The Water Zone

John Farner, Director of Government and Public Affairs of the Irrigation Association, joins The Water Zone to discuss the organization’s role in providing technical information on irrigation technologies and training to government committees.  He also spoke about the many and various types of educational courses and materials that are available from the Irrigation Association to both the professional landscaper and DIYer. The Irrigation Association also provides certification classes spanning irrigation auditors, water management specialists, and irrigation system designers just to mention a few.  He stated that there is a desperate need for more people to enter the irrigation/landscaping industry, where there are exceptional opportunities for a long-term and rewarding career. 

(Podcast recorded on January 30, 2020)

We spoke with special guest, Katie Patrick, CEO of Hello World Labs, who helps social impact entrepreneurs and sustainability professionals make real and measurable change using data.  She discussed how most impact entrepreneurs make mistakes because they don't know how to harness the motivational drivers that get people to act.  Katie provided examples of various scenarios she has been involved with to help guide water and energy agencies, who seek to make a difference and meet the serious challenges posed by water scarcity and the need for increased energy.

(Podcast recorded on January 23, 2020)

Special guest Nicholas Schneider, Water Conservation and Forecast Manager for the Mojave Water Agency, joins The Water Zone to share on some of the agency’s conservation projects in 2019 - including taking a 820 KW hydroelectric generator online to bring the agency to virtually a net-neutral status. The agency was also able to secure approx. $500,000 in grants to continue work on the Agency's Regional Recharge & Recovery project.  Mojave Water is also sponsoring the 2020 Water Summit in Victor Valley, where 500 local school children will learn about the water industry and careers in the industry. The Water Agency also works Curiosity Quest on PBS to present a problem-solver segment to highlight STEM projects.

(Podcast recorded on January 16, 2020)

Adam Tank, Director of Software Solutions for Transcend Water, Inc., joins The Water Zone to share his thoughts on the issue of water over the next 10 years. He touched on topics, such as water utilities starting to market and sell packaged drinking water – in addition to the concern of freshwater scarcity when we have an abundance of saltwater that could meet societal food needs and the technologies that could propel this thought forward. He addressed the advancements in atmospheric water generation, which is gaining lots of new players into this technical arena. 

(Podcast recorded on January 9, 2020)

Special guest Steve Bilson, CEO of ReWater System, joins The Water Zone to discuss the results of various greywater studies that were conducted throughout the U.S. – in addition to sharing the pros of a home greywater system, as well as the cons of trying to install one after a home is built. He also describes the components that comprise an in-home greywater system, and how each component functions. Steve founded ReWater Systems in 1990, and helped sponsor CA Assembly Bill 3518, which resulted in our nation's first-of-its-kind state greywater irrigation law.

(Podcast recorded on December 12, 2019)

Special guests Lisa Maddaus, CFO and Senior Engineer at Maddaus Water Management, and Drew Atwater, Director of Finance at Water Resources of Moulton Niguel Water District, join The Water Zone to discuss what the average person might not know about water. Both guests explain some of the various programs they are working on to help better educate the public on the efficient use of water. Both guests saw toilets, showerheads and outdoor irrigation as three areas of opportunity to increase efficiency. They both commented that the water industry is in dire need of more water specialists and now is a great opportunity for not only environmental and civil engineers, but also for maintenance-skilled people to calibrate back-flow systems, install smart irrigation systems, and staff to control water recycling plants.

(Podcast recorded on November 21, 2019)

Amanda-Ariana Grabowski from IPS Corp / Weld-On Products joined The Water Zone to help educate listeners on the proper procedure when joining pipes and fittings. She described what specialized tools should be used in the process, such as a deburring tool, a beveling tool and a cable saw to make straight cuts. Grabowski also explained the purpose of proper pipe preparation using specialized cleaners and primers.  Weld-On is the only company who provides free training for pipe and fitting assembly per ASMEB313 certification, which is required for specific installation situations.

(Podcast recorded on November 14, 2019)

Our featured guests on The Water Zone were Bruno Marchon, Chief Technology Officer, and Frank Slovenec, VP of Strategy & Business Development for Water Harvesting Inc., which started in 2018 to commercialize atmospheric water harvesting systems based upon metal organic frameworks (MOFs).  This technology was pioneered by Professor Omar Yaghi at the University of California, Berkeley, and have been demonstrated to work for the atmospheric water harvesting application, even under very arid conditions.  They believe that there is more potential water in the atmosphere than in all the oceans, lakes and rivers of the world. 

