ZuLoo Poodcast

How is Ukraine keeping clean water flowing during war? Artem Shyra, Vice President of the Ukrainian Water Association, shares the challenges of maintaining water infrastructure, protecting drinking water supplies, and providing essential water services to communities during an ongoing conflict.

In this episode of the ZuLoo Poodcast, Jocelyn is joined by guest co-host Sam Mangum, who helps translate the conversation with Artem from Ukrainian to English. Together, they explore how the war has affected Ukraine's water systems, the challenges facing water treatment professionals, and the difficult decisions required to keep communities supplied with clean water.

Artem explains how water shortages have forced cities to prioritize essential needs, why emergency backup water sources are critical, and how water treatment professionals are adapting to damaged and strained infrastructure. He also discusses his work with Nirex, a company involved in water purification and treatment equipment.

From water security and emergency water management to the resilience of Ukrainian communities, this conversation highlights the importance of reliable water infrastructure and the people working to keep it functioning during times of crisis.

What You Will Learn

✅ How the war in Ukraine has affected drinking water access, water treatment, and essential infrastructure

✅ Why some Ukrainian communities face restricted water access and how cities prioritize limited supplies

✅ How emergency backup water sources and water purification technology help maintain water services during a crisis

✅ What Artem Shyra's experience reveals about water security, infrastructure resilience, and the challenges of working during wartime

Timestamps

00:00 Why bidets are the future and an introduction to Ukraine
01:20 Meet guest co-host Sam Mangum and learn why he speaks Ukrainian
03:45 Understanding Ukraine's water and sanitation infrastructure
06:45 Meet Artem Shyra, Vice President of the Ukrainian Water Association
08:00 How war is affecting Ukraine's access to clean water
09:00 Finding alternative water sources during a crisis
10:00 Prioritizing water access for homes and essential needs
12:50 Lessons learned from maintaining water infrastructure during war
13:45 Why emergency backup water sources are critical
15:00 Finding hope amid uncertainty and ongoing challenges
15:25 Nirex and its role in water treatment and purification
16:45 Reflections on Ukrainian resilience and the ongoing conflict

Key Takeaways

🔹 Water infrastructure is essential to survival during conflict. Artem describes how the war has disrupted water access in Ukrainian cities, placing additional pressure on water treatment professionals and essential public services.

🔹 Water shortages require difficult decisions. When water systems cannot operate normally, communities must prioritize essential needs. Artem explains that some apartment buildings have experienced severely restricted water availability, forcing cities to carefully manage distribution.

🔹 Backup water sources are critical for water security. Artem emphasizes the importance of identifying reliable water sources and maintaining alternatives. When one supply becomes unavailable, an emergency backup can help prevent a complete interruption of water services.

🔹 Resilience and adaptability help keep communities functioning. Despite uncertainty and ongoing challenges, Artem and other water professionals continue finding ways to maintain essential services, adapt to changing conditions, and provide water to the people who need it.

Guest Bio

Artem Shyra is the Vice President of the Ukrainian Water Association and a water treatment professional with approximately 20 years of experience in the industry.

Through his work in water treatment and purification, Artem has been involved in providing water solutions and supporting access to essential water services in Ukraine. He also discusses his work with Nirex, a company involved in water purification and treatment equipment.

During the ongoing war in Ukraine, Artem has witnessed firsthand the challenges facing water infrastructure, including disrupted supplies, restricted access, and the need for reliable alternative water sources.

His experience highlights the importance of water security, emergency preparedness, and maintaining critical infrastructure during times of crisis.

Website: http://ukrainian-water-association.org/en/ 

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Website: http://ukrainian-water-association.org/en/ 

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Copyright (c) ZuLoo Media LLC.  All rights reserved. The Pōōdcast is the property of ZuLoo Media LLC (the “Publisher”).  The opinions expressed on the Pōōdcast are not necessarily that of the Publisher or of its parent company, ZuLoo, Inc.  (“ZuLoo”), or its affiliates.  References to third-parties, or links thereto, do not constitute an endorsement by such persons of the Pōōdcast, the Publisher, ZuLoo, or their affiliates, products, or services. ZuLoo Humanitarian is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity affiliated with ZuLoo. The ZuLoo Marketplace is owned and operated by ZuLoo Enterprises USA LLC, a ZuLoo-affiliated company. Questions may be directed to [email protected].

Are bidets better than toilet paper for hygiene, sustainability, and your health? Steven Scheer, President of Brondell, Inc., believes washing with water can provide a cleaner experience while significantly reducing our dependence on toilet paper.

On the ZuLoo Poodcast, Jocelyn and Darin sit down with Steven Scheer to explore how bidets work, why Americans have been slower to adopt them, and how the toilet paper shortage of 2020 helped bring bidets into the mainstream.

Steven explains the health and hygiene benefits of washing with water, the environmental impact of toilet paper, and how modern bidet toilet seats have evolved to include heated seats, adjustable water temperature and pressure, air dryers, deodorizers, and other smart features.

