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Green infrastructure is reshaping how communities manage stormwater by blending natural processes with modern engineering to improve water quality, reduce flooding, and fit into increasingly dense urban spaces. In this episode, Christian Hennessy of Oldcastle Infrastructure breaks down what makes a system truly “green,” from mimicking pre-development hydrology to using engineered soils, media amendments, and carefully selected plants to target pollutants like nutrients and metals.He covers how green infrastructure has evolved from simple rain gardens into high-performance, small-footprint systems that combine green and gray infrastructure through precast structures, filtration media, and controlled detention. Hennessy also explains how performance is measured through rigorous field testing and lab validation, ensuring these systems deliver real water quality results. Looking ahead, he discusses hybrid approaches, digital monitoring, and climate-driven design as essential tools for making stormwater infrastructure more resilient and effective in a changing world.Learn more about Oldcastle Infrastructure water solutions.waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

Water is at the heart of America’s national parks, yet many of these rivers, lakes, coasts, and wetlands are under growing stress from pollution, climate impacts, and decisions made outside park boundaries. In this episode from the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C., Ed Stierli of the National Parks Conservation Association explains how his organization serves as the independent voice for 433 national park sites, backed by nearly 2 million members. He breaks down why more than half of waterways in national parks remain impaired, connecting the dots between upstream land use, aging infrastructure, and weakened protections that shape water quality. Stierli highlights how bedrock laws like the Clean Water Act and modern restoration programs have helped bring back iconic species and improve water conditions, while warning that political rollbacks could erode decades of progress. He also points to large-scale, watershed-based collaborations—uniting federal agencies, states, local governments, and nonprofits—to restore wetlands, rebuild natural buffers, and invest in resilient infrastructure. Throughout, Stierli stresses the power of public engagement and broad coalitions to secure funding, defend protections, and keep national parks functioning as living classrooms where people can experience and learn from healthy waters.waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

Wastewater treatment plants rely on nonstop mechanical power to keep water moving, oxygen flowing, and critical equipment turning—and the systems behind that power are the focus of this episode. Dave Zimmerman of Dodge Industrial breaks down how gearboxes, bearings, motors, and couplings form the “powertrain” that drives nearly every major process in a treatment plant.Zimmerman explains how these components support pumps, aeration basins, clarifiers, bar screens, screw conveyors, and oxidation ditches—operating 24/7 under punishing conditions of moisture, grit, vibration, and load. He highlights how smart mechanical design can cut energy consumption by 7–10 percent, a major opportunity for utilities facing some of the highest electricity bills in municipal government.As the water workforce shrinks, Zimmerman outlines how pre-engineered, easy-to-install components reduce maintenance complexity and keep equipment online longer. Lessons from heavy industries like mining and aggregates—where shock loads and extreme stress are the norm—are shaping tougher, more durable systems for wastewater plants. The conversation also explores emerging technologies such as sensors, real-time monitoring, and predictive maintenance tools that help operators understand equipment health and prevent catastrophic failures before they happen.Learn more about Dodge Industrial.waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

California’s Central Coast is turning recycled water into a lifeline for rivers, golf courses, farms, and coastal communities—showing how reuse can work far beyond the big cities.In this episode, Nick Becker of Pebble Beach Community Services District, Alison Imamura of Monterey One Water, and Melanie Mow Schumacher of Soquel Creek Water District share how their communities are rethinking every drop.At Pebble Beach, Becker explains how drought in the 1980s pushed local leaders to build one of the first systems that uses recycled water to irrigate seven world-class golf courses and a high school—later upgraded with microfiltration, reverse osmosis, and a 115-million-gallon reservoir so the system can bank winter water for dry summers.Imamura describes how Pure Water Monterey takes a holistic approach, blending municipal wastewater, urban stormwater, industrial flows, and agricultural drainage into advanced treatment that both supplies 12,000 acres of farmland and returns purified water to the groundwater basin—cutting diversions from the Carmel River and protecting endangered species.Schumacher shows how the small-but-mighty Soquel Creek Water District is fighting seawater intrusion and an overdrafted aquifer with Pure Water Soquel, an advanced purification project that turns wastewater into a high-quality groundwater recharge supply backed by strong public outreach, regional partnerships, and creative funding through state and federal programs.This episode is part of The Golden State of Reuse, a series exploring the past, present, and future of water recycling across California.The series is a collaboration with WateReuse California and sponsored by CDM Smith. The series is also supported by the Sacramento Area Sewer District, Black & Veatch, and Monterey One Water.waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

