There are one million people in California without safe drinking water and many of them live in the San Joaquin Valley, a region dominated by agriculture. Many residents, particularly low-income, Latino farmworkers in rural communities, face the harsh reality of dry wells or contaminated water sources due to the excessive water consumption and pollution caused by the agricultural industry.

But there are organizations fighting for fairness in water access, as discussed in this episode with Susana De Anda of Community Water Center, Linda Gutierrez of the Yettum-Seville Community Services District, and Jessi Snyder of Self-Help Enterprises.

They talk about the basic assistance of providing emergency tanks, delivering water, and drilling wells for homes. They also explain efforts to unite tiny utilities, build networks of community leaders, assist towns with operations, and raise the voice of those in need.

waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org

Sports have tremendous influence and impact on many facets of society, including the environment. The potential to turn the sports industry into a powerful driver of sustainability led to the formation of the Green Sports Alliance in 2010.

Over a decade later, its member teams, leagues, venues, and businesses are creating change, as discussed in this episode with Dune Ives, the organization’s co-founder and board member.

Dune explains how the Green Sports Alliance was initially focused on energy and waste, but that water is now becoming a more prominent issue. She talks about a new playbook that aims to help venues improve water management and the opportunities for the water and sports industries to deepen collaboration.

This episode is supported by Open Water, the ultra-purified, electrolyte-packed water canned in the U.S. in BPA-free aluminum packaging. Learn more at drinkopenwater.com

waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org

This episode is part of a series The PFAS Puzzle: Lessons From A Contaminated Cape Fear. The forever chemicals were dumped in the North Carolina river for nearly 40 years before being discovered. The series explores how a community responds when it is the epicenter of PFAS pollution.

This episode is about regulations.

Some of the big questions about PFAS are how industrial facilities have been able to discharge the chemicals and whether regulations like the Clean Water Act are being properly utilized.

Those regulatory issues and the situation for the Cape Fear River are discussed in this episode with Elizabeth Biser, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, and Geoff Gisler, Program Director at the Southern Environmental Law Center.

They talk about the requirements for compliance with a consent order and groundbreaking permit for a facility on the Cape Fear. Geoff summarizes the variety of PFAS litigation around the country and direction of the legal fight, while Elizabeth explains the response and approach by state regulators.

waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org

This series is sponsored by:

Black & Veatch, providing end-to-end consulting, engineering, and construction services to address each community's unique PFAS needs. Learn more at bv.com/pfas

PFASComms.com, who makes utilities the trusted, go-to-source for PFAS information in the community. Visit pfascomms.com

ALTRA, a company with the most robust PFAS treatment solution. Visit logistec.com/pfas-solutions/

Athletes have tremendous influence - on fans, teams, brands, and more.

That power can be used to create positive change for the environment, as discussed in this episode with Chris Dickerson, a former Major League Baseball player and co-founder of Players For The Planet.

Chris explains how he developed an interest in sustainability when surrounded by single-use plastic in a baseball clubhouse and then launched the organization to create opportunities for athletes to take action. He also talks about the growing interest among players and the need for teams and venues to move faster.

From a conversation at the Green Sports Alliance Summit.

waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet exploring solutions for sustainability and equity. Visit waterloop.org

Many people, particularly in younger generations, want careers that make a positive impact on broad issues such as social justice and climate change. The water industry is promoting that it has jobs that deliver results for people and the planet.

One of the messengers is Maura Jarvis, a community outreach consultant for the Philadelphia Water Department. In this episode, Maura discusses how water careers are excellent opportunities to create change in communities, the impact of her work in public engagement, and advice for people interested in entering the industry.

This episode is from a conversation at the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C. where waterloop is a media partner. Learn more at reservoircenter.org

waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org

This episode is part of a series, Funding To Fight Lead.

Replacing the nation’s lead service lines in a timely manner is going to require funding beyond government dollars. The municipal bonds that utilities use for a variety of water infrastructure projects are an untapped resource for lead service line replacement.

This episode about the use of municipal bonds is particularly of interest to utility leadership, financial staff, and municipal managers. The conversation features Marc Uy, portfolio manager for municipal impact at AllianceBernstein; Stephen Spitz, leader of the water and wastewater financing team at Orrick; and Clifford Gerber, tax lawyer at Norton Rose Fulbright.

The guests discuss how impact investors are interested in water infrastructure such as lead service line replacement, the ability for municipalities to finance the work on private property because of the public benefit, and the tax implications including exemption.

waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org

This episode is made possible by support from the WaterNow Alliance and Environmental Policy Innovation Center and is sponsored by:

120Water offers cloud-based software and digital sampling kits to help water systems and states to execute lead programs. Visit 120water.com

LeadCopperRule.com helps utilities proactively manage lead communications and public information emergencies. Visit leadcopperrule.com

BlueConduit has developed cutting-edge, predictive machine learning software to effectively locate lead service lines. Visit blueconduit.com

Philadelphia is one of the country’s leaders in the use of green infrastructure to manage stormwater and bring benefits to communities. Since launching its Green City, Clean Waters initiative in 2011, Philly has installed 2,800 green tools at more than 800 sites, which together capture a staggering 3 billion gallons of water.

The city’s approach and accomplishments are discussed in this episode with Stephanie Chiorean, Environmental Scientist Specialist and Planner at the Philadelphia Water Department.

Stephanie leads visits to three standout locations for green infrastructure - the American Street, Adaire School, and Waterloo Playground. Along the way she provides insights on lessons learned and advice for other cities working to go green.

waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org

For a long time, the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C. was nicknamed the Forgotten River due to a lack of investment, heavy pollution, and surrounding low-income neighborhoods.

Now ecological restoration and a development boom have brought attention to the Anacostia.

This episode is a ride on the river with Trey Sherard, Anacostia Riverkeeper.

Trey talks about challenges such as environmental racism, toxic sediment, and gentrification, as well as progress on sewer overflows, stormwater controls, and community engagement.

This episode is a conversation launched from the Reservoir Center in Washington D.C. where waterloop is a media partner.

waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org

Societal events of the past few years have many water utilities working to address diversity, equity, and inclusion within the workforce.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has established an Office of DEI that is focusing on an array of work and has a top executive that reports directly to the general manager rather than the human resources department.

These efforts are discussed in this podcast with Cathie Chavez-Morris, Utility Services Manager with the LADWP Office of DEI.

She talks about striving for improvements in the areas of workforce, workplace, and marketplace. Cathie also explains the opportunity to use historic levels of infrastructure funding to make progress on DEI.

waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org

Over the past 20 years, trust in public institutions has plummeted and sales of bottled water have skyrocketed. A new book titled Profits Of Distrust explores how these trends are related and the correlation between distrust of tap water and government agencies such as utilities.

The analysis is discussed in this episode with Manny Teodoro, one of the book’s authors and a Professor of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

In addition to outlining the problem, the book presents a series of reforms that could rebuild public trust in the water coming out of the tap. Manny talks about several of them including consolidation of utilities, enforcement of the Safe Drinking Water Act, improving Consumer Confidence Reports, paying attention to the taste of tap water, and providing universal service across America.

waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org