The conversation also looks toward the future of smart toilets, including how emerging technology could eventually monitor health indicators and help identify potential concerns through urine and stool analysis.

What You Will Learn

✅ Why washing with water can provide a cleaner and more comfortable alternative to toilet paper

✅ How the toilet paper shortage of 2020 accelerated bidet adoption in the United States

✅ How modern bidets work, from basic non-electric attachments to integrated smart toilets

✅ How future toilets could use health monitoring technology to provide valuable information about our bodies

Timestamps

00:00 Inside the modern smart bidet experience
02:18 Meet Steven Scheer, President of Brondell Inc.
03:40 How a trip to Thailand introduced Steven to bidets
06:44 Why Americans have been slow to adopt bidets
08:17 How the toilet paper shortage changed the bidet market
11:36 Bidets, personal hygiene, and health benefits
15:07 The environmental impact of toilet paper
16:58 How does a bidet actually work?
19:23 Inside today's smart bidet toilets
25:47 Designing bidets for the American bathroom
27:49 Clean water, filtration, and sustainable home products
32:58 The future of bidets and smart toilet technology

Key Takeaways

🔹 Bidets can offer more than convenience. Steven shares how washing with water can provide greater comfort and independence, particularly for people experiencing medical conditions or mobility challenges.

🔹 Using a bidet can dramatically reduce toilet paper use. Steven says his household uses approximately 75% less toilet paper with bidets, while some users eliminate toilet paper almost entirely by using built-in air dryers.

🔹 Modern bidets range from simple to high-tech. A basic model can connect directly to a home's clean water supply without electricity, while integrated smart toilets can include heated seats, adjustable water temperature and pressure, warm air drying, deodorizers, nightlights, and automatic flushing.
🔹 The toilet of the future could help monitor your health. Steven envisions toilets incorporating biomarkers that could potentially detect blood in stool, hydration issues, and other health indicators through routine bathroom use.

Guest Bio

Steve Scheer is President of Brondell, Inc., and is a seasoned business entrepreneur specializing in early to mid-stage startup environments. He has an extensive background in corporate development, strategic operations, new product development, and business planning within manufacturing and technology sectors. Steve has had multiple appearances as a Design Bites panelist at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS), taking home a People's Choice Award in 2022. His extensive media and podcast appearances cover a range of topics, including fostering positive company culture, innovation in the home, and initiatives for driving successful, sustainable businesses. Steve holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.

Website: https://www.brondell.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-scheer-1a0a3a

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Copyright (c) ZuLoo Media LLC.  All rights reserved. The Pōōdcast is the property of ZuLoo Media LLC (the “Publisher”).  The opinions expressed on the Pōōdcast are not necessarily that of the Publisher or of its parent company, ZuLoo, Inc.  (“ZuLoo”), or its affiliates.  References to third-parties, or links thereto, do not constitute an endorsement by such persons of the Pōōdcast, the Publisher, ZuLoo, or their affiliates, products, or services. ZuLoo Humanitarian is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity affiliated with ZuLoo. The ZuLoo Marketplace is owned and operated by ZuLoo Enterprises USA LLC, a ZuLoo-affiliated company. Questions may be directed to [email protected].

Can businesses use water and still have a positive impact on global water resources? Alejandro Sturniolo believes they can, and that the technology to make it happen already exists.

In this episode of the ZuLoo Poodcast, Jocelyn and Darin sit down with Alejandro Sturniolo of Aqua Positive to explore what it means to become water positive and why water reuse, desalination, and smarter water management could transform how businesses and communities approach water scarcity.

Alejandro explains how companies can look beyond reducing their own water consumption and support projects that save, replenish, or create water within communities and watersheds. He also challenges common assumptions about wastewater, desalination, and the water footprint of data centers and AI.

From water reuse and wastewater treatment to corporate sustainability and the future of water technology, Alejandro makes the case that solving many of our water challenges isn't about waiting for a breakthrough. It's about education, connecting existing solutions, and taking action.

What You Will Learn
✅ What water positive means and how organizations can save or replenish more water than they consume

✅ Why water reuse and desalination could play an important role in addressing water scarcity

✅ How data centers, AI, and everyday consumer activity contribute to our water footprint

✅ Why Alejandro believes education and connecting existing solutions are more important than waiting for new technology

ZuLoo Humanitarian: Learn more and support the mission at https://zuloo.org/give/ 

Timestamps

00:00 Why Alejandro is optimistic about the future of water
03:27 Meet Alejandro Sturniolo of Aqua Positive
04:40 How Alejandro discovered his passion for water
05:49 What does it mean to be water positive?
11:34 Rethinking wastewater as a valuable resource
13:34 How desalination works and misconceptions about energy use
16:15 Water reuse, water quality, and technology
17:21 Data centers, AI, and their water footprint
22:13 Why education may be the biggest barrier to progress
24:49 Alejandro's vision for the future of water

Key Takeaways

🔹 Water positive goes beyond using less water. Alejandro explains that organizations can look beyond their immediate operations and support projects that save, replenish, or create water within a broader community or watershed.

