The Water Zone

Clifford C. Chan, general manager of East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), discusses the utility's ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. He highlights the water industry's significant carbon footprint—4 gigatons annually, four times that of aviation—and the critical role of innovation in reducing it. Mr. Chan shares how EBMUD tackles the challenge of balancing decarbonization efforts between large utilities and underserved communities, emphasizing that while the industry may be perceived as slow to innovate, many water agencies are actively driving progress. 

Podcast Recorded on November 21, 2024

In this episode, Tom Ferguson, managing partner at Burnt Island Ventures, discusses his venture capital group’s role in driving innovation in water technology. Burnt Island Ventures invests in emerging solutions to address critical water challenges, emphasizing the importance of entrepreneurial creativity and engineering ingenuity. Joined by guest host Lou Bendon, Ferguson highlights the connection between water management and climate change, sharing insights on transforming environmental issues like brine from petroleum fracking and blue-green algae into valuable resources. He stresses the need to balance innovation with production success, offering a forward-thinking perspective on the future of water sustainability.

Podcast Recorded on November 14, 2024

Recorded live from the Irrigation Association Show at the Long Beach Convention Center, Rob and Chris connect with four influential figures in the irrigation industry. Outgoing IA President Inge Bisconer reflects on her tenure, shares her vision for the association’s future, and introduces Surf & Earth Enterprises’ advanced, free software for industry users. Tyler Fields, sr. director, Valley Water Delivery at Valmont Industries, Inc., highlights his company’s journey to winning the IA’s prestigious Vanguard Award. IA CEO Natasha Rankin offers insights into the association's expanding educational initiatives and its active role in public policy advocacy. Finally, Dan Winterton, director of marketing for The Toro Company's Irrigation & Lighting Division, discusses the environmental benefits of WaterSmart technology with natural turf over turf removal, emphasizing its role in carbon sequestration and reducing urban heat, noise, and pollution.

Podcast Recorded on November 7, 2024

Steve Counter, VP of the Irrigation & Lighting Category at SiteOne Landscape Supply, shares his journey into the landscaping industry and how SiteOne became the largest irrigation distributor in the U.S., with over 500 stores nationwide. Steve highlights what sets SiteOne apart from competitors, including their extensive product range covering irrigation, lighting, turf and landscape maintenance, nursery, hardscape, and pest control. He discusses the company's commitment to supporting customers with in-depth knowledge and specialized services, such as irrigation system and lighting design, drainage planning, and their SiteOne University training for professionals. Steve also offers insight into the future challenges contractors may face and emphasizes the importance of water conservation in the evolving landscape industry.

Podcast Recorded on October 17, 2024

Noel Carter, general manager of the Buckeye Water Conservation and Drainage District (BWCDD), discusses the district's role in supporting agriculture through irrigation water, power, and flood irrigation services, as well as protecting farmland from alkali drainage. He shares the district's history and its evolution in developing guidelines as the area transitioned from a major agricultural hub. Noel also highlights a new bipartisan infrastructure deal that allocates over $11 million to BWCDD for canal modernization and energy projects, including concrete lining for the Main Canal and implementing solar and wind-powered systems. With Buckeye, Arizona rapidly expanding and set to develop over 100,000 new homes, he emphasizes the district's efforts to balance agricultural and residential water needs sustainably.

Podcast Recorded on October 10, 2024

In this episode, Susan Kennedy, Chairman and CEO of Cadiz, Inc., discusses the company's mission to expand safe, reliable water access through innovative water management and conservation. Cadiz is focused on building infrastructure, such as a pipeline connecting their wellfield to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California's Colorado River Aqueduct, storing surplus water underground, and treating water to remove harmful contaminants. Susan highlights partnerships like the one with the Farmworkers Institute of Education to install clean water filtration systems in underserved communities and shares the company's agricultural efforts in the Cadiz Valley. She also emphasizes how Cadiz’s groundwater storage bank can supply water to areas like the Salton Sea and asserts that Southern California's drought concerns could be mitigated by utilizing millions of acre-feet of underground water in the Mojave Desert.

Podcast Recorded on October 3, 2024

Rob Starr and Chris Davey broadcast from their recent visit to the 2024 WaterSmart Innovations Conference in Las Vegas, NV, where several companies shared their innovations addressing water and environmental challenges. RESNET's Paulette McGhie and EPA's Jonah Schein discuss new building standards for energy and water efficiency. Atoco's Magnus Bach highlights sustainable atmospheric water harvesting and CO2 capture technologies. John Green of BlueGreen Water Technologies introduce solutions for controlling blue-green algae. Kamstrup's Joe Ball detailes how ultrasonic water meters optimize revenue and water management. Lastly, Biogreen's Teresa Kim explained the benefits of Agromon biodegradable mulching film for sustainable farming.

Podcast Recorded September 26, 2024

Special guests Joaquin Esquivel, chairman of the California State Water Resources Board, and Lou Bendon, CEO of Flycatcher Marketing, join the show to discuss key water issues facing California water operators. The conversation covers the impact of climate change on the water industry, the importance of decarbonization, and how water budgeting and water loss mandates from the Water Board are linked to decarbonization efforts. They also explore what the State Water Resources Board can do to advance decarbonization in the absence of legislation and mandates, and how these initiatives can help offset rising operational costs for larger water agencies.