(Podcast recorded on October 31, 2019)

Joseph Gallegos of Grey4Green joins The Water Zone to share on his company, which manufactures products used to install grey water systems in both residential and commercial structures. Their unique products collect water from washing machines and sinks, filter it and then disperse the water for irrigation purposes. They also produce a 100% post-consumer plastic root barrier, which is used to prevent irrigation water from going under driveways and sidewalks. Gallegos discusses their innovations to subsurface irrigation, carbon mitigation and net zero/positive water buildings, and how those elements are only the beginning of how technology will change the way cities are built around the world.

(Podcast recorded on October 24, 2019)

On this episode of The Water Zone, representatives from the Riverside Flood Control and Water Conservation District, Darcy Kuenzi, Government Affairs Officer, Jason Uhley, General Manager and Chief Engineer, and Richard Boon, Chief of Water Shed Protection Division, discuss the role of their organization and how flood control is contributing to groundwater sustainability. They also explain the serious issues encountered with various local fires and how their organization responded to the various floods due to no vegetation in the burn areas – in addition to providing tips on how citizens can help prevent storm water and ocean pollution.

(Podcast recorded on October 17, 2019)

Special guest Glenn Schiffbauer, executive director of the Santa Fe Green Chamber of Commerce in New Mexico, joins The Water Zone to discuss the organization’s objective to help create jobs and technologies related to green industries. Particularly, the organization helps connect individuals with established companies to drive green industry jobs, products and services to the general population.

(Podcast recorded on October 10, 2019)

This podcast of The Water Zone features interviews with special guests attending the WaterSmart Innovations Conference in Las Vegas. They include:

• Veronica Blette, chief, EPA WaterSense Program, discusses current EPA WaterSense activities and planned projects re: soil moisture sensors.
• Brent Mecham of the Irrigation Association discusses the upcoming IA Show in November and irrigation technologies.
• Sheri Trapp, communications specialist for Arizona Municipal Water Users Association, discusses their representation of various local water agencies and water users.
• Bill Ward, executive director, PumpPod USA, discusses water conservation equipment for the fire-fighting industry utilized in their training activities.
• Tom Bohner, president, SolarSafe Pool Covers, discusses new technologies in poor covers that reduces water evaporation in pools.

(Podcast recorded on October 3, 2019)

The Water Zone hosted guest Doug Pushard, president of Kuel Water (pronounced “cool”) and HarvestH2o (rain water harvesting).  Both organizations work collaboratively with schools, universities, research organizations and, most importantly, individuals across the globe to devise solutions for managing real world problems in water conservation.  They use best practices, along with community experience to develop guidelines, tools and practical tips aimed at water conservation and economic investment.

(Podcast recorded on September 19, 2019)

Brenda Burman, Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), joins The Water Zone to discuss their priorities and what she believes needs to be the USBR’s prime focus.  She discusses the current drought and challenges facing the Colorado River, and describes how the U.S. and Mexico share the waters of the Colorado River and how this cooperative relationship is working.

(Podcast recorded on September 12, 2019)

Our featured guest on this edition of The Water Zone is Paula Kehoe, Director of Water Resources for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.  She discussed how San Francisco's approach to water resource management has become a model for water conservation, and how they combine both centralized and decentralized components with potable and non-potable end users.  With regards to outside water reuse, San Francisco has mandated that all new commercial construction install a decentralized methodology for reclaiming and reprocessing grey and black water for all the facility's non-potable usage.

(Podcast recorded on September 5, 2019)

Kathleen Tiegs and Oscar Gonzalez, members of the Board of Directors for Cucamonga Valley Water District (CVWD), join The Water Zone to share on the utility’s history and operation. They discuss CVWD's priorities in providing a reliable water supply for their constituents, what CVWD is doing to continue encouraging water use efficiency, and key challenges and opportunities in the coming years.    

(Podcast recorded on August 29, 2019)

Brent Mecham, Industry Development Director for the Irrigation Association, joins The Water Zone to discuss the importance of pressure regulation for spray bodies, nozzles and rotors.  He also shared on how and where to utilize flow sensors, soil moisture sensors and smart irrigation controllers – including programming tips and connectivity through the Cloud.

(Podcast recorded on August 15, 2019)

Featured guest William Alley, Ph.D., with the National Ground Water Association, joins The Water Zone to discuss the importance of groundwater and how it is essential to the future of water availability and food security.  Dr. Alley explains how ground water is located and measured, and how fracking and pumping groundwater presents serious concerns. He also addresses contamination of groundwater and how desalination of groundwater is becoming more prominent.

(Podcast recorded on August 8, 2019)