🔹 Wastewater doesn't have to be waste. Modern treatment and reuse technologies can turn wastewater into a valuable resource. Alejandro argues that properly treated reused water can achieve extremely high levels of water quality.

🔹 Data centers aren't the entire water story. While AI and data centers use water, Alejandro encourages people to consider water footprints across industries and everyday products rather than focusing on a single sector. He points to water-positive commitments from data centers as an example of companies taking action.

🔹 The technology exists. Knowledge is the bigger challenge. Alejandro believes the primary limitation isn't technology but education and the ability to connect sustainability goals with existing water solutions.

About the Guest

Alejandro Sturniolo is a water sustainability expert, entrepreneur, and advocate for water-positive strategies.

After building a successful company across South America, Alejandro sold the business and turned his attention more fully toward his longtime passion for water. His interest in the concept of water positive led him to explore how businesses can move beyond simply reducing water consumption and instead create a net-positive impact through water conservation, reuse, and replenishment.

Today, Alejandro works through Aqua Positive to connect businesses, water technologies, and sustainability strategies. He also serves as Secretary of the Water Positive Think Tank, which he describes as a community of more than 1,000 people working to advance water-positive thinking and action.

Aqua Positive

Impact Filtration

LinkedIn

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Copyright (c) ZuLoo Media LLC.  All rights reserved. The Pōōdcast is the property of ZuLoo Media LLC (the “Publisher”).  The opinions expressed on the Pōōdcast are not necessarily that of the Publisher or of its parent company, ZuLoo, Inc.  (“ZuLoo”), or its affiliates.  References to third-parties, or links thereto, do not constitute an endorsement by such persons of the Pōōdcast, the Publisher, ZuLoo, or their affiliates, products, or services. ZuLoo Humanitarian is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity affiliated with ZuLoo. The ZuLoo Marketplace is owned and operated by ZuLoo Enterprises USA LLC, a ZuLoo-affiliated company. Questions may be directed to [email protected].

What really happens after you flush the toilet? From the moment wastewater leaves your home, an entire system of pipes, screens, treatment tanks and microorganisms goes to work cleaning that water and protecting public health.

On this episode of the ZuLoo Poodcast, Jocelyn Gardner and Darin Mangum sit down with Matthew DeNafo, President of the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA), to go behind the scenes of wastewater treatment and the infrastructure most of us never think about.

Matt explains how wastewater treatment , what happens to everything that gets flushed and why so-called "flushable" wipes can create major problems for sewer systems. He also shares the simple rule everyone should follow when deciding what belongs in the toilet.

The conversation also explores how wastewater infrastructure protects clean water and public health, ACUA's use of wind energy and how new technology, greater efficiency and water reuse could shape the future of wastewater treatment.

What You Will Learn

✅ What really happens to wastewater after you flush the toilet

✅ Why "flushable" wipes and other everyday items can cause major sewer problems

✅ How wastewater treatment protects clean water, public health and local communities

✅ How water reuse, sustainable energy and new technology could shape the future of wastewater treatment

ZuLoo Humanitarian: Learn more and support the mission at https://zuloo.org/give/

Timestamps

00:00  Inside Wastewater Treatment with Matt DeNafo
01:59 Meet Matt DeNafo, President of ACUA
03:41 From engineering to wastewater management
07:24 Inside ACUA's wastewater treatment operations
11:59 What really happens after you flush?
16:45 What you should never flush down the toilet
18:25 The problem with "flushable" wipes
22:29 Common misconceptions about wastewater
26:55 How wastewater treatment protects public health and clean water
32:14 The future of wastewater treatment and water reuse

Key Takeaways

🔹 Wastewater is more than toilet water. Showers, sinks, washing machines and dishwashers all contribute to the wastewater treatment system.

🔹 "Flushable" wipes aren't really flushable. They don't break down properly and can collect inside sewer systems, creating serious clogs and maintenance problems.

🔹 Wastewater infrastructure protects entire communities. Effective treatment supports clean waterways, public health, recreation, tourism and economic development.

🔹 Water reuse could be an important part of wastewater's future. Matt sees opportunities to use new technology, improve efficiency and find better ways to reuse treated water rather than simply discharging it.

About the Guest
Matthew DeNafo is President of the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) in Southern New Jersey. A civil and environmental engineer, Matt joined ACUA in 2007 and worked his way through engineering and leadership roles before becoming president.

