This episode is part of a series The PFAS Puzzle: Lessons From A Contaminated Cape Fear. The forever chemicals were dumped in the North Carolina river for nearly 40 years before being discovered. The series explores how a community responds when it is the epicenter of PFAS pollution. This episode is about advocacy.PFAS poses difficult challenges on multiple fronts for environmental advocacy groups. High levels of PFAS in the Cape Fear River meant local advocates had to learn about the complex chemicals and at the same time provide information to concerned community members and take steps to address the pollution. The work and the lessons learned are discussed in this podcast with Dana Sargent, Executive Director of Cape Fear River Watch, and Kemp Burdette, the Cape Fear Riverkeeper. Dana and Kemp also talk about pursuing legal action against state regulators and the industrial polluter, working with the water utility and public health researchers, and advise for advocates dealing with PFAS in other communities. waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet.This series is sponsored by: PFASComms.com, who makes utilities the trusted, go-to-source for PFAS information in the community. Visit pfascomms.comALTRA, a company with the most robust PFAS treatment solution. Visit logistec.com/pfas-solutionsBlack & Veatch, providing end-to-end consulting, engineering, and construction services to address each community's unique PFAS needs. Learn more at bv.com/pfas

For 50 years, American Rivers has worked to protect and restore waterways across the country. During the organization’s existence and through its efforts, many rivers have improved, such as the Neuse and Elwha, while others are in tough shape, like the Colorado and Snake. The progress and challenges are discussed in this episode with Tom Kiernan, President and CEO of American Rivers. Tom also talks about the goal of protecting one million miles of rivers and removing 30,000 dams by the year 2050, as well as how the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act can help with the work.waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org

Science has always been foundational to water management. That tradition continues in 2023, with a staggering breadth and depth of research underway. It’s particularly important to gain knowledge about emerging contaminants, impacts of climate change, and water reuse, as discussed in this podcast with Peter Grevatt, CEO of The Water Research Foundation. Peter explains how research can be applied to improve water management, the opportunity for regulators to use research to accelerate solutions, and the science of PFAS.This episode is from a conversation at the Reservoir Center for Water Solutions in Washington, D.C. where waterloop is a media partner. Learn more at reservoircenter.orgwaterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed drinking water regulations for several types of PFAS, the so-called forever chemicals that are pervasive in society and the environment and pose a risk to human health. The announcement was made at an event in Wilmington, North Carolina and this episode features the remarks by EPA Administrator Michael Regan and commentary by waterloop host Travis Loop. The episode also includes reactions from Secretary Elizabeth Biser of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, La’Meshia Whittington of The Green Majority, and Emily Donovan of Clean Cape Fear. waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org

This episode is part of a series, Funding To Fight Lead. There are perhaps 10 million lead service lines in the ground in the U.S. and it may cost $50 billion to remove them. The series explores financing lead service line replacement, technical assistance for under-resourced communities, and examples of successful approaches.This episode is about the role of state and local policy.State and local policies play a central role in financing of lead service line replacement. The ability of utilities to use public funds for work on private property is often the key challenge, as discussed in this episode with Tom Neltner of the Environmental Defense Fund. He cites Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania as examples of states that have adopted policies to facilitate financing of the work. Successful funding approaches at the local level are also highlighted in this episode by Kareem Adeem of Newark Water and Sewer and Nancy Quirk of Green Bay Water.waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. This episode is made possible by support from the WaterNow Alliance and Environmental Policy Innovation Center and is sponsored by:LeadCopperRule.com helps utilities proactively manage lead communications and public information emergencies. Visit leadcopperrule.com120Water offers cloud-based software and digital sampling kits to help water systems and states to execute lead programs. Visit 120water.comBlueConduit has developed cutting-edge, predictive machine learning software to effectively locate lead service lines. Visit blueconduit.com

Analysis has shown a significant lack of diversity in the sources cited in media coverage. This means failing to include Black, Latino, and Indigenous water experts and to present the stories of people within impacted communities. The Color of Water platform was created to counter this trend. It’s an online directory that journalists can use to connect with a diverse set of experts, as discussed in this episode with Jose Aranda, Relationships Manager for the Water Hub. Jose explains how the Color of Water is training these experts to bolster their skills, sharing where they appear in media coverage, and aiming to add their voices to policy discussions and professional gatherings. waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org

Nearly two decades after Hurricane Katrina, there are continued efforts to make New Orleans more resilient to storms and climate change. A recent innovation is the green mortgage, a program that helps lower-income people buy a home and provides a budget for retrofits for water, wind, and energy projects. The green mortgage concept is discussed in this episode with Damon Burns, President and CEO of Finance New Orleans. He explains how green mortgages can also be used to bolster resilience of multi-family affordable housing developments and surrounding water infrastructure. Damon talks about creating an environmental impact bond to finance the program.waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. This episode was made possible by support from Spring Point Partners.Visit waterloop.org

