Scaling UP! H2O

If there has ever been a year we need more positive things in our lives, it is 2020. I spent a good part of 2020 focused on the things I couldn't do because of COVID 19. I couldn't go to AWT's training seminar in March, and several of my other speaking and facilitating engagements got canceled. Our church stopped holding in-person services, and the two vacations we had planned got canceled. 2020 stinks, right?!

Fortunately, not too long after all of my plans were getting canceled one after the other, I had a change in mindset. I decided that if I continued focusing on what I could not do, I would never be happy. So, I stopped. I decided I would focus on the things I could do and make sure I did those things to my best ability.

After focusing my efforts on things that were within my control, I started to feel better about our situation and more in control. All of the canceled items I mentioned above came back in a new fashion. I was still able to do them, just not as initially planned. Some of the new plans were better than the original plans. And all of them created an opportunity that permitted me to think differently, refining the event or action for the better. If we look for misery, we are going to find it. But why choose to look for that?

My guest today is Tricia Molloy, an author, speaker, and coach. She has been a featured keynote speaker for many well-known companies like Home Depot, Kimberly Clark, GE, Marriott, and The America Red Cross, to name a few. I met Tricia when I was giving my Ted Talk at Tim Fulton's Small Business Matters Conference. For those of you that haven't heard that story, please listen to episode 92.

Tricia has a simple approach that she guides people through called CRAVE. You will learn how to use CRAVE to start some great new habits, all designed to make you more focused on what brings you happiness. Because after all, that is what we should be looking to find.

Timestamps:

Introducing Tricia Molloy [09:30]

Tricia's background [12:30]

The benefits of creating a vision board [15:35]

C.R.A.V.E. your goals [18:40]

Do the methods in C.R.A.V.E. really work? [41:16]

What is the one message you'd like to pass on to the Scaling Up! Nation? [46:20]

How to find out more about Tricia's work [47:00]

Quotes:

"What is one thing I can do today to bring me closer to this reality?"

"What we focus on expands and what we appreciate appreciates."

Links Mentioned:

AWT Annual Convention and Exposition

Rising Tide Mastermind

Industrial Water Week

The Five Love Languages

Tricia's Website

Atomic Habits

092 The One About My TED Talk Experience

I have been a water Treater for over 25 years. And there is no doubt about it; I love my job. I get private tours of facilities that make products I use regularly. I have great relationships with my customers that have turned into friendships. I have met some outstanding fellow Water Treaters, some of which have become my best friends. And many other unexpected benefits for being in the Industrial Water Treatment Industry. Hands down, the most surprising is becoming the host of the podcast the serves our industry.

One of the segments we do that makes the show so popular is we give our listeners a voice. Sometimes they leave questions on a form, and sometimes they use their voice. Question and answer shows receive the most comments. And that is what today's show is.

I tend to answer technical questions on the show, making this so a bit different. Today, it is all about personal items people want to know about me. You asked for it, and I'm going to answer it. So here it is.

Timestamps:

How can we end Legionnaire's Disease? Is this possible? [07:38]

How do you do a mock Zoom call to make sure everything is functioning correctly? [13:25]

Trace's favorite podcast episode [18:37]

Benefits of putting solar on buildings [27:07]

Scaling Up! H2O virtual booth at the AWT Convention [31:21]

Trace's upcoming AWT presentation [36:47]

What book is Trace reading now? [39:52]

Quotes:

"I want you to ask yourself, when is the last time you took yourself out of your comfort zone?"

"My goal in life is to make the water treatment industry better."

Links Mentioned:

AWT Annual Convention and Exposition

154 The One With AWT President, Tom Brandvold, CWT

WEFTEC

Industrial Water Week

Proactive Webinar Series

142 The One That Helps Us With Video Meetings

Zoom Test

092 The One About My TED Talk Experience

Rising Tide Mastermind

Submit a show idea

Book Mentioned:

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen R. Covey

"Normally, during this time of year, I am getting ready to see all of you at The Association of Water Technologies Annual Convention. But, as everything goes, this year, I figured that wouldn't be happening. "

Those were my thoughts before I learned more about the virtual convention AWT is doing instead of an in-person event. Yes, I am sad that I cannot see all of the members of the Scaling UP! Nation! that attend this event every year. But there is so much the virtual option offers. So, if you are like I was and you feel bummed about not going to this in person, you are going to want to listen to this episode! You will find that there is so much going on virtually that you won't want to miss it.