Podcast Recorded on September 19, 2024

In this episode, Lindsey Stuvick, sustainable resources officer at Moulton Niguel Water District, and Lou Bendon, CEO of marketing at Fly Catcher Communications, discuss carbonizing water, water use efficiency, and the financial benefits for ratepayers and water districts. As part of a five-segment series, Lindsey explains how carbonizing water can drive cost savings and sustainability, while Lou shares his expertise in public relations for California water districts. He highlights creative strategies to educate customers on water conservation, implement innovative projects, and enhance operational management. Together, they showcase how these efforts contribute to both environmental and financial gains in water efficiency.

Podcast Recorded on September 14, 2024

Lynn Priddy, PhD, President of Claremont Lincoln University, and Joanna Bauer, Executive VP and Chief Academic Officer discuss their parent entity, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, and its unique curriculum for various public sectors. They explore the degrees offered by Claremont Lincoln University, key factors of leadership classes for mid to high-level executives, the formation of Teams and Fellows to resolve real-world issues, and the university's accreditation and compliance with necessary regulations and state rules for education.

Podcast Recorded on September 5, 2024

This episode features Mike Hightower, program director of the New Mexico Produced Water Research Consortium; Justin Mattingly, manager of the Water Reuse Program at the U.S. EPA; and Malynda Cappelle, facility manager of the Bureau of Reclamation’s Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility. The discussion centers around the EPA’s Water Resource Action Plan (WRAP), highlighting key priorities such as produced water and water stewardship. The guests delve into the federal role in treating and reusing produced water for agriculture, with Malynda Cappelle detailing her work on treatment requirements and new water treatment technologies. They also share insights on current efforts in New Mexico, California, Wyoming, and Texas to use produced water for irrigation, and review survey results on using treated produced water for various crops.

Podcast Recorded on August 22, 2024

On this week’s show, Cynthia Campbell, water resources manager and advisor for the City of Phoenix, AZ, discusses how her passion for water conservation led her to the water industry after serving as the assistant city manager and working as an attorney. She provides insight into the current state of water in her district, highlighting the conservation initiatives spearheaded by Phoenix Water, including a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment center that creates more usable water for the community. Cynthia shares her involvement in key projects such as the "Save Water to Promote Water Conservation" pledge, a drought simulation game testing residents' ability to manage a city's water portfolio, and a stormwater awareness campaign that encourages year-round efforts to prevent pollution. She also highlights the latest rebate incentives, including smart irrigation controllers and turf removal programs, aimed at promoting sustainable water use among constituents.

Podcast Recorded on August 15, 2024

This week’s guest is Ralph Holt, the owner of Eco-Verde Irrigation Company in Phoenix, AZ. He shares insights about his business and what sets it apart from other companies. Ralph’s motto is “Turf is not a four-letter word,” and he discusses the importance of turfgrass for the environment. He also describes various water-saving methods that don’t involve removing existing landscapes. His presentation includes a commonsense discussion on sustainability, covering topics such as conservation, risk, compliance, monitoring, and more.

Podcast Recorded on August 8, 2024

Darcy Burke, a board member for the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District, shares her experience as a government advisory committee member for the EPA. She co-chairs water and climate adaptation communication workgroups and participates in The California Water for Food & People Movement. This movement's mission is to unite all of California's water-for-food-and-people advocates, coalitions, organizations, groups, bureaus, alliances, growers, and more into one large action force. Their goal is to compel immediate long-term solutions to protect and provide water for humans. She describes the organization’s grassroots efforts around water management and its commitment to education and water policy.

Podcast Recorded on August 1, 2024

Lou Bendon, president of Flycatcher Marketing, has over 40 years of strategic marketing experience in water and commercial industries. In this episode, Lou tells us about the AWWA's (American Water Works Association) mission to decarbonize water by creating renewable energy from existing water pipeline infrastructure. He explains that water utilities and other water intensive industries face climate disruption, and increased energy costs that threaten the reliability of the water supply. Lou shares emerging technologies that are helping to solve the issue of decarbonization of water while also lowering energy costs.

Podcast Recorded on July 25, 2024

The Water Report offers in-depth analysis of solutions written by the world's industry leaders covering a breadth of perspectives and expertise across multiple sectors. The monthly publication’s Owner and Editor in Chief Shaina Shay details her experience dealing with water use efficiency and varied water policies. Shaina describes how she came to purchase the publication and how she is using her expertise in water policy and management, conservation, and community outreach to take The Water Report to the next level.

Podcast Recorded on July 11, 2024 

Candidate for Arizona State Representative, Gary Snyder talks about his experience in the farming industry. He discusses how he promotes and implements water conservation and soil management best practices into his farming activities. Gary also describes the need for a higher appreciation of water and new technologies to help farmers and the public use water more efficiently. Gary also provides his vision for the future of water in Arizona, and how his ideas and water management knowledge play a significant role in his bid for Arizona State legislation.

Podcast Recorded on June 27, 2024

Scott Burr and Rick Penn of Accelerated Filtration, explain their new technology, specialized metal filters designed for produced water markets. They provide detail on the unique challenges of this innovative start-up and how this specialized filtration helps clean contaminants from dirty water, and how it can help provide solutions in several applications. This breakthrough technology is being met with much excitement in the marketplace and the technology is being advanced through the work of its users.

Podcast Recorded on June 20, 2024