Scaling UP! H2O

Join me as I interview Tom Tinney of Lakewood Instruments. We explore what you should know about controllers. Tom talks about basic functionality, advanced functionality, troubleshooting tips and just general information about the controller.

Lakewood Instruments Newsletter

Die Hard Movies, Can you find the Lakewood Controller?

In this episode Tom mentions several items you should have in your tool bag. Here they are:

"This is the "cheap" multi-meter that is in all of the technicians bags at Blackmore Enterprises, Inc. It's cheap, but it works."

"This is the one that if it breaks, I would get upset. It is our "expensive" multi-meter that we have in our shop and check out when we need it"

A short video on how to use a multi-meter:

Here is a decade box for testing your controller's probe interfaces:

A box of fuses.

Should work with most controllers, but check for yourself:

Just in case:

Tom classifies himself as the world's only biker/nerd. He has written 2 books. Here they are:

The Blackmore Equation/Method! No doubt about it, I am a math nerd! I like to have emphatic answers using the data I gather from the system. This formula answers the age old question: how do I know what to set my biocide pre-bleed on? Most of us just simply subtract 200 umhos from the standard setpoint and call it a day. I think we can do better than that! So…

If you know the system volume, incoming makeup water conductivity and how much you evaporate every minute, this equation will tell you exactly what to set your pre-bleed to:

Stay tuned for more math like this. I have written about a dozen equations to help solve water treatment issues using data we already have.

Thanks for listening!

Water treaters need to realize that everything we do is "green." Our entire reason for being is to make the systems we treat more efficient. If we do our jobs properly, we save the customer water and energy which in turn saves the customer money. That's Being Green! Water Treatment is the original "Green" industry.

I interview Charlie Cichetti of Green Building Education Services, GBES and Sustainable Investment Group, SIG. Charlie sheds light on what we need to be aware of when it comes to USGBC, LEED and working with customers in the know about being green.

Connect with Charlie Cichetti:

LinkedIn: in/charliecichetti

Email: [email protected]

Phone Number: (404) 343-3835

Twitter: @SIG_Earth

Links Mentioned:

Learn more about about LEED GA (Overview)

Online classes to pass LEED examinations

The Tim Ferriss Show (PodCast)

Books Mentioned:

Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss

LEED GA Candidate Handbook

I bet you didn't know that you are a Superhero. A water treater has to combat issues that most mortals are unable to overcome. These issues are corrosion, scaling, microbial fouling and invasion of dirt and debris in our systems. Maybe a human can take on one or two of these issues. Taking them all on at the same time, successfully, only a Superhero can do that…

Water Treaters = Superheroes

We take a closer look at service reports.

The service report is a legal document AND it is a direct link to everything you did or didn't do on-site. Many of us do not give the service report the respect it deserves. Far too often when I consult with other water treatment companies, I see lacking service reports. Use the service report to enhance the value you give to that account.

The Catalyst:

Look at your last service report and ask yourself how it would stand up in a court of law. Now right your next one- better.

Pinks and Blues:

The AWT's Technical Training and Reference Manual on Kindle:

Reference books I use a good bit in my day to day by Colin Frayne:

Can you get me to analyze your corrosion coupons? Yes, or someone in my lab at least... Click here to get our guidelines. or Call us at 404-474-4352.

Remember to ask me.

Thanks for listening!

On episode 7, I introduce a new segment called "The Boiling Point." This new section is therapy for me and hopefully a learning opportunity for you. Frankly, The Boiler Point is for things I see some water treaters do that water treaters shouldn't do. SO STOP!

After my rant, John Zibrita of Zibex stops by to talk about his time in the water treatment industry and his involvement with AWT.

We then answer a few of your questions in "Pinks and Blues."

I dare you to prove me wrong! AWT is something that you get out of more than you put in to. So how do you start getting more out of the AWT? Volunteer! AWT needs your help, and you need to knowledge.

Links Mentioned:

The 2017 AWT Annual Convention and Exposition

Log into the "Member's Only" section to get a copy of the Al Boiler paper that John talks about.

Volunteer in AWT

On this episode we learn what it means to be a heat transfer efficiency manager. Heat transfer efficiency is really what we do as water treaters. After that Conor Parrish stops by to talk about being a relatively new water treater and how he goes about learning.

