Water Values Podcast

Recently, there has been talk in England about nationalizing England’s private water utilities. Former Wisconsin PSC Commissioner and FERC Commissioner, Branko Terzic, makes the case that England’s water utilities are not struggling because they are private, but rather because of a regulatory failure. Plus, Branko delves into how and why the U.S. system of utility regulation developed and much more. In this session, you’ll learn about: Branko’s background as a utility engineer, appraiser, consultant, regulator and executive How and why England privatized its water utilities Economist Stephen C. Littlechild’s role in English water privatization Why England’s water rates skyrocketed after privatization but electric, gas and telephone utilities all fell Why the United States has a predominantly publicly owned system of water utilities (in contrast to predominantly privately owned electric, gas and telephone utilities) Why English regulation of water utilities has struggled Why high leveraging and capital structure of English water utilities created problems How poor regulation created capital structure problems and low water quality problems Typical capital structure of U.S. utilities Why most U.S. utilities capital structure typically has 40-50% equity despite debt being the cheaper capital Why interest rates for debt and equity capital increase as debt’s share of the capital structure increases What ringfencing is Branko’s thoughts on fixing the English regulatory scheme An overview of how water concessions work A brief history of Enron’s foray into private water Why market fragmentation is holding U.S. water systems back Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Branko’s LinkedIn profile Branko’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, review and subscribe to The Water Values Podcast on Apple Podcasts 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!

Reese Tisdale of Bluefield Research offers up his grades on Bluefield’s predictions for the water sector in 2024 and identifies some of the unanticipated water issues that made headlines in 2024. Reese also peeks around the corner for what lies ahead for water in 2025. In this session, you’ll learn about: A look back at what Bluefield Research saw as the big issues for 2024 Reese’s grades for his prognostications Why the public sees climate disasters simply as disasters rather than water issues The size of the stormwater market as a result of climate issues The segments that make up the stormwater market How forever chemicals regulation differs between the U.S. and Europe, and how that likely changes going forward Why digital water stumbled in 2024 How the M&A market impacted digital water and technologies How fragmentation affects the water sector How the industrial water segment performed in 2024 The link between real estate investment trusts and water  What water issues arose in 2024 that were not anticipated back in January Some questions to think about for water in 2025 Why 2025 looks to be an interesting year for water Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Reese’s LinkedIn profile Bluefield Research’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, review and subscribe to The Water Values Podcast on Apple Podcasts 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!

Martin Gross, the CEO of Gross-Wen Technologies, provides a phenomenal look at algae-based wastewater treatment, its benefits and its eco-friendly byproducts. In this session, you’ll learn about: Martin’s dual-Ph.D. background  How Martin determined that algae was ideal for wastewater treatment The basics of algal wastewater treatment The difference between algae treatment and bacterial treatment The climate benefits of algal water treatment The lower energy consumption of algal wastewater treatment compared to bacterial treatment  The beneficial algae byproducts produced after harvesting  The resilience of algae systems Why and how algae blooms are harmful  How algae harvesting in algae treatments systems helps avoid algae blooms Algae treatment system footprints How algae treatment systems “bolt on” to conventional treatment systems to help achieve nitrogen and phosphorous removal The types and sizes of systems that are ideal for algal wastewater treatment How algae treatment works in industrial settings, including food and beverage producers, and municipal wastewater treatment Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Martin’s LinkedIn profile Gross-Wen Technologies’ 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, review and subscribe to The Water Values Podcast on Apple Podcasts 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!

Alex Shannon, Senior Vice President and West Region Business Line Leader, provides a phenomenal interview focusing on valuing water, spending water infrastructure funds efficiently, and analyzing the issues from multiple perspectives: economics, OneWater, local politics, and more. Tune in for some of Alex’s great insights. In this session, you’ll learn about: Alex’s transformation from economist to the water economist  How Alex’s economics background meshes well with the water sector The benefits of dynamic economic modeling of capital improvement plans (CIPs) and master plans for water utilities How to maintain a dynamic CIP and master plan Alex’s thoughts on how artificial intelligence (AI) will affect dynamic CIPs and master plans The three major variable inputs for dynamic CIPs and master plans OneWater and the value proposition for water Why water quality is top of mind for Alex How water quality and OneWater approaches differ from large systems to small systems Alex’s thoughts on overcoming local politics to creatively solve water issues Where Alex has seen IIJA and IRA funds going to water infrastructure issues How Alex has seen water utilities overcome affordability challenges Alex’s thoughts on what’s in the future for water utility infrastructure Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Alex’s LinkedIn profile WSP’s water supply & distribution web 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, review and subscribe to The Water Values Podcast on Apple Podcasts 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!