Today, he helps lead ACUA's wastewater treatment, recycling and solid waste operations. Its regional wastewater system serves approximately 200,000 residents across 14 municipalities, along with the millions of visitors who travel to Atlantic County each year.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattdenafo/ 

Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA):  https://www.acua.com/ 

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Copyright (c) ZuLoo Media LLC.  All rights reserved. The Pōōdcast is the property of ZuLoo Media LLC (the “Publisher”).  The opinions expressed on the Pōōdcast are not necessarily that of the Publisher or of its parent company, ZuLoo, Inc.  (“ZuLoo”), or its affiliates.  References to third-parties, or links thereto, do not constitute an endorsement by such persons of the Pōōdcast, the Publisher, ZuLoo, or their affiliates, products, or services. ZuLoo Humanitarian is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity affiliated with ZuLoo. The ZuLoo Marketplace is owned and operated by ZuLoo Enterprises USA LLC, a ZuLoo-affiliated company. Questions may be directed to [email protected].

How can innovative sanitation solutions and non-sewered toilets help solve the global sanitation crisis? By making sanitation more water-efficient, climate-resilient, and investable, communities can gain access to safely managed sanitation without relying solely on expensive traditional sewer systems.

On the ZuLoo Poodcast, Jocelyn and Darin sit down with Dominic O’Neill of the UN’s Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (SHF) to explore the future of sanitation financing, non-sewered sanitation, and water-efficient toilet technology.

Dominic shares how witnessing a cholera epidemic in Rwandan refugee camps sparked a career spanning more than three decades in sanitation. Today, his work focuses on making sanitation more investable and helping governments, businesses, and financial institutions build sustainable sanitation economies.

From off-grid sanitation and fecal sludge management to climate-resilient technology and nature-based wastewater treatment, Dominic explains why traditional sewer infrastructure cannot be the only solution and why the world may be on the verge of a sanitation technology revolution.

What You Will Learn in This Episode

✅ Why sanitation continues to receive less investment and attention than other global health priorities.

✅ How non-sewered sanitation and off-grid toilet systems can provide safely managed sanitation where traditional sewer infrastructure is impractical.

✅ Why water-efficient and climate-resilient sanitation technology could play a major role in the future of toilets and wastewater management.

✅ How the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund is helping governments, financial institutions, SMEs, and entrepreneurs build stronger sanitation economies and attract investment.

Timestamps

(00:00) The Future of Sanitation: How the UN Is Rethinking Toilets, Technology, and Investment
 (02:02) Meet Dominic O’Neill of the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund
 (02:41) How Dominic's sanitation career began
 (03:40) Witnessing cholera in the Rwandan refugee camps
 (06:25) Why sanitation continues to be overlooked
 (07:30) Making sanitation investable
 (09:51) How the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund approaches the sanitation crisis
 (12:59) What sanitation can learn from off-grid energy
 (14:13) Why non-sewered sanitation isn't only for developing countries
 (16:51) Fecal sludge management and next-generation sanitation
 (20:25) The most promising water-efficient sanitation technologies
 (24:07) How policy could accelerate non-sewered sanitation
 (26:03) How the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund actually works
 (28:30) The human impact of safe sanitation
 (32:22) What success looks like over the next five to ten years
 (33:46) A preview of SHF's work in menstrual health

Key Takeaways

🔹 Sanitation needs a new investment model. Dominic explains that solving the sanitation crisis requires moving beyond individual pit latrines and expensive centralized sewer systems toward solutions that can attract sustainable public and private investment.

🔹 Non-sewered sanitation can be a powerful alternative. Off-grid systems can provide safely managed sanitation in communities where sewer connections are financially, geographically, or practically impossible.

🔹 Water efficiency will be critical. Dominic sees water-efficient systems, including closed-loop and dry sanitation technologies, as particularly promising as communities face increasing water-security and climate challenges.

🔹 Sanitation changes everyday lives. Safe sanitation can create jobs, protect public health, and give women greater safety and dignity, particularly in dense informal settlements where leaving home to use a toilet can expose them to violence.

About Dominic O’Neill

Dominic O’Neill has spent more than three decades working in sanitation and international development. His interest in the sector began while studying environmental health and deepened after witnessing a cholera epidemic in Rwandan refugee camps early in his career.

Today, Dominic works with the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (SHF), part of the United Nations system, where the focus is on creating the conditions necessary to expand investment in sanitation and hygiene.

Rather than acting as a traditional investor, SHF works as a catalyst and support facility, helping analyze sanitation markets, strengthen government policy, support sanitation enterprises, engage financial institutions, and identify opportunities to build sustainable sanitation economies.

Website: https://www.shfund.org/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dominic-o-neill-b9960772 

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Copyright (c) ZuLoo Media LLC.  All rights reserved. The Pōōdcast is the property of ZuLoo Media LLC (the “Publisher”).  The opinions expressed on the Pōōdcast are not necessarily that of the Publisher or of its parent company, ZuLoo, Inc.  (“ZuLoo”), or its affiliates.  References to third-parties, or links thereto, do not constitute an endorsement by such persons of the Pōōdcast, the Publisher, ZuLoo, or their affiliates, products, or services. ZuLoo Humanitarian is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity affiliated with ZuLoo. The ZuLoo Marketplace is owned and operated by ZuLoo Enterprises USA LLC, a ZuLoo-affiliated company. Questions may be directed to [email protected].

