Water Values Podcast

By Dave McGimpseyBusiness

Water Values Podcast episodes

October 03, 2023Synergistic Carbon Removal and Fresh Water Production with Capture6’s Tom Ricciardi
Tom Ricciardi, Vice President of Business Operations at Capture6, discusses its fascinating technology that removes and sequesters carbon while simultaneously producing fresh water. Tom provides details on the process, carbon credits, and much more in this wide ranging interview. Plus, Reese Tisdale joins us for another Bluefield on Tap segment.
In this session, you’ll learn about:
Tom’s non-traditional path to the water sector
Capture6’s carbon removal and fresh water production technology
How the technology used renewable electricity to capture carbon from the air
How salt in salt water turns into a carbonate that can be permanently sequestered
The byproducts of the technology, including hydrogen, fresh water, and pure carbon dioxide
The carbon removal credits that are available through the process
How the technology differs from zero liquid discharge
The carbon removal potential and factors affecting carbon removal
How the chemical bond of the carbonate helps ensure sequestration
The circular nature of the process when paired with a wastewater treatment plant
How the synergy between carbon removal and fresh water production reduces the cost of each
Tom’s bathtub analogy for carbon markets
Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include:
Tom’s LinkedIn page
Capture6’s website
Thank You!
Thanks to each of you for listening and spreading the word about The Water Values Podcast! Keep the emails coming and please rate and review The Water Values Podcast on iTunes and Stitcher if you haven’t done so already. And don’t forget to tell your friends about the podcast and whatever you do, don’t forget to join The Water Values mailing list!
38 min
September 19, 2023The Ripple Effect of Digital Transformation with Sai Allavarpu
Sai Allavarpu, Xylem’s Chief Digital Officer, shares his vast knowledge of how other industries have made the digital transformation and how the water sector can learn from that prior experience. Sai also elaborates on how digital solutions can solve utility challenges that analog attempts simply cannot solve and much, much more.
In this session, you’ll learn about:
Sai’s background in digital transformations from the financial, telecom, aerospace, health and other sectors
Sai’s observations on what the water sector can learn from other sectors digital transformations
How other highly regulated industries successfully navigated digital transformations
Sai’s perspective on why the health care sector took the digital leap before the water sector
The challenges facing the water market that only digital solutions can solve
Why digital solutions can solve those challenges
How digital solutions can aid talent attraction and retention
What challenges water utilities need to overcome to adopt digital solutions
How utilities can start down the road to digital transformation
Why avoiding silos of data, IT infrastructure and applications is so important
Concrete examples of how digital solutions have helped utilities save money
How different sized utilities can take advantage of digitalization
Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include:
Sai’s LinkedIn page
Xylem’s website
Ripple Effect: A Movement Towards Digital Transformation