Our guest today is Tom Brandvold, CWT, this year's AWT President. Tom and the other AWT directors had to make hard choices this year. Tom shares what went into that decision to choose a virtual convention instead of our regular in-person meeting. Tom also shares tips, tricks, and tools that will allow you to get the most out of this virtual event.

In addition to being this year's AWT President, Tom is a very accomplished water treater. I was able to ask him to share his water treater experiences and stories with us. You will not want to miss this episode.

Scaling UP! listeners are invited to use a special coupon code when registering for the AWT Virtual Convention. Please use awt150, and you will be able to register for the 2020 AWT Interactive Convention & Exposition for just $150.

Timestamps:

Tom's background [07:17]

How Tom became the president of Premier Water & Energy Technology, Inc. [12:36]

More about AWT [16:30]

Leading AWT during Covid-19 [19:22]

Features for vendors at this year's AWT Interactive Convention and Exposition [27:42]

Details on registration for AWT Interactive Convention and Exposition [30:40]

How long will participants have access to the materials from the AWT Interactive Convention and Exposition [31:56]

How do we network at the AWT Interactive Convention and Exposition with a virtual platform? [34:06]

What lessons have you learned from being on the AWT board? [36:50]

What would you like employees of water treatment companies to understand better? [44:02]

What is something you want water treaters to stop doing? [46:22]

Quotes:

"If you're involved with water, there is a place for you in AWT."

"AWT strives to be the global voice for the water treatment industry."

"There's not a week that goes by that I don't learn or relearn something."

Links mentioned:

Association of Water Technologies (AWT)

Submit a show idea

NSF Legionella Conference

AWT Interactive Convention and Exposition

Register for the AWT Interactive Convention and Exposition using coupon code awt150

AWT Virtual Convention Demo

Premier Water & Energy Technology, Inc.

Scandalous Witness

Industrial Water Week

Rising Tide Mastermind

Happy Legionella Awareness Month! Today's episode wraps up our celebration of expanding our knowledge of Legionella bacteria.

Our special guests today are all of you from the Scaling UP! Nation! We posed your questions to industry experts to get the best responses possible.

We hope you learned something new this month. But I hope this encourages you to find out what you don't know about Legionella. When we know more, we can advise our customers better. Our customers are the ones that have to make decisions in matters of Legionella. It's our responsibility to help them make better decisions by being a resource of information to them.

Timestamps:

Is there a different disinfection procedure for various forms of Legionella? [6:36]

Why does it seem that Legionnaire's Disease is more common in the summer months? [8:48]

How do we mitigate the risk in hot water systems? [11:41]

How should buildings that have still not opened after the Covid-19 shutdown prepare their building for the reopening process? [13:44]

Where is the proper location in a cooling tower to collect a Legionella sample? [17:08]

How can Legionella get into a system through a drinking water system? [20:30]

If you have tested positive for Covid-19, are you more susceptible to Legionnaire's Disease? [24:03]

What is the best course of action when Legionella is detected in a hospital setting? [26:47]

What is the advantage of a quick Legionella test? [32:14]

Quotes:

"When managing the hazards for domestic water distribution, the first step should always be the development of a water management program to provide a defensible backbone that guides the decisions of the facility's teams." -Brian Fisk

"If we don't have a plan, we don't know how to coordinate everyone's efforts." - Trace Blackmore

Links Mentioned:

AWT Interactive Annual Convention and Exposition

Industrial Water Week

140 The One That Helps Us Reopen Building Water Systems

The Proactive Webinar Series

120 Another One with Dr. Janet Stout Part 1

121 Another One with Dr. Janet Stout Part 2

083 The One About Water Management Plans

Rising Tide Mastermind

We are in the middle of Legionella Awareness Month. The goal of devoting a month of episodes to Legionella is to raise the bar on our water treatment knowledge when it comes to Legionella. On many shows, I ask how you are learning new things. It is effortless to become complacent with our current knowledge and not actively seek more. A day that I don't learn something new, I consider a failure.