Today's show is something that most of us misunderstand, we don't know how to talk to our customers about it, and we simply do not know what the right information is and where to go find it. We are talking about the L word today; Legionella. We are going to get to the bottom of what Legionella is, what we need to know about it, how we explain it to our customers, and how we get everybody working together towards a common goal.

We welcome Dr. Janet E. Stout, she is the president and director of Special Pathogens Laboratory, and research associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

A clinical and environmental microbiologist, Dr. Stout is recognized worldwide for more than 30 years of pioneering research in Legionella. Her expertise includes disinfection and control strategies for the prevention of Legionnaires' disease and other waterborne pathogens. She is credited as the first to demonstrate the link between Legionnaires' disease and the presence of Legionella in hospital water systems.

Timestamps:

Janet shares with us about who she is and what she does [05:08]

Learn how Legionella cannot be treated by all kinds of antibiotics, only certain selected ones [08:20]

Find out what the signs and symptoms are of Legionnaires disease [09:10]

Understand what a water treater can do to prevent Legionella [11:20]

Learn what building owners need to understand about cooling towers and utility water systems and the questions we need to be asking these owners [13:28]

Hear how New York is the first to have a law that requires building owners to adhere to specific requirements [16:49]

Janet tells us where to get information on the guidelines and standards for Legionella [19:00]

Find out what the Ashrae 188 document is all about, and how it is used [19:21]

Hear how there is a lot of freedom in the standard 188 for you to make decisions [24:16]

Understand why Ashrae 188 in New York only deals with the water in cooling towers [28:15]

Learn more about the Centre for Medical and Medicaid Services Document on Ashrae 188 [34:41]

Find out why you need to test for Legionella and what systems you should be testing [36:49]

Hear how only about 30-50% of cooling towers are positive for Legionella [40:52]

Janet tells us what to do if your test for Legionella in the water comes back positive [42:59]

Learn how decisions made need to be evidence-based [48:58]

Understand the procedure on the collection part of the Legionella test [49:40]

Learn about the ELITE program developed by the CDC [52:45]

Hear what's an acceptable free chlorine and what to test for when you're testing chlorine [65:26]

Find out why you need to take negligence off the table [70:05]

Janet tells us what she sees around the topic of Legionella that needs to stop [72:14]

Quotes:

"The symptoms of legionnaires disease is no different than the symptoms of other forms of pneumonia." - Dr. Janet E. Stout

"I always try to have a little lawyer on my shoulder when I am advising our clients on Legionella management." -Dr. Janet E. Stout

Connect with Dr. Janet E. Stout:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @specialpathogen

Website: specialpathogenslab.com

Links Mentioned:

ASHRAE

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC

US Environmental Protection Agency

Legionella

CDC Legionella Toolkit

CDC Vital Signs

CDC: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

CMS Update Memorandum

New CDC Vital Signs Report on Legionnaires' Disease: What You Need to Know

Special Pathogens Laboratory Resources

On today's episode we welcome Jim Lukanich, a former AWT board member, he is a Certified Water Technologist (CWT) and the director of applied technology with U.S. Water. Jim won the Ray Balm Memorial Water Treater of the Year award in 2008. Jim describes himself as a short guy, about 59 years old, he runs, bikes and swims and just happens to be a water treater. Jim has been in the water treatment industry since 1981, he comes with a great deal of experience over the years and he has a big interest in microbiology and chemistry. Jim and his wife, alongside their nine rescue cats and two rescue dogs live in Grapevine, Texas.

In this episode we're going to talk a little bit about closed loop systems, what you need to know and how they are the step child of the water treatment community. Jim Lukanich also joins us to share some need-to-know things about water treatment.

Closed Loop Systems

The close loop is just as important as that cooling tower loop and you know what that tower looks like when you don't feed a microbiocide, well it's a lot easier to see, of course we've got a more dynamic system with the cooling tower and sunlight might be getting in but we have things that are growing in the close loop as well. Give the closed loop the respect that it deserves and give your profession the respect that it deserves. If you are going to take care of a customer's systems, make sure that you're completely taking care of all of the customer's systems. Treat for all four areas of water treatment: scaling, corrosion, microbial fouling and taking the dirt and debris out of the system.

Timestamps:

Jim shares a bit more about himself [09:58]

Hear how Jim ended up working in the water treatment industry [12:53]

Learn what secrets Jim has learned through his many years of water treatment experience [22:30]

Find out why Jim believes it's important to admit when you're wrong [26:11]

Discover how if you understand microbiology, it's easy to treat the cooling tower [28:29]

Understand how Jim relates a cooling tower and it's ecosystem to teeth.