Bluefield was pleased to collaborate with Xylem on this White Paper. View the full White Paper and its associated resources here.
Thank You!
Thanks to each of you for listening and spreading the word about The Water Values Podcast! Keep the emails coming and please rate and review The Water Values Podcast on iTunes and Stitcher if you haven’t done so already. And don’t forget to tell your friends about the podcast and whatever you do, don’t forget to join The Water Values mailing list!
34 min
September 05, 2023Energy Recovery’s Water Story with Rodney Clemente
Energy Recovery, Inc.’s Senior Vice President of Water, Rodney Clemente shares how using energy recovery technologies, the water sector saves energy, becomes more sustainable and delivers water at a more affordable price. Plus, Reese Tisdale joins us for another Bluefield on Tap segment discussing the recent New York Times feature on groundwater depletion in the United States.
In this session, you’ll learn about:
Rodney’s simple yet complex background in the water sector
How desalination has changed over time from thermal desalination to membrane based desalination, such as reverse osmosis
Why desalination is energy intensive
How energy recovery systems can reduce energy consumption by up to 60%
Given energy savings, how energy recovery systems make desalination affordable
How energy recovery systems interface with zero liquid discharge and minimal liquid discharge systems
Why energy recovery presents a sustainable solution for desalination
Applications beyond desalination that can utilize energy recovery systems
Why Rodney sees fertile ground in the wastewater sector for energy recovery opportunities
The opportunity in refrigerant decarbonization for energy recovery applications
Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include:
Energy Recovery’s website
Rodney’s LinkedIn page
Thank You!
Thanks to each of you for listening and spreading the word about The Water Values Podcast! Keep the emails coming and please rate and review The Water Values Podcast on iTunes and Stitcher if you haven’t done so already. And don’t forget to tell your friends about the podcast and whatever you do, don’t forget to join The Water Values mailing list!
43 min
August 15, 2023An Exit Interview with Retired Denver Water CEO Jim Lochhead
Retired Denver Water CEO Jim Lochhead reflects back on his career(s) in water. In this wide-ranging interview, Jim discusses the challenges on the Colorado River, good leadership and its attributes, how a water leader’s role has changed over the years, and much more. Don’t miss out on Jim’s fantastic insights!
In this session, you’ll learn about:
Jim’s background and 4 careers in the water sector
Jim’s involvement in water issues on the Colorado River, as well as all over the United States and internationally
How Jim’s perspectives developed during his earlier careers helped inform him in his role at Denver Water
Why Jim chose to step away
Important leadership skills according to Jim
How Denver Water’s H2O Leadership Academy develops skills in future water leaders
Why a legal background is a much needed skill for water leaders
The challenge Jim undertook when starting at Denver Water
How the role of CEO changed over time
Jim’s thoughts on “solving” the Colorado River
Why engagement is so important
Jim’s words of advice for water leaders
Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include:
Jim’s bio on the Water Foundation website
Denver Water’s website
37 min
August 01, 2023Fulfilling RCAP’s Mission with CEO Olga Morales-Pate
RCAP CEO Olga Morales-Pate discusses RCAP’s mission serving rural communities, highlights the needs and challenges of small rural communities and utility systems, and provides insightful commentary on how projects in small, rural communities achieve success and sustainability.
In this session, you’ll learn about:
Olga’s background in the water sector serving rural communities
The Rural Community Assistance Partnership’s mission for the last 50 years
How RCAP helps small rural utilities and communities
RCAP’s history and connection with the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act
How technical assistance providers diagnose a utility’s needs
How RCAP ensures the project for the community fits the community’s needs
How RCAP is funded
How RCAP helps communities develop the capacity to undertake and manage projects
Some of the challenges affecting small systems
Olga’s terrific insights on regionalization
Why Olga thinks small systems need to embrace change even though change is uncomfortable
Olga’s views on why we need to invest in human capital and how RCAP can bring solutions to rural America over the next 50 years
Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include:
Olga’s bio on the RCAP website
RCAP’s website
Thank You!
Thanks to each of you for listening and spreading the word about The Water Values Podcast! Keep the emails coming and please rate and review The Water Values Podcast on iTunes and Stitcher if you haven’t done so already. And don’t forget to tell your friends about the podcast and whatever you do, don’t forget to join The Water Values mailing list!
53 min
June 20, 2023Water’s Role in Decarbonization with Ajay Kasarabada
Ajay Kasarabada, Associate Vice President and Director of Environmental Solutions for Black & Veatch, provides a brilliant discussion on the issue of water’s role in decarbonization and net zero.
In this session, you’ll learn about:
Ajay’s unique path to the environmental sector and his tie to the water sector
The interrelationship between the air sector and the water sector
Water’s role as a raw material in decarbonization
The two primary sources of hydrogen
Why hydrogen doesn’t exist freely in the universe
How Ajay’s chemical engineering background fits perfectly in the water & decarbonization puzzle
Water needs for hydrogen production
Some of the policy challenges in decarbonization
The three tiers of net zero
Ajay’s work on the ETTAC (Environmental Technologies Trade Advisory Commission) advising the U.S. Department of Commerce
Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include:
Ajay’s LinkedIn profile
Black & Veatch’s website
ETTAC’s website
Thank You!
Thanks to each of you for listening and spreading the word about The Water Values Podcast! Keep the emails coming and please rate and review The Water Values Podcast on iTunes and Stitcher if you haven’t done so already. And don’t forget to tell your friends about the podcast and whatever you do, don’t forget to join The Water Values mailing list!
36 min
June 06, 2023P&G’s Water Positive Future with Shannon Quinn and Elizabeth Kinney