Hydrogen sulfide is the invisible gas quietly eating away at sewer systems—driving odor complaints aboveground and concrete failure below. In this episode of Inside Infrastructure, Kerry Koressel of IPEX explains how H₂S forms inside collection systems, why splashing and drops inside manholes turn it into a corrosive, dangerous gas, and how it can silently destroy manholes, pipes, and metal components over time. He breaks down the real costs for municipalities, from emergency repairs and bypass pumping to business impacts when odors reach streets and downtowns.The conversation explores why these problems persist despite decades of awareness, including limited budgets, competing priorities, and the sheer scale of sewer networks. Koressel also discusses how better hydraulic design, improved materials, and oxygen-boosting strategies can suppress odors, reduce corrosion, and send “better sewage” downstream. Together, these approaches point toward a more sustainable, lower-maintenance future for collection systems under growing environmental and financial pressure.Learn more about solutions from Ipex.waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

Communities across the Midwest are navigating a complex mix of water challenges—from affordability to agricultural pollution to protecting iconic national parks—and the policies shaping those outcomes. In this episode, Crystal Davis, Senior Midwest Regional Director for the National Parks Conservation Association, discusses how regional advocacy, coalition building, and community-driven organizing are advancing solutions across 11 states and 53 park sites. She highlights efforts to strengthen park funding, reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and address pollution pressures in places like Lake Erie. Davis also explains how the Midwest is building multi-sector coalitions to push for equitable access to water and nature, elevating voices typically excluded from environmental decision-making. She shares lessons from Healing Our Waters, a 180-member coalition driving federal and state reforms, and outlines why authentic engagement—not box-checking—is essential for lasting progress. Her work underscores how unified advocacy across communities, businesses, tribes, and frontline organizations is shaping a more equitable and resilient future for parks and water in the Great Lakes region.This episode is part of the Color of Water series, a collaboration with the Water Hub. waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

Odor control and overflow prevention are critical yet often overlooked challenges for wastewater utilities — especially as urban areas expand and climate impacts intensify.In this episode of Inside Infrastructure, Ryan Powers of the Wager Company explains how a family company that started in marine ventilation is now helping communities solve complex sewer problems on land. He discusses why traditional chemical and carbon-based systems are costly, maintenance-heavy, and environmentally burdensome ways to fight the problems. Powers also highlights the benefits of passive, low-maintenance designs that eliminate odors and prevent inflow and overflow without electricity or chemicals.Learn more about Wager.waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

California’s water recycling movement has evolved from experiments to expansion—driven by progressive regulations, proven technology, and positive public trust. In this episode, Traci Minamide, Greg Wetterau, and Roshanak Aflaki of CDM Smith share expert insights from decades of experience advancing reuse across the Golden State.They reflect on the past, when early projects like the East Valley initiative faced setbacks and public skepticism that reshaped how engineers, utilities, and communicators approached outreach and transparency.In the present, they highlight how clearer regulations, efficient treatment processes, and pilot projects have made large-scale water recycling both achievable and affordable—turning wastewater into safe, local drinking water for millions.Looking to the future, the panel envisions a new generation of systems powered by AI-driven operations, advanced membranes, and rapid water-quality monitoring tools that will make direct potable reuse more widespread and resilient than ever before.This episode is part of The Golden State of Reuse, a series exploring the past, present, and future of water recycling across California.The series is a collaboration with WateReuse California and sponsored by CDM Smith. The series is also supported by the Sacramento Area Sewer District, Black & Veatch, and Monterey One Water.waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

Water’s future depends on sustainable funding, bipartisan policy, and stronger public communication. In this conversation from the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C., Adam Krantz of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) explains how federal investments and advocacy are shaping the next chapter for America’s water infrastructure. He outlines the historic impact of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and why permanent, predictable federal funding is essential to maintain momentum. Krantz highlights the urgent need for a national Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program so that access to water is treated as essential as food and energy. He details efforts to get resources and technical help to smaller, under-resourced utilities—often left behind in traditional grant and loan programs—and how partnerships with larger systems can close that gap. The discussion also explores the role of programs like WIFIA and SRF in leveraging billions for critical projects nationwide. Looking ahead, Krantz calls for a united communications effort to position water alongside energy and transportation as the nation’s most vital infrastructure, ensuring long-term investment, trust, and resilience.waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability. Follow us on YouTube, Linked-In, Instagram, X, and TikTok.