Hear at what age Jim gained wisdom and noticed a difference in his reactions [30:26]

Discover how the words potable and microbicide are two words often misused. - And how he called Trace out on it years ago [36:24]

Find out how Trace and Jim challenge each other when they do presentations [39:23]

Learn what things Jim did and still does to become a better speaker [42:48]

Listen as Jim helps us understand what PTSA is [45:05]

Hear some of Jim's experiences about using PTSA [45:14]

Learn about TTPC, the one particular microbicide that could interfere with PTSA [49:32]

Discover some of Jim's small wins throughout his career [53:02]

Hear why Jim considers his biggest failure, failing to recognize his own failures [54:56]

Find out what advice Jim has for people new to the water industry [57:18]

Clarifying Points:

Jim mentioned the issues with PTSA and TTPC. To clarify PTSA stands for para toluenesulfonic acid and is used as a product tracing. TTPC stands for tributyl tetradecyl phosphonium chloride. The most well know TTPC is Bellacide 355.

Quotes:

"Try to keep learning; never stop learning." - Jim Lukanich

"I think the secret to becoming a world class water treater is to never stop learning." - Jim Lukanich

"Microbiology plays a major role in all types of depositions. Most important." - Jim Lukanich

"My biggest failure is my failure to recognize any of my failures." - Jim Lukanich

Connect with Jim Lukanich:

Website: www.uswaterservices.com

Twitter: @jlukanich

Links Mentioned:

US Steel

Nalco

Buckman Laboratories

Tom Peters

Tastes great, Less Filling - Miller Lite 1987 Commercial

AWT Training

Pyxis

H2tronics

Books Mentioned:

The Primal Scream by Arthur Janov

Our guest today is Michael Iverson, part-time CFO for Blackmore Enterprise. Michael is an experienced financial executive with over 25 years of financial accounting and management experience at both privately held and publicly traded companies. He has an understanding of all things financial and the cool thing about Mike is he is able to put things in a way that you can understand it and from that, to make informed decisions based on that information. On today's episode we're talking a little bit about finance and how we manage things that go along with that.

We also talk about the differences between D.A. and Feedwater tanks, corrosion coupons and a few more things.

Our guest today is Michael Iverson, part-time CFO for Blackmore Enterprise. Michael is an experienced financial executive with over 25 years of financial accounting and management experience at both privately held and publicly traded companies. He has an understanding of all things financial and the cool thing about Mike is he is able to put things in a way that you can understand it and from that, to make informed decisions based on that information. On today's episode we're talking a little bit about finance and how we manage things that go along with that.

Feed Water Tanks and the Deaerators

A feed water tank and a deaerator is exactly the same thing except for one difference; the difference is pressure. The feed water tank has no pressure whereas the deaerator does. The whole purpose for the feed water tank and the deaerator tank is to drive off oxygen and they do this with heat. You can only get water so hot before it does a phase change and it changes into steam. The way you get water hotter is you put it under pressure. We want to keep it in the water state but we want to put more BTU's in it, we want to get it hotter. So how do we do that? We can put more pressure to hold the water as water and not allowing it to convert into steam. A feed water tank can only get to 212 degrees and still be water but we'll have issues with cavitation. A deaerator can take it up to 240 or 250 degrees before it starts to boil because it's under pressure. The hotter it is the more we can drive off oxygen.

Key Points:

Mike tells us how he works with multiple clients, giving all his clients CFO-level expertise without them having to hire and pay for a full-time CFO.

The basic key financial information that all business owners should know.

Learn how you limit the amount of cost by limiting the amount of time

Find out about the 8 financial drivers in a business.

Why what you do in business and what you do in your personal life cross pollinates.

Understand Mike's outlook on the economy; a possible recession coming up in 2019.

How to ensure your balance sheet is clean and stays in the attack-growth mode for 2019.

The importance of comparing your business to industry metrics and benchmarks.

Why you need to create a strategic plan for your business.

How to find out what you want to measure by asking what drives your business.

Find out why you need to set a goal to determine what those measures should be.

The reason why Mike would want to, most of all, have a conversation with Abraham Lincoln.

