the business case for saving water, and how the boom of the craft brewing industry has shaped sustainability.
Chuck Fox is the Executive Director of Oceans 5, an international funders’ collaborative that works to constrain overfishing and create and expand marine protected areas. In this episode, Chuck explains the problem of overfishing and discusses sharks, whaling, and the Arctic and Antarctica.
Marcus Ericksen is the co-founder and director of research for the 5 Gyres Institute. He has been on more than 20 ocean-crossing expeditions, written and published research on the impact of plastic pollution in the world's oceans, and authored Junk Raft about a trip from Los Angeles to Hawaii and My River Home: A Journey from the Gulf War to the Gulf of Mexico. In this episode Marcus discusses plastic in the ocean including the problems it causes, where it comes from, how much is in the water, and what can be done.
Dr. Wallace “J.” Nichols is a scientist, wild water advocate, movement-maker, and author of the New York Times best-seller Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do. In this episode he talks about the meaning of Blue Mind, the neuroscience involved, and how surfing, float tanks, and freediving impact the brain.
Hosted by Travis Loop