Isaac Pellerin, Vice President of Marketing at 120Water, dives into the data on lead service line (LSL) inventories and explains what you need to know about the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI). Plus, Reese Tisdale provides an update on the flow of funds coming out of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in this month’s Bluefield on Tap segment. In this session, you’ll learn about: Isaac’s unique road to the water sector  How 120Water’s business model has evolved from its initial inception  The current state of utility LSL inventories based on the approximately 8,000 utilities submitting via the 120Water software platform  The unknown percentage and lead percentage in the LSL inventories The difference between LSL percentages between urban and rural utilities  The LCRI and its 5 focus areas Isaac’s thoughts on assisting rural utilities achieve LCRI compliance  What the 10-year LSL replacement deadline really means  The significance of lowering the lead action level and the change in tap sampling requirements  What Isaac thinks utilities should be aware of about the LCRI  What “potholing” is What should be on utilities’ to-do list for LCRI compliance  Why it’s important to eliminate as many unknowns as possible in the next LSL inventories due in 2027 Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Isaac’s LinkedIn profile 120Water’s website Registration for 120Water’s webinar on LCRI Compliance 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, review and subscribe to The Water Values Podcast on Apple Podcasts 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!

Prakash Govindan, COO and Co-Founder of Gradiant, provides a phenomenal look at industrial water applications and reuse. Prakash describes a multitude of issues and uses relating to water in industrial settings. He does a great job putting water in context of business needs and political decision-making. In this session, you’ll learn about: Prakash’s upbringing in the Chennai, India, and how it shaped his appreciation of water How Prakash earned his Ph.D. and became unemployable, so had to start a company How Prakash worked on and invented zero liquid discharge technologies at MIT How in Prakash’s words, Gradiant is a water company that solves societal problems How Gradiant facilitates lithium extraction and production, and PFAS destruction Gradiant’s involvement in industrial water reuse Prakash’s unique perspective on the intersection between water, geopolitics, and national security in the context of the semiconductor industry How water-intensive industries can flip a water rich area to water-stressed (see: Taiwan, where Prakash explains uses 60% of its water in the semiconductor industry) Water reuse in industrial applications and manufacturing processes Differences in developing water reuse solutions for greenfield and brownfield projects How Prakash tries to futureproof water solutions Why water is not a piece of the puzzle, it is the puzzle Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Prakash’s LinkedIn profile Gradiant’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, review and subscribe to The Water Values Podcast on Apple Podcasts 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!

Patrick Williamson, a Principal Hydrogeochemist with INTERA, provides a phenomenal discussion on the interrelationship between water and mining. Patrick deftly addresses a range of water issues present in mining. Plus, Reese Tisdale addresses the Rethinking Water conference and the role of private capital in the water sector in this month’s Bluefield on Tap segment. In this session, you’ll learn about: Patrick’s fascinating background as an “oil brat”, exposure to geology as a result, and how that led him to environmental geochemistry and the water sector Why mining is important for modern life – “If it can’t be grown, it needs to be mined” Why mining is water intensive How water is used in mining What mine tailings are and why tailings ponds are used Dewatering in mines The difference between contact water and non-contact water and their treatment needs How water intensity of mining depends on the relationship among climate, commodity, and location The tension between water for mining, water for agriculture, and water for human populations The broad spectrum of water risks facing the mining sector ESG implications for the mining sector  Why water cannot be viewed as a consumable input anymore The biggest water transformations in mining over the last 20 years Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Patrick’s LinkedIn profile INTERA’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, review and subscribe to The Water Values Podcast on Apple Podcasts 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!

Josh Cantone, Managing Director of Suez Digital Solutions North America/CEO of Optimatics and Patrick Keaney, CEO of Subeca, provide a fascinating look at the Series A investment into Subeca, a tech company aiming to bring simple and cost-effective solutions to water utilities of all sizes. Josh and Patrick not only describe the motivation behind the investment but delve into the technology and the factors that make it an easy, secure and cost-effective solution for even the smallest utilities. In this session, you’ll learn about: Josh’s background in Australia and Australian stormwater infrastructure projects Patrick’s background in environmental engineering and how he moved from Big Tech to start-up CEO Why Subeca is a tech company, not a metering company How Subeca specializes in IoT solutions that focus on the water industry Why Suez/Optimatics wanted to strategically target the smart metering market Why Suez decided to make a Series A investment in Subeca Patrick’s thoughts on the smart meter market  How Subeca’s smart meter register technology allows for simplistic and easy implementation on Amazon’s cybersecurity Sidewalk platform The unique aspects of Subeca’s Series A investment and the participating investors How Subeca provides simple and affordable smart meter solutions to smaller and mid-size utilities Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Josh’s LinkedIn profile Patrick’s LinkedIn profile Subeca’s website Article on the Series A investment in Subeca 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, review and subscribe to The Water Values Podcast on Apple Podcasts 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!