Across the U.S., stormwater regulations form a confusing patchwork that slows innovation and complicates compliance for communities and companies alike. In this episode from WEFTEC, Jay Holtz of Oldcastle Infrastructure explains how this fragmented system has evolved — and why it’s time for change. He outlines the challenges posed by thousands of differing local approvals that make it costly and inefficient for solution providers to bring technologies to market. Holtz describes how the emerging STEPP Program — Stormwater Testing and Evaluation for Products and Practices — aims to establish a consistent national framework for verifying performance data and standardizing testing. The initiative, led by the National Municipal Stormwater Alliance, would simplify local approvals, cut costs, and accelerate deployment of proven systems. By centralizing data and ensuring testing integrity, STEPP could spur innovation, expand stormwater solutions nationwide, and ultimately lead to cleaner water in communities across America.waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

Activated carbon is a frontline solution in the fight against PFAS and other contaminants in water. In this episode, Brandon Hamilton of Norit explains how activated carbon works like a “rigid sponge” —using its complex pore structures to trap everything from volatile organics to microscopic chemicals. He breaks down why utilities are increasingly choosing activated carbon over reverse osmosis or ion exchange, highlighting its cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and proven performance in water treatment. Hamilton also dives into Norit’s reactivation process, which destroys PFAS and restores 80–90% of carbon capacity, saving utilities in costs. The conversation explores the different types of carbon—from coal to coconut shell—and how each targets specific contaminants. Looking ahead, Hamilton reveals how tailored carbon products and innovations in agglomeration are paving the way for the next generation of water treatment solutions.Learn more about Norit.waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for sustainability in water.

Los Angeles is turning recycled water into real-world resilience—protecting aquifers from seawater intrusion, powering industry, gaining public support, and building a next-generation supply that reduces dependence on imported sources.At Terminal Island, Dean Taylor explains how this pioneering facility evolved from discharging into the harbor to producing advanced treated water that now feeds the Dominguez Gap seawater barrier and supplies industrial clients such as like Valero, saving millions of gallons of drinking water each day while moving toward full reclamation capacity.At the Albert Robles Center, Stephan Tucker shows how education and transparency are turning skepticism into support. Students, residents, and decision-makers experience the treatment process firsthand—building trust, understanding, and a stronger future workforce for the water industry.At Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant, Johan Torroledo and Christina Beccera Jones outline the ambitious Pure Water Los Angeles program—transforming one of the world’s largest treatment plants into a hub of innovation. Ultimately, the project will deliver up to 230 million gallons per day of purified water. They explain how the regional effort includes Pure Water Southern California, aiming to add another 150 million gallons per day of purified water for one of the nation’s thirstiest regions.The throughline is clear: science, transparency, and collaboration are making potable reuse not just possible—but practical at metropolitan scale.This episode is part of The Golden State of Reuse, a series exploring the past, present, and future of water recycling across California.The series is a collaboration with WateReuse California. The lead sponsor is CDM Smith.The series is also supported by the Sacramento Area Sewer District, Black & Veatch, and Monterey One Water.waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

Utilities across the country are facing shifting water quality challenges — from changing influent chemistry to tightening discharge limits. This demands smarter monitoring and faster response. In this episode, Carlos Williams of Hach shares how utilities are adapting to this evolving landscape through advanced analysis and real-time data. He explains how rainfall patterns, conservation, and industrial variability can alter what flows into plants, requiring automated samplers and online instruments that catch contaminants early. Inside facilities, Williams highlights emerging treatment trends such as nutrient removal, energy efficiency, and diverse disinfection approaches that all depend on accurate water chemistry tracking. He also discusses how new discharge requirements are driving the need for continuous nutrient and solids monitoring to maintain compliance and protect ecosystems. Learn more about Hach.waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