Our guest today is Greg Rankin, CEO of Hydrosense. Greg's company has developed a legionella test that reads in 20 minutes. Join us as we not only talk about his test, key facts, and lessons learned about Legionella bacteria.

Timestamps:

Greg's background [06:07]

What is Legionella? [08:25]

Legionella testing [11:35]

Why don't some people test for Legionella? [18:01]

How to help others better understand the risk of Legionella [19:40]

Legionella guidelines in the U.K. [24:15]

Lab culture testing [26:30]

False positives and false negatives [39:09]

Success stories with the Hydrosense Legionella Test [42:10]

Quotes:

"Testing I see as a catch-all, the real safety net for the water industry when it comes to Legionella."

"Some people find it difficult to talk about Legionella because they don't want it to feel like they are trying to scare their customers."

Links Mentioned:

NACE Basic Corrosion Class with Scaling UP! H2O Discount

Hydrosence's Website

Hydrosense Blog

ASHRAE 188

CDC Legionella Toolkit

Rising Tide Mastermind

Submit a question

Last week we learned some Legionella basics. I think it was a good refresher for all of us. We are always learning new information about Legionella bacteria, so make it a point never to stop learning about this critical topic.

This week, we will learn about alternative testing when it comes to sampling water systems to detect Legionella bacteria with Paul Lem. Paul is a medical doctor and the CEO of Spartan Bioscience. Paul and his team are the makers of the Spartan Cube. He shares facts about Legionella, including how a testing method becomes the "Gold Standard."

Please enjoy my interview with Dr. Paul Lem.

Timestamps:

Dr. Paul Lem's background [04:08]

Spartan's work with Covid-19 [06:10]

Legionella testing [08:30]

The gold standard in Legionella testing [11:32]

Common errors with Legionella testing [17:30]

Best practices for brand new facilities, re-opening facilities, and facilities with high-risk factors [18:35]

The best piece of advice for Legionella testing [20:45]

Quotes:

"We are getting more interest from companies in industries where they can't afford downtime."

"A common error is that people don't test for Legionella enough."

"If I had one piece of advice, it would be that people should be testing every two weeks for Legionella."

Links Mentioned:

Spartan Bioscience

Submit a question

NACE Basic Corrosion Class with Scaling UP! H2O Discount

ASHRAE 188

AWT Annual Convention Updates

Rising Tide Mastermind

Happy August Scaling UP! Nation!

In honor of the Annual Legionella Conference at the end of every August, The Scaling UP! Nation! declared August: Legionella Awareness Month. In line with most conferences currently, The Legionella Conference is now in January 2021. But that doesn't mean we can't learn more about this bacterium. So please help me raise the bar on Legionella Awareness during August.

In today's episode, we are going back to basics on the topic of Legionella. Join me as we travel back to 1976 when we first learned about Legionella bacteria through today, where we have to understand the subject so we can help our customers make better decisions.

Timestamps:

Guidelines around Legionella [06:54]

What is Legionella? Where did the name come from? [11:19]

Legionella vs. Legionnaires Disease [14:14]

Symptoms of Legionnaires Disease [16:10]

Risk factors for Legionnaires Disease [18:14]

How do you contract Legionnaires Disease and Testing for Legionella [19:40]

ASHRAE 188 [24:10]

How to know if a building needs a water management plan [40:38]

What does ASHRAE 188 require [43:40]

Quotes:

"It's not if a Legionella law will be passed where you live; it's when." - Trace Blackmore

"We cannot do Legionella prevention for our clients because we don't own the equipment. We can only suggest the best practices." - - Trace Blackmore

Links Mentioned:

009 The L Word

083 The One About Water Management Plans

120 Another One with Dr. Janet Stout, Part 1

121 Another One with Dr. Janet Stout, Part 2

NACE Basic Corrosion Class with Scaling UP! H2O Discount

ASHRAE 188

ASHRAE: Guideline 12-2020

CDC Legionella Toolkit

CDC Healthcare-Associated Infections

CMS Memorandum

New York City Dept. Of Health Cooling Tower Regulations

New York City Legislation

New York State Regulations

York City Dept. Of Health Summertime Hyperhalogenation

Scaling UP! Nation!, as a water treater, we always need to learn new things. If we ever stop learning, somebody else or the industry is going to pass you by. Staying ahead of this curve is especially important when it comes to learning new and innovative ways to treat the water treatment systems we oversee. If we are not careful, we can become overly comfortable with the same type of water treatment program. New technologies are always developing around us, but does new mean better?