How can community-led sanitation, clean water, and sustainable toilets transform lives in underserved communities? They can by providing safe sanitation, clean water, dignity, and economic opportunities while empowering local communities to lead long-term change. In this episode of the ZuLoo Poodcast, Shelley Webb-Humphreys, CEO of SOSNPO, shares how innovative sanitation solutions, dignity hubs, dry toilets, and circular economy initiatives are helping improve public health and create sustainable futures across South Africa.

After beginning her career in psychology and the corporate IT sector, Shelley found her purpose addressing South Africa's water and sanitation challenges. Today, SOS NPO works alongside communities to improve access to safe toilets, clean water, hygiene, rainwater harvesting, and community-led sanitation, while developing innovative projects that convert human waste into fertilizer, create jobs, and improve quality of life.

From replacing dangerous pit toilets in schools to empowering women through Dignity Hubs and sustainable sanitation businesses, Shelley explains why listening to communities is the key to building sanitation projects that truly last.

Whether you're passionate about global sanitation, clean water, public health, women's empowerment, community development, sustainable sanitation, circular economy, or social entrepreneurship, this conversation highlights how dignity begins with access to safe sanitation.

✅ Why community-led sanitation creates more sustainable and successful projects.

✅ How SOS NPO is replacing dangerous pit toilets with safe, water-efficient sanitation systems.

✅ How Dignity Hubs provide toilets, showers, laundry facilities, and economic opportunities for women.

✅ Why circular economy sanitation solutions can improve public health while creating jobs and reducing waste.

Support ZuLoo Humanitarian

Help provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions to communities around the world.

zuloo.org

(00:00) Why Fecal Sludge Matters More Than You Think

(05:05) Meet Shelley Webb-Humphreys and SOS NPO

(08:30) How Cape Town's Water Crisis Inspired a New Mission

(13:56) Building Sustainable Sanitation Through Community Partnerships

(17:50) The Future of Dry Toilets and Urine Diversion Systems

(20:45) How Dignity Hubs Empower Women and Create Jobs

(27:20) Replacing Dangerous Pit Toilets in South African Schools

(31:45) Why Many Sanitation Projects Fail

(34:00) The Importance of Community Buy-In

(36:00) The Future of Sanitation in South Africa

🔹 Sustainable sanitation begins with listening to communities and designing solutions around their needs.

🔹 Dry toilets and urine diversion systems can reduce water use, eliminate fecal sludge, and improve environmental outcomes.

🔹 Dignity Hubs create safer sanitation while supporting women's financial independence through microenterprises.

🔹 Long-term sanitation success depends on community ownership, education, and ongoing maintenance rather than simply installing infrastructure.

Shelley Webb-Humphreys is the CEO of SOSNPO, a South African nonprofit dedicated to improving access to clean water, safe sanitation, hygiene, and sustainable community development. Originally from England, Shelley transitioned from a career in corporate IT and psychology into humanitarian work after witnessing the challenges facing underserved communities in South Africa.

Under her leadership, SOSNPO has developed innovative sanitation projects including Dignity Hubs, rainwater harvesting initiatives, circular economy programs that transform human waste into valuable resources, and campaigns to replace dangerous pit toilets in schools. Her work focuses on creating community-led solutions that improve public health, empower women, generate employment, and restore dignity.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelley-webb-humphreys-307621337/ 

Website: https://www.sosnpo.org/ 

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Copyright (c) ZuLoo Media LLC.  All rights reserved. The Pōōdcast is the property of ZuLoo Media LLC (the “Publisher”).  The opinions expressed on the Pōōdcast are not necessarily that of the Publisher or of its parent company, ZuLoo, Inc.  (“ZuLoo”), or its affiliates.  References to third-parties, or links thereto, do not constitute an endorsement by such persons of the Pōōdcast, the Publisher, ZuLoo, or their affiliates, products, or services. ZuLoo Humanitarian is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity affiliated with ZuLoo. The ZuLoo Marketplace is owned and operated by ZuLoo Enterprises USA LLC, a ZuLoo-affiliated company. Questions may be directed to [email protected].

How can affordable sanitation solutions, water-saving toilets, and innovative toilet technology improve public health for millions of people? They improve public health by making safe, hygienic, low-water sanitation accessible in communities where traditional toilets are impractical, unaffordable, or unavailable.

On the ZuLoo Poodcast, Prashant Bhatia of SATO, part of LIXIL, explains how innovative sanitation solutions are helping communities across the globe gain access to affordable toilets, better hygiene, clean water, and healthier living.