Quotes

"Being able to measure yourself against somebody is tremendous because otherwise you're driving against yourself." — Mike Iverson

"As a well rounded water treater we need to understand chemistry, finance, electricity, plumbing and the list goes on." — Trace Blackmore

"The best location to feed a means is in a steam header." — Trace Blackmore

Connect with Mike Iverson:

Website: www.trilliumfinancial.com

Links Mentioned:

Blackmore Enterprises

AWT Convention

AWT Webinars

Galvanic Series

AWT-Standards-for-Corrosion-Rates

Our guest today is Michelle Farmerie. Michelle is the daughter of Jay Farmerie and the Marketing Director for GLA Water Consultant, Inc. Michelle has also become more involved in the water treatment industry by joining various AWT committees. Most significantly, she has taken lead of the Young Professionals Group whose purpose is to help solidify the future of the AWT. Michelle also participates in annual Training Seminars to continue to learn more about the water treatment industry and to better understand actual hands-on operations that take place at customer sites. On today's episode Michelle tells us more about what she's doing with AWT, the marketing side of the water treatment industry, and we are answering some questions.

Our guest today is Michelle Farmerie. Michelle is the daughter of Jay Farmerie and the Marketing Director for GLA Water Consultant, Inc. Michelle has also become more involved in the water treatment industry by joining various AWT committees. Most significantly, she has taken lead of the Young Professionals Group whose purpose is to help solidify the future of the AWT. Michelle also participates in annual Training Seminars to continue to learn more about the water treatment industry and to better understand actual hands-on operations that take place at customer sites. On today's episode Michelle tells us more about what she's doing with AWT, the marketing side of the water treatment industry, and we are answering some questions.

Heat Transfer Efficiency Manager.

You are a heat transfer efficiency manager. Everything you do is a sub product from making sure the equipment you are treating is effective discharging that heat as efficiently as it possible can. If you do your job correctly, you are making sure that it is the most cost effective way of transferring that heat on the equipment that you're treating. If you are not doing your job correctly that heat has to transfer through some sort of insulator meaning that we have to flow more water through the system, meaning that we might have to use more energy in that system and it's not being effective. Your job above all else is heat transfer efficiency management. If we're heating something we're putting heat in and we're taking it to a place where we need it. still making sure we're managing all the transfer of that heat. where we're putting it in where we need it. When we're cooling, we're removing heat. We're taking the heat out of a place where we don't want it, we're flowing it through our equipment and we're discharging it to a place where we don't care about it, normally that's the atmosphere.

Key Points

• • Michelle tells us about what she does as the Marketing Director at GLA Water Consultants.
  • Hear as Michelle tells us about GLA being a family business that her father started.
  • Learn how Michelle grew up in the industry with memories of hanging around the lab with her father on weekends and learning about elements from a young age.
  • How you can provide yourself as a resource and create relationships with your customers to better market yourself and your business in this industry.
  • Listen how to acknowledge people with more experience than yourself in order for them to respect you more as a young person in the industry.
  • Understand how to provide the best customer service possible by making sure everything across the line is the same.
  • Discover what Michelle absolutely loves about the water treatment industry.
  • Michelle tells us how the water treatment industry is vital and is fast becoming one of the biggest industries.
  • Hear why Michelle least likes the money part of the industry.
  • Learn how AWT foundations training and the Scaling Up podcast are being used as tools to market the industry and inform people more about it.
  • Find out what Michelle does at AWT with the young professionals group and young professionals task force.
  • Listen as Michelle explains how AWT has helped develop different industry tools such as The SEED Program.
  • Understand how Michelle wants to grow SEED by reaching out to schools all over the country.
  • Discover why The Harry Potter series are the last books that Michelle has read.
  • Michelle tells us that she would want Sandra Bullock to play her in a movie about her life.
  • Hear why Michelle would want to sit down with Jesus.
  • And much more!

Quotes

"I have found from growing up in this industry, I am a pro at the periodic table, I know all the elements." - Michelle Farmerie

"When you have everything synced together it really helps." - Michelle Farmerie

"What's the old saying, people don't care what you know until they know that you care." - Michelle Farmerie

"Most people consider their service working out of their test kit but it's really working with that customer." - Michelle Farmerie

Links Mentioned

Michelle Farmerie - http://glaconsultants.com/

Michelle's Email - [email protected]

Michelle on Twitter - https://twitter.com/auntieseashell

AWT Convention - https://www.awt.org/annualconvention17/

AWT Webinars - http://www.awt.org/education_events/webinars.cfm

SEED project - https://www.awt.org/education_events/student_education_enhancement_development_program.cfm