Brian King, the Executive Vice President of Marketing, Product Management and Sustainability for Advanced Drainage Systems provides a tour de force interview explaining stormwater in a way you’ve probably never heard before. Plus, Reese Tisdale returns for a Bluefield on Tap segment discussing how the outcome of the 2024 presidential election might impact the water sector. In this session, you’ll learn about: Brian’s background in construction building materials Why Brian made the jump to stormwater and how construction building materials feeds into stormwater management Where stormwater fits into the water story How to flip the narrative on stormwater from afterthought to forethought The steps in stormwater management: Capture, Convey, Store, Treatment, and Opportunities to use it as a resource The types of capture infrastructure, including gray and green infrastructure Examples of stormwater infrastructure enabling efficient use of land, resources and public engagement, including unique storage solutions  Why underground stormwater storage is a preferred storage method The various stormwater treatment options and considerations The two big stormwater treatment standards used in the United States Considerations and opportunities for stormwater harvesting Why sustainable stormwater solutions are often economically more viable than traditional solutions Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Brian’s LinkedIn profile ADS’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, review and subscribe to The Water Values Podcast on Apple Podcasts 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!

David Mussington, Executive Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security at the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), gives a phenomenal interview covering cybersecurity issues relevant to water and wastewater utilities (and other critical infrastructure sectors, too!), including identifying resources, aid, and funding opportunities for water and wastewater utilities. In this session, you’ll learn about: David’s impressive background in cybersecurity  What CISA is and what it does How CISA assists and supports owners and operators of critical infrastructure  The risks cyber threats pose to critical infrastructure systems The changing nature of cyber threats Why cybersecurity is more than just water and wastewater service, it impacts the entire economy How utilities can assess what assets are exposed and at risk, and why they need to The forms of cybersecurity aid that CISA provides for free Why critical infrastructure entities need to ensure their vendors take cybersecurity precautions David’s tips for some simple cybersecurity steps Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: David’s LinkedIn profile CISA’s water and wastewater website TWV #252: Cybersecurity for Water Utilities with Dentons Partner Kyle Miller TWV #212: Cybersecurity Basics with Consolidated Utility District’s Mike Sumner 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!

Doug Hatler comes on for his second appearance on The Water Values Podcast. Doug provides an impassioned interview on PFAS and the need to eradicate it, along with identifying levers to achieve eradication. Plus, Reese Tisdale discusses the California water conservation mandate on our Bluefield on Tap segment. In this session, you’ll learn about: Catching up with Doug since his last podcast appearance Doug’s goal of eradicating PFAS not just from the environment but from society Doug’s take on the challenges facing PFAS eradication Doug’s view on why rushing to clean up PFAS before addressing the production of PFAS is not the best approach Doug’s prescient thoughts on PFAS remediation technology and its relation to regulation  How the potential overturning of the Chevron decision might affect PFAS regulation [NOTE: The interview was recorded prior to the issuance by the SCOTUS of the Loper Bright Enterprises and Relentless opinions that overturned Chevron] Current state of PFAS destruction/remediation technology Where are we on the global PFAS eradication continuum Doug’s leave behind message on where PFAS eradication and its costs fit into larger societal pressures and demands Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Doug’s LinkedIn profile Environmental Business Ventures’ 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, review and subscribe to The Water Values Podcast on Apple Podcasts 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!

Jonathan Haswell, Chief Business Officer at OceanWell, delivers a fascinating discussion on OceanWell’s first of a kind approach to desalination. Jonathan discusses the advantages of the “water farms” OceanWell seeks to deploy, including the significant environmental and energy benefits in this can’t miss interview. Plus, Reese Tisdale returns before our summer hiatus for a Bluefield on Tap segment, covering the recent announcement of DuPont splitting into three companies. In this session, you’ll learn about: Jonathan’s unique background and how the water sector found him just 2 years ago OceanWell’s new approach to desalination An overview of the technology How OceanWell provides environmental benefits and reduced energy consumption compared with conventional desalination The depth at which the necessary hydrostatic pressure is found The distance from shore the necessary depth is typically found The onshore infrastructure needed The outreach process to engage with stakeholders The “first of a kind” risk and how OceanWell addresses the risks How OceanWell leveraged non-water technologies to develop its product  Why OceanWell believes “water dissolves conflict and creates value wherever it goes” Why OceanWell chose California to develop its desalination solution Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Jonathan’s LinkedIn profile OceanWell’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, review and subscribe to The Water Values Podcast on Apple Podcasts 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!