SATO has already helped improve sanitation for more than 100 million people by developing affordable, water-saving toilet systems that are easy to transport, simple to install, durable, and designed for communities facing water scarcity, limited infrastructure, and sanitation challenges. From rural villages and disaster relief to some of the world's largest public gatherings, Prashant shares how simple innovations are creating lasting global impact.

Whether you're passionate about global sanitation, clean water, public health, sustainable development, toilet innovation, water conservation, international development, or social entrepreneurship, this episode demonstrates how thoughtful engineering and collaboration can improve dignity, health, and quality of life for millions around the world.

✅ How SATO and LIXIL are providing affordable sanitation solutions to communities lacking clean, safe toilets.

✅ Why water-saving toilet technology is helping solve global sanitation challenges while improving hygiene and public health.

✅ How innovative sanitation products are making toilets easier to transport, install, and maintain in rural communities and disaster response.

✅ Why partnerships, education, and innovation are critical to achieving global sanitation and clean water goals.

Support ZuLoo Humanitarian

Help provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions to communities around the world. https://zuloo.org

(00:00) Why Sanitation Matters From the Moment We're Born

(05:14) Meet Prashant Bhatia and the Mission of SATO

(08:05) Leaving Luxury Building Materials to Improve Global Sanitation

(13:38) Inside the World Toilet Summit and Global Sanitation Innovation

(21:06) How SATO's Water-Saving Toilet Technology Works

(24:19) The SATO Tap and Other Innovative Sanitation Products

(27:54) The Biggest Challenges in Changing Sanitation Habits

(32:16) Supporting One of the World's Largest Public Gatherings

(34:20) Where Does the Waste Go? Understanding Sanitation Systems

(37:22) Why Affordable Sanitation Changes Lives

🔹 Affordable sanitation solutions improve public health, dignity, and quality of life while reducing water consumption.

🔹 Innovative toilet technology makes sanitation more accessible in rural communities, disaster zones, and regions with limited infrastructure.

🔹 Education, demonstration, and community trust are essential for adopting new sanitation technologies.

🔹 Partnerships between nonprofits, governments, and private companies can dramatically expand access to safe sanitation worldwide.

Prashant Bhatia is a sanitation leader with SATO, part of LIXIL, one of the world's largest manufacturers of sanitation and housing products. After more than two decades in the building materials industry, Prashant transitioned into global sanitation with a mission to improve lives through innovative, affordable, and water-efficient toilet solutions.

Working across India and internationally, he helps expand access to safe sanitation by promoting products that conserve water, reduce odors, simplify installation, and improve hygiene for underserved communities. Through SATO's mission-driven approach, Prashant is helping advance global efforts toward better sanitation, healthier communities, and sustainable development.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prashbhatia/?locale=sv

Website: https://sato.lixil.com/ 

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Copyright (c) ZuLoo Media LLC.  All rights reserved. The Pōōdcast is the property of ZuLoo Media LLC (the “Publisher”).  The opinions expressed on the Pōōdcast are not necessarily that of the Publisher or of its parent company, ZuLoo, Inc.  (“ZuLoo”), or its affiliates.  References to third-parties, or links thereto, do not constitute an endorsement by such persons of the Pōōdcast, the Publisher, ZuLoo, or their affiliates, products, or services. ZuLoo Humanitarian is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity affiliated with ZuLoo. The ZuLoo Marketplace is owned and operated by ZuLoo Enterprises USA LLC, a ZuLoo-affiliated company. Questions may be directed to [email protected].

What if public toilets were clean, modern, and actually enjoyable to use? In this episode of the ZuLoo Poodcast, Andreas Wanner, CEO and co-founder of Mister Loo, shares how his company is revolutionizing public toilets, public sanitation, and clean public bathrooms across Southeast Asia. Discover how smart public toilets, innovative sanitation technology, and customer-focused design are transforming hygiene, public infrastructure, and the future of sanitation.

After leaving a successful career in investment banking, Andreas set out to solve one of the world's most overlooked challenges: access to clean, safe public restrooms. Today, Mister Loo operates more than 100 premium public toilet facilities across Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines, serving over 1.5 million users every month while reshaping the future of sanitation through technology, sustainability, smart infrastructure, and exceptional customer experience.