Friend of the show, Mark Lewis, CWT, is back with me today to talk about some of the lesser-used water treatment strategies in the water treatment world. Learning about new or lesser-known water technologies gives water treaters more options. A good water treater with possibilities is always a good thing. Join Mark and me as we take you through some of the ways we evaluate new technologies.

Timestamps:

Details on this year's AWT Interactive Convention and Exposition [04:00]

The importance of understanding the type of equipment you have [20:23]

Advice on equipping customers with knowledge about the equipment [20:48]

Chemistry technology that people may not be aware of [23:45]

Solid technology and treatments [30:42]

Moss and water treatment systems [34:23]

Non-chemical devices [45:20]

Quotes:

"If you don't know something, that is an opportunity for you to learn something more about it."

"Suppliers love to educate. If you have questions, call your suppliers today."

Links Mentioned:

AWT Interactive Convention and Exposition

Mark's LinkedIn

089 The One That's All About Filming Amines (General)

090 The One That's All About Filming Amines (Boilers)

091 The One That's All About Filming Amines (Closed Loops and Cooling Towers)

Smithsonian Article

Nation! thank you for being a part of this platform that brings helpful information about our industry. The Scaling UP! Nation! is growing every day. That's because of you. And because we have an impressive following, we can attract guests to interview on this show.

Our Guest today is Charles Fishman, an award-winning, best-selling author who has written dozens of books like The Wal-Mart Effect and One Giant Leap. Today he and I talk about one of my favorite books, The Big Thirst. In The Big Thirst, Charles Fishman does an incredible job explaining presenting the facts about our odd relationship with water where we need it and love it but our world doesn't respect it. This is a read I would recommend to anybody in our industry. Please enjoy my interview with Charles Fishman.

Timestamps:

Charles' background [05:35]

Inspiration behind The Big Thirst [14:40]

What has the impact of The Big Thirst book been? [20:12]

Lessons learned in Las Vegas [29:07]

What are some of the easy things anyone can do to make a difference? [34:04]

Research on waterborne pathogens [39:53]

Important topics to be addressed in the upcoming election when it comes to water [42:38]

Quotes:

"Good reporting will save you when good writing won't."

"Most people will be astonished at how much water they use".

"Water does not respond to wishful thinking. You have to figure out what your problems are, and then you have to fix them".

Connect with Charles Fishman:

LinkedIn: in/charles-fishman-a8071420

Books Mentioned:

The Big Thirst by Charles Fishman

The Wal-Mart Effect by Charles Fishman

A Curious Mind by Charles Fishman & Brian Grazer

One Giant Leap by Charles Fishman

Today's episode is my favorite format that we do. It is where you ask questions, and I answer them. As a water treatment professional, we should always have more questions than answers. Generating new questions means that we are thinking about everything we are doing, and we are trying to do what we do better. If you are not asking questions (even to yourself), you are not stretching your level of understanding. When you stretch yourself, you are learning. When you are learning, you are getting better. The next time you do a water treatment task, ask yourself, "why."

1. Why does the chlorine test turn red when positive?
2. Why do I run my tests in this sequence?
3. Why do I always start at this account first on my route?
4. Why take my sample from this location?

I'm sure you get the idea. Please enjoy this episode of Pinks and Blues where members of the Scaling UP! Nation! ask some questions they have.

Timestamps:

Boiler discharge, cooling tower discharge, and RO unit discharge clogging a single drain [02:26]

External weather conditions and how it affects water treatment [11:26]

Can a tower get diluted with rainwater? [21:15]

Why don't we fill a water softener to the top with resin when we add new resin? [23:45]

Quotes:

"When you understand the equipment that you treat, you are now able to understand what you are doing concerning your treatment."

"As professionals, we have to think of all of the different scenarios."

Links Mentioned:

Submit a question or show idea

Rising Tide Mastermind