Orange County shows how water recycling moves from idea to impact—linking history, science, and workforce to make reuse mainstream.

At Irvine Ranch Water District, Paul Cook explains how a simple visual breakthrough—the now-iconic purple pipe—was created in the 1980s to clearly mark recycled water and build public trust, a standard that spread across California and the world.

At Orange County Water District’s Groundwater Replenishment System, Mehul Patel traces the lineage from Water Factory 21 to today’s 130-MGD advanced purification that protects a coastal aquifer, pushes back seawater intrusion, and supplies enough water for about a million people. Research and innovation lead the way: Megan Plumley spotlights OCWD’s lab and pilots tackling energy use in RO, improving membranes and spacers, and continuously monitoring for PFAS, microplastics, and other emerging contaminants—evidence that potable reuse is built on decades of science, not slogans.

The future depends on people as much as plants. At Moulton Niguel Water District, Joone Kim-Lopez lays out the skills needed for direct potable reuse—high-level certification, data literacy, and creativity—while sharing how partnerships with colleges are creating new training pathways.

This episode is part of The Golden State of Reuse, a series exploring the past, present, and future of water recycling across California, showcasing the people and projects redefining how water is used again and again. 

The series is a collaboration with WateReuse California and sponsored by CDM Smith.

The series is also supported by the Sacramento Area Sewer District, Black & Veatch, and Monterey One Water.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

Annabelle Rayson’s journey into water science began on the shores of Lake Huron and has grown into an award-winning pursuit of global impact.

A student at Harvard University and winner of the 2022 Stockholm Junior Water Prize, Annabelle shares how her childhood curiosity about the Great Lakes evolved into groundbreaking research and real-world problem solving. She describes her innovative “Plankton Wars” project—using native zooplankton to reduce harmful algal blooms—and how it earned her international recognition.

Annabelle also reflects on her internship at Xylem’s Reservoir Center, where she worked on projects spanning water quality monitoring, nutrient sensing, and community engagement. From studying methane emissions in wetlands to investigating heavy metals in drinking water, her story captures the next generation of scientific leadership and passion driving solutions for clean, sustainable water worldwide.

This episode is a collaboration with the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C. where waterloop is the media partner.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

SUEZ is aiming to ignite innovation in North America by bringing its 160 years of global water expertise and thousands of patented treatment technologies to utilities across the continent.

In this conversation from WEFTEC, Joshua Cantone and Abigail Antolovich of SUEZ share how the company is focused on empowering utilities with advanced tools and know-how for smarter, more sustainable solutions.

The episode explores SUEZ’s plan to partner with North American water systems and companies to accelerate adoption of technology through collaboration rather than competition.

Cantone details the integration of digital and treatment technologies to reduce energy use and optimize plant performance, while Antolovich highlights a new go-to-market model that pairs SUEZ innovation with North America’s best integrators and engineers.

Learn more about SUEZ, the trusted partner for circular solutions in water and waste.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

PFAS remains one of water’s toughest and most urgent challenges — a class of thousands of persistent compounds still only partly understood but deeply embedded in modern life and the environment.

In this episode, Peter Grevatt, CEO of The Water Research Foundation, discusses the state of PFAS research, including how science is closing critical knowledge gaps and revealing where the next breakthroughs may come.

Grevatt explains how new “total PFAS” and precursor testing methods are helping researchers glimpse what lies beneath the surface — the larger iceberg of unmeasured chemicals.

National studies led by WRF are also reshaping assumptions about where PFAS comes from, showing that domestic wastewater may contribute a greater overall mass than industrial sources.

AI is beginning to aid detection, with early research into “fingerprinting” PFAS signatures from fire training sites, landfills, and other sources to help utilities identify where contamination originates.

When it comes to solutions, Grevatt outlines a field in motion rather than finished answers. Granular activated carbon, ion exchange, and reverse osmosis remain reliable workhorses, but their limits—especially with short-chain PFAS—are driving studies on tailored treatment media and lower-cost destruction technologies.

Grevatt also highlights growing research on PFAS in biosolids and the global search for safe management options, from land application to disposal.

This episode is sponsored by Shimadzu, a provider of analytical instruments for research, development, and quality control in a variety of fields.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

San Diego is proving that the future of water is recycled. This episode visits Santee Lakes—one of California’s earliest examples of water reuse—with Kyle Swanson of Padre Dam Municipal Water District, who explains how a 1960s experiment turned wastewater into a beloved community asset and a model for the world.

The story then moves to the North City Water Reclamation Plant, where Doug Campbell from the City of San Diego shares how decades of innovation paved the way for Pure Water San Diego—one of the nation’s largest and most ambitious water recycling efforts. When complete, Pure Water will provide half of the city’s drinking water through a five-step purification process that turns wastewater into a safe, sustainable, and drought-proof resource.

This episode is part of The Golden State of Reuse, a series exploring the past, present, and future of water recycling across California, showcasing the people and projects redefining how water is used again and again. Visit https://bit.ly/ReuseCAseries

The series is a collaboration with WateReuse California and the lead sponsor is CDM Smith.

The series is also supported by the Sacramento Area Sewer District, Black & Veatch, and Monterey One Water.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

Introducing the Hydro20, a group of twenty individuals celebrated for driving change, disrupting norms, and doing good for water sustainability across the United States.

The Hydro20 is an initiative of waterloop, a nonprofit news outlet, and was announced during Climate Week NYC at the Rethinking Water conference hosted by Columbia University.

