The Water Zone

The health and availability of water impacts more than we think like labor, farming, infrastructure, business, and housing.  Reason Foundation Vice President and economist, Adrian Moore, Ph.D. discusses the effect of water on the growth and sustainability of our economy. Adrian points to numerous scenarios where economic growth or retraction has been closely related to water availability and cost.  He also shares his views on the future of water if old regulations and infrastructure are not updated soon.

Podcast Recorded on August 25, 2022

SiteOne Landscape Supply Category Manager, Brad Lipsey, joins the show to discuss the professional retailer's rise and how it has grown to become one of the largest professional landscape supply distributors with over 600 locations in the U.S. and Canada. Brad shares insight to how the pandemic and inflation has affected the landscape industry.  He talks about how irrigation technologies have helped the industry utilize water more efficiently and provides his thoughts about the future of business in the water and landscaping industries.

Podcast Recorded on August 18, 2022

Stephanie Clark, director of business development for the Irrigation Association joins the show to talk about the 2022 IA Show and Education Week. The show brings a vast amount of irrigation technology to the industry through exhibits and a new product contest. It also provides educational opportunities through the IA University. The show and education week is perfect for those interested in learning more about general irrigation technologies or who want to become certified in various aspects of the irrigation trade.

Podcast Recorded on August 11, 2022

Emma Robbins of the Navajo Water Project and Crystal Tulley-Cordova, Ph.D. of the Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources, describe their journey; earning technical degrees in hydrology, climatology, and environmental science to give back to the Navajo tribe. They help solve lingering water problems that still affect tribal life such as a lack of water, water contamination, and agriculture. They also share their desire for greater attention from the federal government to their day-to-day struggles in an effort to help maintain and receive clean water to survive.

Podcast Recorded on August 4, 2022

Featured guest Jay Prag, clinical professor at Drucker School of Management in Claremont, CA, provides keen insight into the macro-economics of water. Jay discusses how the economy affects water and how water scarcity affects the economy.  He also explores the fine line the state of California walks with the significant reduction of agricultural production due to drought as well as how this condition impacts the home building industry. He asserts that lost revenue and jobs are quickly piling up with no quick fix insight.

Podcast Recorded on July 28, 2022

Kyle Brown, Editor in Chief of Irrigation & Lighting and Irrigation Today magazines shares key issues and information impacting the agricultural industry and regulatory policy at the state and national level. Kyle also previews the 2022 Irrigation Show.

Journalist Trymaine Lee explores concerning water conditions in Jackson, Mississippi. Trymaine reports that residents routinely boil their water before use, and collect rain water to help flush the toilets, do laundry and take a bath. While the state estimates that an infrastructure improvement project will cost nearly $2 billion, local residents believe a lack of funding for the repair project stems from a bias toward people of color. 

Podcast Recorded on July 14, 2022

Did you know that 17 countries comprise a quarter of the world’s population? These countries face extreme water stress. With 80-100% of surface and aquifer water supplies already in use, they are rapidly consuming all available water. Lawrence McDonald, Vice President for Communications and Betsy Otto, Water Initiative Director at the World Resources Institute, join the show to explore recent activity to provide the tools to understand the water crisis in these regions and research possible approaches to reduce its impact. They also share their experiences related to Chennai, India; a city that was quickly facing an existential threat from water stress and the new policy choices it took towards better water management.

Podcast recorded on July 7, 2022

Special guest Ali Noroozi, CEO of A2Z Ozone Systems discusses how ozone generators are being used by water agencies as an alternative to chlorine to purify potable and waste water. He speaks about the fascinating ways ozone systems are used across other industries such as, pesticides, clothing, cooling towers, denim manufacturing and others. Ozone generators are also utilized to help preserve fruit, vegetables and even meat helping to give these products a longer shelf life.

Podcast recorded June 30, 2022

Friend of the show, Travis Loop, of Loop Communications, and Matt Rice,  Southwest Regional Director for the American Rivers Assoc., discuss the most endangered river in the U.S., the Colorado River. Matt provides insight to the distribution of water from the river to neighboring states and the effects climate change has had on water levels. They explore different perspectives on what states can do to better utilize the water and whether existing water rights are still fair for all users.

Podcast recorded on June 23, 2022

Featured Ed Mathieu of Overland Distributing, Co. discusses the science of magnetic influenced water technology, used to alter the molecular structure of water in an effort to increase water molecule size. This technology helps water more easily permeate soils and is being utilized in agricultural applications. The technique also helps to produce additional oxygen, critical to crop growth success.

Podcast Recorded on June 16, 2022

As CEO of the world's second largest power and solar plant construction company, and as a candidate for the U.S. Senate, Jim Lamon has a few ideas to share on the issue of water in his home state of Arizona. Jim discusses his ideas to secure more water for Arizona through pipeline construction from Mississippi. He also explores the idea’s construction implications and ways adjoining states can work together to resolve centuries-old open water rights conflicts to the benefit of all those that rely on our natural resources.

Podcast recorded on June 9, 2022

Very special guest, and water industry veteran, Mike Baron, discusses new marketing trends water districts are adopting to provide critical water information to the general public. Mike also delves into what he believes will be the future of water in California and explored some of the directives that are being implemented to help use water more efficiently. 

Recorded on June 2, 2022

This week Jim Klauth, president of Aqua Trac System in Phoenix, AZ, joins us. Aqua Trac is an independent water management company that specializes in water use consulting, auditing, and provides upgrade and technical services to universities, golf courses, HOAs, resorts, municipalities and landscape professionals. Jim shares real-world examples of how improved landscape irrigation systems have helped to significantly reduced monthly water expenditures.

Podcast recorded on May 26, 2022

Guest Catlow Shipek, founder of the Wetlands Management Group (WMG) in Tuscan, AZ, provides an overview of the advocacy, stewardship and ecological projects they lead. Notably the project to restore Tanque Verde Creek by eradicating the very invasive Arundo Donax reed. WMG also specializes in training and managing the “hydro-local" movement, a concept that promotes activities to help ensure water security and resilience for residential and commercial properties.

Podcast recorded on May 19, 2022

Get an update on all the latest water news and answers to your questions. Chris and Rob introduce Tip-Talk, to respond to irrigation questions from listeners. Topics cover everything from drip irrigation to spray bodies & nozzles.

Podcast recorded on May 12, 2022

Representatives from the City of Westminster, the 2021 Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge winner, join Wyland Foundation’s Steve Creech and Municipal Water District of Orange County’s Tiffany Baca to spotlight the 2022 Mayor’s Challenge. In addition, the team discusses the planning and implementation of a newly created pocket park designed in cooperation with The Toro Company to highlight water efficiency.

Podcast recorded on April 21, 2022

Special guests, Peter Gleick, President Emeritus and Sr. Fellow of the Pacific Institute, and Travis Loop, president of Loop Communications, explore the long history of conflict over water.  From ancient history to modern times, whether used as a resource or a weapon, precious water is often collateral damage in the battles we wage.

Podcast recorded on April 14, 2022

Deluge Technologies has designed new thermal engine technology that could help meet the demand for water in the Phoenix, AZ area. CEO Brian Hagerman joins to explain the science behind how thermal engine technology can desalinate water using minimal power and then make use of the residual salt as power storage for the area. Listen to discover how this cutting edge innovation may help ease the need for water across the country.

Podcast recorded on April 7, 2022