Whether you're interested in public sanitation, smart cities, clean public bathrooms, social entrepreneurship, ESG investing, sustainable infrastructure, or innovative business models, this conversation explores how one simple idea is improving public health, dignity, hygiene, and quality of life for millions around the world.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

✅ Why Andreas Wanner left investment banking to build one of Asia's leading public sanitation companies

✅ How Mister Loo creates clean, premium public restrooms using an innovative pay-per-use business model

✅ Why sanitation, hygiene, and customer experience are becoming essential parts of smart city development

✅ How technology, sustainability, and social impact are shaping the future of public toilets around the world

Visit ZuLoo Humanitarian

Learn how ZuLoo is advancing sanitation, clean water, and hygiene solutions around the world.

https://zuloo.org

Timestamps

(00:00) Why Public Toilets Matter More Than You Think

(01:01) Meet Andreas Wanner, CEO of Mister Loo

(06:37) The Problem That Inspired Mister Loo

(11:37) How the Mister Loo Business Model Works

(16:48) Building Beautiful Public Bathrooms That People Want to Use

(20:10) Funding Smart Public Sanitation Infrastructure

(27:21) Expanding Across Southeast Asia and Beyond

(30:34) The Future of Smart Toilets, Wellness, and AI Health Technology

(33:24) Creating Jobs While Improving Public Hygiene

(36:35) The Impact of Clean Public Restrooms on Communities

Key Takeaways

🔹 Premium public sanitation can be both financially sustainable and socially impactful.

🔹 Clean public restrooms improve health, safety, dignity, tourism, and overall quality of life.

🔹 Standardized operations, technology, and customer experience are the keys to scaling sanitation solutions.

🔹 Entrepreneurship can solve global sanitation challenges while creating meaningful careers and stronger communities.

About Andreas Wanner

Andreas Wanner is the co-founder and CEO of Mister Loo, one of Southeast Asia's leading premium public sanitation companies. Originally from Switzerland, Andreas began his career in investment banking before relocating to Asia and launching MisterLoo to address the growing need for clean, accessible public restrooms.

Under his leadership, Mister Loo has expanded across Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines, providing modern public sanitation facilities that combine innovative design, technology, sustainability, and exceptional customer service.

MisterLoo https://www.MisterLoo.com

World Toilet Organization https://worldtoilet.org

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• YouTube: The ZuLoo Pōōdcast https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxWrLHD56hng6zDWQYiBUxg

public toilets, public sanitation, clean public bathrooms, smart toilets, sanitation innovation, toilet innovation, public restroom design, MisterLoo, Andreas Wanner, Southeast Asia sanitation, hygiene, clean water, sanitation business, ESG investing, sustainable development goals, SDGs, smart cities, social entrepreneurship, sanitation technology, sanitation startup, tourism infrastructure, bathroom innovation, public infrastructure, customer experience, sanitation solutions, World Toilet Summit, ZuLoo Podcast, sanitation awareness, public health, sustainable sanitation

#PublicToilets #Sanitation #SmartCities #Hygiene #CleanWater #PublicHealth #Sustainability #SocialEntrepreneurship #ESG #Innovation #MisterLoo #ZuLoo #Toilets #SanitationInnovation #GlobalHealth

Support the show

Copyright (c) ZuLoo Media LLC.  All rights reserved. The Pōōdcast is the property of ZuLoo Media LLC (the “Publisher”).  The opinions expressed on the Pōōdcast are not necessarily that of the Publisher or of its parent company, ZuLoo, Inc.  (“ZuLoo”), or its affiliates.  References to third-parties, or links thereto, do not constitute an endorsement by such persons of the Pōōdcast, the Publisher, ZuLoo, or their affiliates, products, or services. ZuLoo Humanitarian is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity affiliated with ZuLoo. The ZuLoo Marketplace is owned and operated by ZuLoo Enterprises USA LLC, a ZuLoo-affiliated company. Questions may be directed to [email protected].

Sanitation, clean water, public health, and toilet innovation are transforming lives across India. On the Zuloo Poodcast, Sanjay Banka of Banka Bio shares how a personal family challenge led to one of the largest sanitation initiatives in the world. Discover how biodigester toilets, wastewater treatment, water security solutions, and sustainable sanitation systems have helped retrofit over 200,000 railway coaches while improving health, safety, and dignity for millions of people.

From sanitation technology and clean water access to women's health, school attendance, and environmental sustainability, this conversation reveals why toilets are one of the most important public health innovations of our time.

If you're interested in sanitation, clean water, public health, wastewater treatment, sustainability, or global development, this episode is packed with eye-opening insights.

What You'll Learn

✅ How India transformed sanitation across more than 200,000 train coaches

✅ Why access to safe toilets dramatically improves women's health, safety, and education

✅ How biodigester technology treats human waste without sewer infrastructure

✅ Why water reuse and wastewater treatment are critical to future water security

Every toilet changes lives.

Zuloo Humanitarian helps provide sanitation, clean water, and hygiene solutions to underserved communities around the world.

🌎 Learn more: https://zuloo.org

❤️ Donate: https://zuloo.org/give

Timestamps

(00:00) The Innovation That Transformed 200,000 Trains and Millions of Lives

(03:41) The personal story that inspired Banka Bio

(07:56) Solving India's train sanitation problem

(12:22) How biodigester toilets actually work

(14:44) Retrofitting more than 200,000 railway coaches

(18:07) The challenge of changing sanitation behavior

(21:01) Why toilets are especially important for women and girls

(24:27) Expanding into schools and communities

(25:50) Bringing sanitation solutions to wildlife sanctuaries

(29:01) The science behind waste treatment

(30:30) Water security and the future of sanitation

(33:23) Final thoughts and what's next for Banka Bio

Key Takeaways

🔹 Safe sanitation improves health, education, safety, and quality of life.

