The Water Zone

Water activist, Seth Siegal, joins the show to share his experience during a recent trip to Israel in a quest to see how the current conflict is affecting people and businesses in the region.  He describes to listeners the even more critical need for water and discusses new, highly efficient technologies for agricultural utilization in the Middle East, Europe and the United States receiving praise for reducing their water usage to grow crops.

Podcast Recorded on February 22, 2024

CEO and General Manager of San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District, Heather Dyer, speaks about many of the area’s projects including a gravity pipeline that delivers non-reclaimable waste from the Santa Ana River to an Orange County treatment plant. As well as the Santa Ana River water rights project that provides leadership in the management of water resources throughout its service area. Finally, Heather discusses water conservation education programs and workshops they provide to their customers.

Podcast Recorded on February 8, 2024

Tia Fleming, director of external affairs for the California Water Energy Partnership (CALWEP), gives a brief history of the organization and explains how they advocate for California water agency legislation and regulatory requirements. CALWEP provides technical tools and training as well as professional networking opportunities. It also serves as the technical expert for partners and agencies and fosters research, evaluation and management assistance for conservation rebate programs.

Podcast recorded on January 25, 2024

Featured guest Michael Davidson, president of Davidson Consultants details his experience in Israel relevant to the agricultural industry and how magnetic technology is helping to increase crop production. He shares how the current conflict has impacted food supply, water security and distribution in the region. Michael also provides a broader understanding of what is driving the Israeli AgTech sector and how these new technologies are being shared around the world.

Podcast Recorded on January 18, 2024

Hosts Rob Starr and Chris Davey celebrate the Water Zone being named FeedSpot’s #1 podcast on water with a review of highlights from 2023 including segments with Reese Tisdale and John Berryman from Bluefield Research who addressed national water trends; Innovyze President, David Totman regarding the challenges facing water utilities; and a range of fabulous guests representing climate science, irrigation technology, legislation, water supply, meteorology, education, manufacturing and more.

Podcast Recorded on January 11, 2024

Natasha Rankin, CEO of the Irrigation Association (IA), details the Association's 2023 achievements and reviews legislative activities that helped the IA, water agencies, the agriculture industry, and property owners.  She shares plans to provide interested individuals with a solid understanding of the significant opportunities within the industry and the educational training and networking capabilities for those seeking a great career path.  She also comments on the rise of women in the water industry and how they play a key role in leadership, project management and operations.

Podcast Recorded on January 4, 2024

Metropolitan Water District (MWD) Resource Specialist, Krista Guerro, provides a history of the water purveyor and explains how they serve their Southern California region. She describes her specific role within the organization and details of some of the challenges facing water suppliers right now.  Krista speaks about their progress in water conservation activities over the past 30 years and how their customers have become more water efficient. 

Podcast Recorded on December 14, 2023

Special guest Jeff Graydon, sr. associate director of athletics at Princeton University chronicles his journey in sports fields and grounds and agronomy. Jeff manages the university's sports field design, construction and maintenance including management of various types of natural and synthetic turf. Jeff explains the variables that can impact the field and players like mold and other field characteristics.  He also shares insightful stories about sports fields that he has designed and how they differ throughout the country.

Podcast Recorded on November 16, 2023

The city of Plano, Texas has won two EPA WaterSense Partner awards. Outreach & Engagement Coordinator, Katie Walker, joins the show to discuss the city’s educational and conservation activities to capture attention and boost water saving activities among residents. She even shares a musical parity she created for radio and local television broadcasts.  Katie further details the rebate and assistance programs that the city offers its customers to help reduce both water and electrical usage. 

Podcast Recorded on November 9, 2023

Featured guest Jazmine Molloy, director of product development for Eagle Aerial Solutions shares insight on the company’s off-the-shelf aerial imaging technology that provides landscape detail at a 6-inch square resolution. They’ve also developed specialized software to help users manage compliance, efficiency, and adoption of state and local mandates. Jazmine also discusses some of their scientific technologies like "near infrared" remote sensing which assists the State of California's Department of Water Resources in it's state wide water conservation efforts. 

Podcast Recorded on November 2, 2023

Guest Brad Jakubowski, instructor at Penn State University’s Department of Plant Science, has been involved with the green industry for over 30 years. Brad details his philosophy around teaching irrigation and water management. His classes incorporate hands-on, field activities, and include life skills that provide insight to the opportunities that the water industry provides. Also, he is a vigorous defender of the inherent benefits of turf like carbon absorption, climate cooling, atmosphere health and more.

Podcast Recorded on October 26, 2023

Special guest Megan Jenkins, founder and CMO of Yoppify, describes the company’s interface solution between water and electrical utilities and their customers. They provide assistance with communications to deliver social norming, conservation messaging, rebate and program awareness and to measure customer engagement. Megan describes a myriad of activities, training and custom solutions that Yoppify performs for utility companies and how they help deliver a higher level of service for these companies.

Podcast Recorded on October 19, 2023

Pamela Berstler, founder of G3 Green Garden Group joins the show to discuss regenerative landscape management. G3 Green Garden Group asserts that the front yard is where we can start reversing climate change by designing, installing and managing the landscape using the watershed approach. The group conducts certification classes on water use efficiency and offers free tools for professionals and homeowners including books to learn how to create a drought tolerant garden utilizing a water shed approach.

Podcast Recorded on October 12, 2023

This week’s show brings a collective of WaterSmart Innovations Expo exhibitors who describe their business, products, and activities. Guests include Krista Guerrero of Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Heidi Putze from Ecorain, Megan Jenkins from Yoppify, Volker Brohm at Gutermann, Quincy Hayes from Hayes Automation, Trey Cutler of Niagara Conservation, Kris Loomis from Sonoma Water, Janice Gould at Responsive Drip Irrigation, and Susan Musica from Flume Water.

Podcast Recorded on October 5, 2023

Dominic Rullo, parks superintendent for Marana, AZ, joins the show to discuss his journey from a part-time lawn mowing service to parks and recreation management. He walks us through the challenges and opportunities that go along with managing a large crew of landscape specialists and how he collaborates with the city council, water agencies and the general public to receive input and buy-in for new projects that will help improve irrigation and reduce water use.

Podcast Recorded on September 28, 2023

The fundamentals of a Smart Water Triangle include smart controls, BMP's in installation and most importantly the use of AxisDE as a soil conditioner. Rich Miller, co-owner of Miller Landscape in Clearwater, Florida, describes the Smart Water Triangle and his holistic approach to water conversation. He explains ways the State of Florida can bolster their contractor certifications to help create a more professional and knowledgeable work force and discusses his approach in attracting new customers through the promotion of smart irrigation products.

Podcast Recorded on September 21, 2023

Overland Distribution Company specializes in magnetic technology that induces a strong magnetic field into an irrigation system to influence water's physical structure and therefore, its behavior. Overland representative, Edward Mathieu joins the show to describe how this change in water behavior brings a higher level of performance and benefits irrigation efficiency, soil health and operational costs for agriculture applications.

Podcast Recorded on September 7, 2023

Like many of us, Cove Mesa Vineyard Owner Emil Molin and his wife discovered a new passion during the pandemic.  He joins the show to share how they turned inspiration into a small business and how irrigation technology helped the burgeoning winery’s weak vines to receive additional water. Since opening he has learned much more about soil conditions and the need for instant feedback regarding moisture content and evapo-transpiration information.  He also speaks about the different varietals of wine perfectly suited to the Arizona climate and soil.

Podcast Recorded on August 31, 2023