INTERA’s Western Water Resources Lead David Jordan provides a terrific look at the nuts and bolts of long-range water planning, including a discussion about how it has evolved over time, the impact of technology on planning, a success story, and much more. In this session, you’ll learn about: David’s unique background in the water sector What long-range water planning is The time horizons typical for long-range water planning How long-range water planning has evolved over time The relationship between population growth and conservation The role of AI and machine learning in long-range water planning How utilities make investment decisions given uncertainty and limited capital How regulatory frameworks layer in to long-range water planning The role of stakeholder involvement in long-range water planning The success story of Albuquerque’s long-range water planning efforts Why long-range water planning is like your 401(k) P3s and long-range water planning Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: David’s LinkedIn profile INTERA’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, review and subscribe to The Water Values Podcast on Apple Podcasts 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!

Snehal Desai, Xylem’s Senior Vice President and Chief Growth and Innovation Officer, joins us for a phenomenal discussion about PFAS. Snehal addresses the EPA’s recently promulgated PFAS rule and dives into present treatment options, including several PFAS treatment success stories, and where PFAS treatment technology is headed. In this session, you’ll learn about: Sne’s extensive experience and varied roles in the water industry How a clear signal from regulators on PFAS helps industry participants The lead-in time for PFAS rules The purpose of the 3 year monitoring timeline The period of time in which utilities need to get solutions in place How PFAS rule implementation mirrors other environmental rule roll-outs The solutions currently available to treat PFAS How “mobile” solutions are developing The three categories of technological development Sne sees coming in PFAS remediation Why PFAS remediation needs to be tailored to the characteristics of the water being treated Examples of PFAS remediation (& the importance of talking about remediation!) Sne’s take on the biggest challenges of PFAS rule compliance Snehal’s insights into treating wastewater effluent streams for PFAS remediation Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Snehal’s LinkedIn profile Xylem’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!

Water rock star Alaina Harkness, Executive Director of Current and CEO/Principal Investigator of Great Lakes ReNew, provides a phenomenal look at water’s place in economic development, building regional partnerships, and so much more. Plus, Reese Tisdale discusses hydrogen in this month’s Bluefield on Tap segment. In this session, you’ll learn about: Alaina’s background in foundation work and economic development Current’s mission and why it was formed How Alaina scaled Current up What Alaina means by ‘Blue Economy’ How Alaina linked water and economic development Why Alaina thinks now is the time to accelerate investment in the water sector, especially in the Great Lakes How water has morphed from an afterthought to a driver in economic development How the Great Lakes ReNEW came together to create regional partnerships How R&D, Commercialization, and Work Force elements came together to form the basis of the regional partnerships How the Great Lakes ReNEW’s workforce development initiative is coming together What’s in store for Great Lakes ReNEW How the cooperative grant structure from the National Science Foundation works Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Alaina’s Linkedin Profile Current’s website Great Lakes ReNEW’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!

Growing up, I always sensed that my father was deeply involved in a significant legal case, although my understanding of it was limited as I was less than 5 years old at the time. It wasn’t until much later in life, when I attended an American Bar Association Water Law Conference, that I truly grasped the importance of the Boldt Decision. Now, as this pivotal ruling marks its 50th anniversary, I felt compelled to capture my father’s thoughts on the case. In this session, you’ll learn about: The background on the Boldt Decision (United States v. Washington, 384 F.Supp. 312 (W.D. Wash. Feb. 12, 1974) Why the Indian Tribes brought suit The parties involved in the Boldt lawsuit The bodies of water affected by the Boldt Decision How and why different agencies of the State took different positions on the lawsuit Words matter: why the language “usual and accustomed grounds and stations” from the 1850’s era treaty was so important How the court determined the Indian Tribes were engaged in commercial fishing at the time of the treaty Why Native Americans testified on both sides of the case (for the State and for the Tribes) How the United States argued that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service could assist the Indian Tribes in regulating fishing Why Judge Boldt determined that the State could not regulate Indian fishing The appellate process for the Boldt Decision The effects on commercial fishing of the Boldt Decision How the media covered the Boldt Decision Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: University of Washington Law School’s webpage on the Boldt Decision Historylink website article on the Boldt Decision The Backlash to Boldt: Article on the National Museum of the American Indian 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!