Shannon Quinn, Global Water Stewardship Leader, and Elizabeth Kinney, Senior Communications and Sustainability Director, of Procter & Gamble provide an in-depth discussion P&G’s vision for a water positive future. They also discuss how companies can enhance their impact on water citing examples of P&G’s own water programs and partnerships. Plus, Reese Tisdale gives us a rundown on the latest water sector news on our Bluefield on Tap segment.
In this session, you’ll learn about:
Elizabeth’s and Shannon’s respective backgrounds and their unique paths to the water sector
P&G’s water commitments
The three pronged plan P&G is pursuing for a water positive future (& what “water positive future” means to P&G)
How P&G is taking care of its own house through water efficiency programs
How P&G is restoring water to water-stressed areas
How P&G responds to big water challenges
P&G’s Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program
The water consumption delta between washing dishes by hand versus by dishwasher
How specific P&G brands are supporting P&G’s goals
How P&G partners with other organizations like the Bonneville Environmental Foundation
Elizabeth’s & Shannon’s thoughts on how companies can make an impact on water issues
Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include:
Shannon’s LinkedIn profile
Elizabeth’s LinkedIn profile
P&G’s website
P&G’s Change the Course website
Thank You!
Thanks to each of you for listening and spreading the word about The Water Values Podcast! Keep the emails coming and please rate and review The Water Values Podcast on iTunes and Stitcher if you haven’t done so already. And don’t forget to tell your friends about the podcast and whatever you do, don’t forget to join The Water Values mailing list!
45 min
May 16, 2023The Amazing Uses of Nanobubble Technology with Moleaer CEO Nick Dyner
Nick Dyner, CEO of Moleaer, takes us on an amazing journey into nanobubble technology – what it is, what it does and how it improves water efficiency, water quality, water processes and much more.
In this session, you’ll learn about:
Nick’s background and his unexpected path to the water sector
What nanobubbles are
How big nanobubbles are in comparison to a grain of salt – the answer will surprise you!
How nanobubbles transfer gas into liquid so efficiently
How nanobubbles behave different than normal bubbles
The wide range of industries in which nanobubbles can make process improvements
How nanobubbles increase agricultural yields, promote water quality and efficiency, improve nutrient absorption and mitigate against waterborne disease and biofilm
How leadership continuity affects utility culture
Use of nanobubbles in wastewater treatment, especially in the aeration process
How nanobubbles improve energy efficiency
Use of nanobubbles in the energy sector
How nanobubbles can be used in the natural world to reduce harmful algal blooms and other
Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include:
Nick’s LinkedIn profile
Moleaer’s website
Thank You!
Thanks to each of you for listening and spreading the word about The Water Values Podcast! Keep the emails coming and please rate and review The Water Values Podcast on iTunes and Stitcher if you haven’t done so already. And don’t forget to tell your friends about the podcast and whatever you do, don’t forget to join The Water Values mailing list!
34 min
May 02, 2023Utility Leadership, Pittsburgh Style with Will Pickering
Will Pickering, the CEO of the Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority, provides a master class in utility leadership covering a wide range of issues from capital programs to the art of building trust with your customers. Plus, Reese Tisdale joins us for a Bluefield on Tap segment discussing some interesting economic information in the water sector.
In this session, you’ll learn about:
Will’s background
How Will navigated starting at PWSA during the pandemic
PWSA’s lead service line (LSL) replacement program
Why PWSA does not undertake partial LSL replacements
How the LSL replacement program helped rebuild trust in the community
Will’s tips on rebuilding trust in the community
How leadership continuity affects utility culture
PWSA’s capital improvement program, including its water reliability plan
Why the Pennsylvania legislature put PWSA under PUC jurisdiction
The impact of PUC jurisdiction over PWSA
How PWSA succeeded as a public authority in a state favorable to privatization
Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include:
Will’s LinkedIn profile
PWSA’s website
Thank You!
Thanks to each of you for listening and spreading the word about The Water Values Podcast! Keep the emails coming and please rate and review The Water Values Podcast on iTunes and Stitcher if you haven’t done so already. And don’t forget to tell your friends about the podcast and whatever you do, don’t forget to join The Water Values mailing list!
48 min
April 18, 2023Sea Lab with Dr. Spencer Taintor
Dr. Spencer Taintor, Head of School for St. Mark’s Episcopal School and Church in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, fills us in on Sea Lab and the awesome programming it provides, as well as an inspirational message of hope about water quality.
In this session, you’ll learn about:
Spencer’s background
How watching water quality degrade in Biscayne Bay while growing up affected Spencer
What Sea Lab is
Why Spencer wants to teach kids to be “solution makers” not “solution thinkers”
How Spencer interfaced with the local business community to establish Sea Lab
The researchers Sea Lab has partnered with
The broad age range that can take advantage of Sea Lab
How to think globally but act locally
Some of the research projects that are underway
Some of the struggles Spencer encountered when building the tidal pool for Sea Lab
How the Sea Lab program is expanding
How Sea Lab is educating the community for the long term
Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include:
Spencer’s LinkedIn profile
Sea Lab’s website (make sure you check out the Sea Lab launch video!)
Thank You!
Thanks to each of you for listening and spreading the word about The Water Values Podcast! Keep the emails coming and please rate and review The Water Values Podcast on iTunes and Stitcher if you haven’t done so already. And don’t forget to tell your friends about the podcast and whatever you do, don’t forget to join The Water Values mailing list!
39 min

About Water Values Podcast

From the publisher's feed

The Water Values Podcast series is presented in collaboration with Bluefield Research. This podcast series explores water issues from a variety of perspectives with the goal of uncovering the true…