The inaugural Hydro20 Honorees:

-Jorge Richardson – Founder, HOPE Hydration (Access)

-Richard Diaz – Infrastructure Field Manager, BlueGreen Alliance (Advocacy)

-Seth Watkins – Farmer, Pinkhook Farm (Agriculture)

-Britton Smith – Lead Singer, Britton and the Sting (Arts)

-Dan Tudesco – Associate Director of Community Water Systems, Brita (Business)

-Teal Lehto – Western Water Girl (Communications)

-Jerry Holden – Director – Southern Region, Ducks Unlimited (Conservation)

-Dana Okano – Director, Hawaii Environmental Finance Center (Finance)

-Tom Gamble – Owner & Operator, Gamble Estates (Food & Beverage)

-Shanna Yazzie – Manager, Safety & Compliance, DigDeep (Frontlines)

-Rachel Brown – Senior Policy Advisor, U.S. Department of the Interior (Government)

-Lorelei Cloud – Vice Chairman, Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council (Indigenous)

-Alaina Harkness – CEO, Current (Innovation)

-Carletta Davis – President, We Matter Community Association (Justice)

-Manny Teodoro – Professor of Public Affairs, University of Wisconsin–Madison (Policy)

-Raha Hakimdavar – CEO, Zyon Space; Professor, Georgetown University (Science)

-Omar Mitchell – VP of Sustainable Infrastructure and Growth Initiatives, National Hockey League (Sports)

-Greg Newbloom – Founder & CEO, Membrion (Technology)

-Aaron Tartakovsky – CEO, Epic Cleantec (Treatment)

-Aaron Kirkland – Superintendent, Green Stormwater Operations, Philadelphia Water Department (Utility)

Watch the Hydro20 announcement video and explore individual honoree profiles and videos at www.hydro20.org.

The Hydro20 is presented in partnership with Sciens Water and sponsored by the Environmental Defense Fund, Antea Group, and Human Capital Solutions.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

Inside infrastructure, there’s a simple device called check valves quietly protecting water systems from chaos, stopping dirty water from flowing backward, and keeping everything running smoothly amid bigger storms, tighter regulations, and growing cities.

In this episode, Cal Hayes from Proco Products explains the vital role of check valves.

He explains how they need zero maintenance or power, making them ideal for handling sewage backups in treatment plants and at coastal outfalls to avoid costly overflows. Cal shares how innovative valves mix drinking water reservoirs more effectively, cutting down on chemicals and downtime for greener, more reliable supplies.

In tough spots like massive ocean waves near Djibouti or flood-prone shores in New Jersey, flexible rubber versions hold up against harsh conditions. He also spotlights smart adaptations in Oregon, where valves spread treated wastewater gently to protect rivers and wildlife.

Learn more about Proco Products.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

Pittsburgh is writing a playbook on lead pipe replacement, aiming to eliminate all toxic lines by 2027.

In this episode, Will Pickering, CEO of Pittsburgh Water, and Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis of Women for a Healthy Environment reveal the strategy behind this national model.

With over $200 million in federal grants and low-interest loans, the city has replaced 13,000 lead service lines at no cost to residents. Digitized records and GIS mapping pinpoint pipes for efficient, low-disruption replacements using copper threading.

Community trust, rebuilt through transparent outreach and an advisory committee, drives participation. Naccarati-Chapkis ’s workshops target vulnerable neighborhoods, prioritizing kids and low-income areas.

This blend of tech, funding, and engagement offers a roadmap for clean water nationwide.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

This episode was supported by Blue Conduit, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the Environmental Policy Innovation Center.

As Southern California wonders if water scarcity could ever spiral into a “Day Zero” crisis, the region stands at a crossroads for securing its water future.

In this episode of In The Newsroom, Ian James, a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, dives into the critical decisions shaping the region’s water portfolio.

With half its supply imported from vulnerable sources like the Colorado River, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and Sierra Nevada snowpack, Southern California faces growing risks from climate-driven aridification and reduced snowmelt.

The region is evaluating massive wastewater recycling projects, like Pure Water Southern California, to bolster local supplies. The $20 billion Delta Conveyance Project, a proposed 45-mile tunnel, aims to secure water from the Sacramento River but sparks debate over environmental impacts on the Delta’s ecosystem. A hyper-focus on conservation and efficiency, backed by the Pacific Institute’s 2022 Untapped Potential report, highlights water-saving potential through native landscaping and upgraded appliances. Capturing stormwater in the LA River and other waterways offers another innovative solution to diversify and strengthen the region’s water resilience.

These efforts to diversify water sources today should position Southern California to avoid running out of water in the future.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

Houston is known as the energy capital—but it’s also the Bayou City, where water flows not just through the environment, but through culture, memory, justice, and resilience.

In this episode from the Color of Water series, Ayanna Jolivet Mccloud, Executive Director of Bayou City Waterkeeper, shares how her background in art and advocacy fuels bold environmental leadership rooted in equity. She discusses the group’s efforts to protect wetlands, hold polluters accountable, and connect communities with their watersheds.

From suing to stop illegal sewage dumping to mapping critical wetlands and advancing green infrastructure in underserved neighborhoods, Bayou City Waterkeeper takes an integrated, justice-first approach to water. Ayanna also highlights the power of narrative change and cultural strategies in reimagining water policy and restoring people’s relationships to place.

The Color of Water series is a collaboration between waterloop and the Water Hub.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.