WWF’s Allen Townsend provides an illuminating discussion on Science Based Targets and corporate water stewardship. Allen explains current guidance status, the entities involved, and where science based targets for nature and corporate water stewardship are headed. Plus, Reese Tisdale updates us on IIJA funding status during this month’s Bluefield on Tap segment. In this session, you’ll learn about: Allen’s background and the book that galvanized his decision to focus on the water sector Allen’s work on the World Wildlife Fund’s Freshwater and Food Team What the Science Based Target Network (SBTN) is What the Freshwater Hub is WWF’s Corporate Water Stewardship Program SBTN’s 5-step framework for attaining science based targets for nature Using targets as a compass Where SBTN is in the process of piloting the program and revising guidance Why being an early adopter for companies is important How watershed basin-based approaches to water stewardship yield enhanced results How to get involved in corporate water stewardship Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Allen’s LinkedIn page World Wildlife Fund’s website Science Based Target Networks Freshwater Hub 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!

Ten years ago, Matthew Klein was the first ever guest of The Water Values Podcast. Matt, now CEO and Chief Futurist at Aqualaurus Group, returns to discuss the discipline of strategic foresight and how it can benefit the water industry. In this session, you’ll learn about: Matt’s water journey over the past 10 years How and why Matt decided to become a water futurist through the discipline of strategic foresight Why Matt started the Water Foresight Podcast Why the water industry needs strategic foresight How water foresight helps anticipate, frame, and shape the probable futures Matt’s hypothesis on water culture The main benefits of a utility adopting a foresight mindset How utility vendors can benefit from water foresight The lenses through which strategic foresight anticipates, frames, and shapes the future Examples of using water foresight to anticipate forthcoming changes Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Matthew’s LinkedIn page Water Foresight podcast Buzzsprout website Aqualaurus 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!

Today’s podcast episode features Greg Pierce, Professor of Urban Planning at UCLA, Research and Co-Executive Director at UCLA’s Luskin Center for Innovation, Director of UCLA’s Water Resource Lab, and Director of UCLA’s Human Right Water Lab. During this conversation, Greg addresses water equity issues affecting mobile home parks, emphasizing the importance for anyone concerned about small systems to also prioritize the issues faced by these communities, i.e., mobile home park water systems. Plus, Reese Tisdale makes an appearance to discuss Eversource’s decision to divest Aquarion on this month’s Bluefield on Tap segment. In this session, you’ll learn about: Greg’s unique journey to the water industry and WASH research focused on the United States How Greg defines mobile home parks and how mobile home parks compare and contrast with manufactured housing Why mobile home parks are an important barometer for measuring WASH issues How mobile home parks typically receive and manage water services The challenges mobile home park water systems face in complying with Safe Drinking Water Act regulations The technical, managerial, and financial challenges faced by mobile home park water systems Why it’s difficult to gather data on how much mobile home park residents pay for water services Why neighboring water systems often decline to provide water services to mobile home parks How water equity issues in mobile home parks are emblematic of broader inequity issues facing mobile home parks including general infrastructure, heat, fire, ramifications of climate change, stigma, and more What “premise plumbing” means for mobile home parks and why it’s a problem Potential solutions and policy initiatives to improve water equity in mobile home parks Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Greg’s LinkedIn page Greg’s email address Greg’s X handle UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation’s website NIST 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!

Dave’s law partner at Dentons, Kyle Miller, is a cybersecurity and data privacy lawyer who provides a tremendous discussion on a wide range of cybersecurity issues for water utilities. Water utilities (and all critical infrastructure providers) will find Kyle’s in-depth knowledge and experience on cybersecurity and data privacy issues well worth the time investment. In this session, you’ll learn about: Kyle’s background in cybersecurity and information technology before becoming a data privacy and cybersecurity lawyer Recent cybersecurity incidents involving water utilities Traditional profit-based cyber attacks and the rise of politically motivated attacks The reasons why utilities have difficulty with cybersecurity Why some utilities have a false sense of security over cybersecurity The cybersecurity vulnerabilities present in utilities Why the integration of information systems and operations systems presents a risk The regulation that wasn’t in 2023 (U.S. EPAs withdrawn regulation) The legal requirements of the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act that utilities need to be aware of Why utilities need to know the applicable regulations in advance (because you won’t have time to look them up during an incident) Two important members of the acronym soup of cybersecurity: CISA: Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency NIST: National Institute for Standards and Technology Kyle’s terrific “leave behind” message for water utilities on cybersecurity Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Kyle’s LinkedIn page Kyle’s bio on Dentons’ website CISA website NIST 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!