Artificial intelligence is transforming how cities understand and manage their underground water infrastructure. In this episode, Eric Sullivan of SewerAI explains how computer vision and the cloud are revolutionizing the inspection and maintenance of wastewater systems.Technology automatically detects and classifies defects in sewer pipes using AI models trained on hundreds of millions of feet of inspection data—cutting time, cost, and human error. Sullivan describes how this shift allows field crews to focus on safety and efficiency while enabling engineers to make faster, data-driven repair decisions. With real-time data syncing and benchmarking across hundreds of systems, utilities can now monitor conditions continuously, prioritize investments, and demonstrate performance improvements over time. As Sullivan shares, the integration of big data, AI, and affordable camera technologies is making pipe inspection smarter, faster, and more accessible—reshaping the future of water infrastructure management beneath our streets.Learn more about SewerAIwaterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

Orange County shows how water recycling moves from idea to impact—linking history, science, and workforce to make reuse mainstream.At Irvine Ranch Water District, Paul Cook explains how a simple visual breakthrough—the now-iconic purple pipe—was created in the 1980s to clearly mark recycled water and build public trust, a standard that spread across California and the world.At Orange County Water District’s Groundwater Replenishment System, Mehul Patel traces the lineage from Water Factory 21 to today’s 130-MGD advanced purification that protects a coastal aquifer, pushes back seawater intrusion, and supplies enough water for about a million people. Research and innovation lead the way: Megan Plumley spotlights OCWD’s lab and pilots tackling energy use in RO, improving membranes and spacers, and continuously monitoring for PFAS, microplastics, and other emerging contaminants—evidence that potable reuse is built on decades of science, not slogans.The future depends on people as much as plants. At Moulton Niguel Water District, Joone Kim-Lopez lays out the skills needed for direct potable reuse—high-level certification, data literacy, and creativity—while sharing how partnerships with colleges are creating new training pathways.This episode is part of The Golden State of Reuse, a series exploring the past, present, and future of water recycling across California, showcasing the people and projects redefining how water is used again and again. The series is a collaboration with WateReuse California and sponsored by CDM Smith.The series is also supported by the Sacramento Area Sewer District, Black & Veatch, and Monterey One Water.waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

Annabelle Rayson’s journey into water science began on the shores of Lake Huron and has grown into an award-winning pursuit of global impact. A student at Harvard University and winner of the 2022 Stockholm Junior Water Prize, Annabelle shares how her childhood curiosity about the Great Lakes evolved into groundbreaking research and real-world problem solving. She describes her innovative “Plankton Wars” project—using native zooplankton to reduce harmful algal blooms—and how it earned her international recognition. Annabelle also reflects on her internship at Xylem’s Reservoir Center, where she worked on projects spanning water quality monitoring, nutrient sensing, and community engagement. From studying methane emissions in wetlands to investigating heavy metals in drinking water, her story captures the next generation of scientific leadership and passion driving solutions for clean, sustainable water worldwide.This episode is a collaboration with the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C. where waterloop is the media partner. waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

SUEZ is aiming to ignite innovation in North America by bringing its 160 years of global water expertise and thousands of patented treatment technologies to utilities across the continent. In this conversation from WEFTEC, Joshua Cantone and Abigail Antolovich of SUEZ share how the company is focused on empowering utilities with advanced tools and know-how for smarter, more sustainable solutions. The episode explores SUEZ’s plan to partner with North American water systems and companies to accelerate adoption of technology through collaboration rather than competition. Cantone details the integration of digital and treatment technologies to reduce energy use and optimize plant performance, while Antolovich highlights a new go-to-market model that pairs SUEZ innovation with North America’s best integrators and engineers.Learn more about SUEZ, the trusted partner for circular solutions in water and waste. waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