🔹 Biodigester toilets provide off-grid sanitation without traditional sewer systems.

🔹 India's sanitation transformation demonstrates the power of large-scale innovation.

🔹 Water reuse and wastewater treatment will become increasingly important as water demand grows.

About the Guest

Sanjay Banka is a leader at Banka Bio, an innovative sanitation and environmental technology company based in India. Banka Bio specializes in biodigester toilets, wastewater treatment, water reuse, and decentralized sanitation solutions. The company has helped retrofit more than 200,000 railway coaches and has implemented sanitation projects in schools, communities, workplaces, healthcare facilities, and remote regions throughout India.

Website: https://www.bankabio.com/

Support the show

Copyright (c) ZuLoo Media LLC.  All rights reserved. The Pōōdcast is the property of ZuLoo Media LLC (the “Publisher”).  The opinions expressed on the Pōōdcast are not necessarily that of the Publisher or of its parent company, ZuLoo, Inc.  (“ZuLoo”), or its affiliates.  References to third-parties, or links thereto, do not constitute an endorsement by such persons of the Pōōdcast, the Publisher, ZuLoo, or their affiliates, products, or services. ZuLoo Humanitarian is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity affiliated with ZuLoo. The ZuLoo Marketplace is owned and operated by ZuLoo Enterprises USA LLC, a ZuLoo-affiliated company. Questions may be directed to [email protected].

What does a toilet change? Everything. In this powerful episode of the ZuLoo Poodcast, we share real stories from families in Hyderabad, India, whose lives have been transformed through access to safe sanitation. Hear how clean toilets improve women's safety, protect girls, support education, improve health, and create new opportunities for families.

More than 673 million people worldwide still lack access to a safe toilet. Through firsthand accounts from mothers, grandmothers, elderly residents, and young girls, this episode reveals the daily challenges of inadequate sanitation and the life-changing impact of sustainable sanitation solutions. Discover how something as simple as a toilet can restore dignity, improve public health, and strengthen entire communities.

What You Will Learn

✅ How access to safe toilets improves health, safety, and quality of life

✅Why women and girls are disproportionately affected by poor sanitation

✅The connection between sanitation, education, and economic opportunity

✅How elderly individuals and people with mobility challenges benefit from nearby facilities

✅The impact nonprofit organizations can have through sustainable sanitation projects

👉 Support ZuLoo Humanitarian's mission to provide safe sanitation, clean water, and hygiene solutions around the world:
 https://zuloo.org/give

Timestamps

(00:00) The reality of living without a toilet at home
(01:17) Time lost each day searching for a safe place to go
(02:42) Challenges facing adolescent girls and women's safety concerns
(04:57) Elderly residents discuss mobility and health struggles
(05:13) Sanitation barriers during menstruation and personal hygiene
(08:34) Why sanitation matters for girls' education and future opportunities
(09:37) How a $350 toilet can transform an entire family
(11:26) Testimonial from a recipient whose daily walk is now eliminated
(12:18) Stories of widows and families benefiting from home sanitation
(13:58) How toilets improve child health and family safety

Key Takeaways

🔹 Safe sanitation improves dignity, privacy, and personal safety for women and girls.

🔹 Access to a toilet can save hours of time every week, allowing adults to work and children to focus on school.

🔹 Elderly individuals and those with mobility challenges experience significant quality-of-life improvements when sanitation is available at home.

🔹 Sustainable sanitation projects create lasting health, education, and economic benefits for entire communities.

Resources

How do you ZuLoo?  Connect with ZuLoo on social media!

• Instagram: @zuloo__ https://www.instagram.com/zuloo__/
• X / Twitter: @ZuLooInc https://twitter.com/ZuLooInc
• Facebook: ZuLoo https://www.facebook.com/zuloo501c3
• YouTube: The ZuLoo Pōōdcast https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxWrLHD56hng6zDWQYiBUxg

Support the show

Copyright (c) ZuLoo Media LLC.  All rights reserved. The Pōōdcast is the property of ZuLoo Media LLC (the “Publisher”).  The opinions expressed on the Pōōdcast are not necessarily that of the Publisher or of its parent company, ZuLoo, Inc.  (“ZuLoo”), or its affiliates.  References to third-parties, or links thereto, do not constitute an endorsement by such persons of the Pōōdcast, the Publisher, ZuLoo, or their affiliates, products, or services. ZuLoo Humanitarian is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity affiliated with ZuLoo. The ZuLoo Marketplace is owned and operated by ZuLoo Enterprises USA LLC, a ZuLoo-affiliated company. Questions may be directed to [email protected].