What About Water?

In episode 22 of 'What About Water?', SCWA CEO Jeff Szabo sits down with Deputy CEO of Operations Joe Pokorny and Laboratory Project Manager Gavin Marsden to discuss the issue of lead in drinking water and the minimal threat the issue poses to Suffolk County. The discussion gets into the recent history of lead-related problems in other parts of the United States, and why Suffolk County doesn't have these same issues in our service territory.

In episode 21 of 'What About Water?', SCWA CEO Jeff Szabo sits down with Director of Strategic Initiatives Ty Fuller and Deputy Director of Production Control Phil Thompson to discuss topics surrounding conservation. The discussion delves into the complexities of maintaining our infrastructure during the hot, summer months and covers tips for how SCWA customers can conserve water this summer.

In Episode 20 of ‘What About Water?’, we are answering questions from you, our customers. We asked you what you want to know the most about your drinking water. Our panel of experts are answering some of the most popular and interesting questions. We also have a snippet from SCWA Chairman Charles Lefkowitz's recent guest appearance on the TBR Podcast "Pressroom Afterhour".

In Episode 19 of ‘What About Water?’, we are answering questions from you, our customers. We asked you what you want to know the most about your drinking water. Our panel of experts are answering some of the most popular and interesting questions. 

The foundation of any government is to provide basic essential services to the public so that they have an opportunity to lead a safe and healthy life.  One of those services, one that is essential to life, is providing safe drinking water.  But how do people respond when government fails to provide those services? What choices are made when the public is suspicious of government and drinking water suppliers? What happens when private drinking water companies exploit basic trust between government and drinking water suppliers for their own profit?

Joining us today is Manny Teodoro, an assistant professor at the Robert M. Lafollette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin Madison.  Professor Teodoro is also the co-author of “Profits of Distrust – Citizen -Consumer, Drinking Water, and the Crisis of Confidence in American Government” 

Professor Teodoro provides a path forward with recommendations on how trust can be restored and the cycle of distrust can end. 

Summer is over and for the second year in a row Long Island experienced a significant drought. In fact since just 2016, Long Island has experienced five summer droughts and with climate change we could see even more in the future. That means residents fighting against nature to keep their gardens blooming and their grass green with huge amounts of lawn watering. 

Today we are talking about droughts, long periods of dry weather that leave our lawns scorched and keep our sprinklers running. 

While droughts aren’t uncommon on Long Island, our plentiful reserves of water leave us in a very different position than other parts of the country. So, we are going to look westward to Las Vegas, Nevada where drought and water availability are always at the top of mind. We’ll find out just how different Long Island is when it comes to drought struggles and if there are lessons to be learned from the west. Joining me today is John Entsminger, General Manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority 

We tend to talk about very local issues on this podcast, a very on the ground view of being a drinking water provider. But there is a huge amount of discussion at the national level about drinking water policy that will affect SCWA customers. 

In today’s episode we sit down with AMWA CEO Tom dobbins to discuss drinking water on a national level.

Despite the significance of water in our lives, many people are unaware of the marvel that is the water cycle, and how it’s responsible for providing the continuous water supply that fills Long Island’s aquifers, the sole source of our drinking water.

Today, we’re going to talk about not just the water cycle, but how water enters our aquifers, is pulled to the surface, tested, treated and, finally, delivered to your home or business. 

Correspondent Tim Motz sits down with Dr. Christopher Gobler to talk about the water cycle (01:54). Next Host Jeff Szabo speaks to water industry experts to discuss the journey of a water droplet in the sky to the tap in your home (06:59). 

Today, we’re going to talk to experts from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency about the availability of funds for water infrastructure and how it will be invested. We’ll also cover other key topics, including the ongoing effort to replace lead service lines and the EPA’s ambitious effort to regulate one of the most pressing contaminant threats in the country, the threat to health caused by PFAS chemicals.

Host Jeff Szabo sits down with representatives from the EPA (01:47). Jeff speaks with Aisha Sexton-Sims, Ph.D., to discuss the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and the role EPA plays in that program. (10:41) Then, the EPA discusses its efforts to help disadvantaged communities access state funding. (12:46) Finally, Jeff speaks with Dorina Aliu, P.E. to discuss the recently announced, proposal for a new national drinking water standard for PFAS. (19:32)

February is Black History Month. During the month-long commemoration, various programs, events and activities are held to honor the rich history and contributions of Black Americans to society. In honor of Black History Month, SCWA has dedicated an episode of its podcast, to our journey to make Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging and Justice an integral part of our organization. 

Host CEO Jeff Szabo passes the microphone to our Chief Diversity and Equity Officer, Janice Tinsley to discuss her history here at SCWA (1:04).  SCWA consultant Dr. Estelle Marie Montgomery offers her unique perspective (3:06). Director of Strategic Initiatives, Tyrand Fuller begins co-moderating a conversation with our Diversity, Equality, Inclusion, Belonging and Justice 2030 Strategic Planning committee (4:25).