PFAS remains one of water’s toughest and most urgent challenges — a class of thousands of persistent compounds still only partly understood but deeply embedded in modern life and the environment. In this episode, Peter Grevatt, CEO of The Water Research Foundation, discusses the state of PFAS research, including how science is closing critical knowledge gaps and revealing where the next breakthroughs may come.Grevatt explains how new “total PFAS” and precursor testing methods are helping researchers glimpse what lies beneath the surface — the larger iceberg of unmeasured chemicals. National studies led by WRF are also reshaping assumptions about where PFAS comes from, showing that domestic wastewater may contribute a greater overall mass than industrial sources. AI is beginning to aid detection, with early research into “fingerprinting” PFAS signatures from fire training sites, landfills, and other sources to help utilities identify where contamination originates.When it comes to solutions, Grevatt outlines a field in motion rather than finished answers. Granular activated carbon, ion exchange, and reverse osmosis remain reliable workhorses, but their limits—especially with short-chain PFAS—are driving studies on tailored treatment media and lower-cost destruction technologies.Grevatt also highlights growing research on PFAS in biosolids and the global search for safe management options, from land application to disposal. This episode is sponsored by Shimadzu, a provider of analytical instruments for research, development, and quality control in a variety of fields.waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

San Diego is proving that the future of water is recycled. This episode visits Santee Lakes—one of California’s earliest examples of water reuse—with Kyle Swanson of Padre Dam Municipal Water District, who explains how a 1960s experiment turned wastewater into a beloved community asset and a model for the world. The story then moves to the North City Water Reclamation Plant, where Doug Campbell from the City of San Diego shares how decades of innovation paved the way for Pure Water San Diego—one of the nation’s largest and most ambitious water recycling efforts. When complete, Pure Water will provide half of the city’s drinking water through a five-step purification process that turns wastewater into a safe, sustainable, and drought-proof resource. This episode is part of The Golden State of Reuse, a series exploring the past, present, and future of water recycling across California, showcasing the people and projects redefining how water is used again and again. Visit https://bit.ly/ReuseCAseriesThe series is a collaboration with WateReuse California and the lead sponsor is CDM Smith.The series is also supported by the Sacramento Area Sewer District, Black & Veatch, and Monterey One Water.waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

Introducing the Hydro20, a group of twenty individuals celebrated for driving change, disrupting norms, and doing good for water sustainability across the United States.The Hydro20 is an initiative of waterloop, a nonprofit news outlet, and was announced during Climate Week NYC at the Rethinking Water conference hosted by Columbia University.The inaugural Hydro20 Honorees:-Jorge Richardson – Founder, HOPE Hydration (Access)-Richard Diaz – Infrastructure Field Manager, BlueGreen Alliance (Advocacy)-Seth Watkins – Farmer, Pinkhook Farm (Agriculture)-Britton Smith – Lead Singer, Britton and the Sting (Arts)-Dan Tudesco – Associate Director of Community Water Systems, Brita (Business)-Teal Lehto – Western Water Girl (Communications)-Jerry Holden – Director – Southern Region, Ducks Unlimited (Conservation)-Dana Okano – Director, Hawaii Environmental Finance Center (Finance)-Tom Gamble – Owner & Operator, Gamble Estates (Food & Beverage)-Shanna Yazzie – Manager, Safety & Compliance, DigDeep (Frontlines)-Rachel Brown – Senior Policy Advisor, U.S. Department of the Interior (Government)-Lorelei Cloud – Vice Chairman, Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council (Indigenous)-Alaina Harkness – CEO, Current (Innovation)-Carletta Davis – President, We Matter Community Association (Justice)-Manny Teodoro – Professor of Public Affairs, University of Wisconsin–Madison (Policy)-Raha Hakimdavar – CEO, Zyon Space; Professor, Georgetown University (Science)-Omar Mitchell – VP of Sustainable Infrastructure and Growth Initiatives, National Hockey League (Sports)-Greg Newbloom – Founder & CEO, Membrion (Technology)-Aaron Tartakovsky – CEO, Epic Cleantec (Treatment)-Aaron Kirkland – Superintendent, Green Stormwater Operations, Philadelphia Water Department (Utility)Watch the Hydro20 announcement video and explore individual honoree profiles and videos at www.hydro20.org.The Hydro20 is presented in partnership with Sciens Water and sponsored by the Environmental Defense Fund, Antea Group, and Human Capital Solutions.waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.