This episode is part of a series The PFAS Puzzle: Lessons From A Contaminated Cape Fear. The forever chemicals were dumped in the North Carolina river for nearly 40 years before being discovered. The series explores how a community responds when it is the epicenter of PFAS pollution. This episode is about the drinking water.The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority in Wilmington, N.C. found itself in a difficult situation when high levels of PFAS were discovered in its water. How should the utility manage the forever chemicals, particularly in the absence of drinking water standards, information about health impacts, and a method of removal? In this episode, Ken Waldroup, executive director of CFPUA, discusses the lessons learned by the utility. He talks about building a $43 million treatment system for PFAS, pursuing the company responsible for the pollution, and rebuilding public trust in the water coming from the tap.This series is sponsored by: Black & Veatch, providing end-to-end consulting, engineering, and construction services to address each community's unique PFAS needs. Learn more at bv.com/pfasPFASComms.com, who makes utilities the trusted, go-to-source for PFAS information in the community. Visit pfascomms.comALTRA, a company with the most robust PFAS treatment solution. Visit logistec.com/pfas-solutions/

Black people in environmental conservation have not historically received the same visibility in the media. This not only fails to acknowledge their contributions, but also leaves young people without role models in fields such as water.That’s why a conservationist is profiled each day during Black History Month by Sierra Taliaferro, founder of the Green Obsidian. In this episode, she talks about five years of writing the profiles and shares examples of people she is highlighting this year.waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org

This episode is part of a series, Funding To Fight Lead. There are perhaps 10 million lead service lines in the ground in the U.S. and it may cost $50 billion to remove them. The series explores financing lead service line replacement, technical assistance for under-resourced communities, and examples of successful approaches.This episode is about the menu of options.The ways to fund lead service line replacement and some of the key financial aspects are discussed in this episode with Cynthia Koehler of the WaterNow Alliance and Tim Male of the Environmental Policy Innovation Center. Cynthia and Tim talk about the $15 billion for lead pipe removal from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the use of municipal bonds to fund work on private property, the role of state and local policies, and help for communities in need.This episode is made possibly by support from the WaterNow Alliance and Environmental Policy Innovation Center. The episode is sponsored by:BlueConduit has developed cutting-edge, predictive machine learning software to effectively locate lead service lines. Visit BlueConduit.com120Water offers cloud-based software and digital sampling kits to help water systems and states to execute lead programs. Visit 120Water.comLeadCopperRule.com helps utilities proactively manage lead communications and public information emergencies. Visit LeadCopperRule.comwaterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.org

This episode is part of a series The PFAS Puzzle: Lessons From A Contaminated Cape Fear. The forever chemicals were dumped in the North Carolina river for nearly 40 years before being discovered. The series explores how a community responds when it is the epicenter of PFAS pollution. This episode is about the science.Dr. Detlef Knappe of North Carolina State University is one of the leading scientists who found PFAS in the river and has conducted continued research on its presence. In this episode, Detlef discusses discovering the chemicals, identifying sources of the pollution, and sharing information with government regulators and utilities. He explains how PFAS levels have been lowered, shares the lessons he learned about research, and offers advice for communities with concerns about the chemicals.This series is sponsored by:ALTRA, a company with the most robust PFAS treatment solution. Visit logistec.com/pfas-solutions/Black & Veatch, providing end-to-end consulting, engineering, and construction services to meet each community's unique PFAS needs. Visit bv.com/pfasPFASComms.com, who makes utilities the trusted, go-to-source for PFAS information in the community. Visit pfascomms.com

How can the affordability of water bills be properly addressed without consistent and comprehensive data? New Jersey decided to get a clearer look at the situation. A state law now requires all water utilities to report on a monthly and zip-code basis affordability metrics including rates, customer bills, water usage, arrears, shutoffs, and tax liens sold on homes for non-payment. The law is discussed in this episode with Larry Levine, Director of Urban Water Infrastructure and a Senior Attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Larry also talks about the coalition that developed and lobbied for the legislation, how the law will be implemented, and NRDC’s affordability toolkit.waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet helping water leaders to discover solutions and drive change. Visit waterloop.org

Nonprofit media outlet waterloop is expanding its coverage of solutions to today’s critical water challenges, including features on lessons learned from PFAS pollution in North Carolina’s Cape Fear River, options for funding the removal of lead service lines to protect drinking water, and visits with people leading change in disadvantaged communities. In this episode, waterloop founder Travis Loop discusses the expansion and also shares his professional and personal journeys that led to waterloop.waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet helping water leaders to discover solutions and drive change. Visit waterloop.org

How does someone develop the mentality of a mentor and create opportunities for others? For Tim Alston it started in high school, when the people selected for a leadership program didn’t reflect the diversity of the student population. That sparked Tim to start a mentorship program for younger students of color in the local community and launched him on the path of helping others to enter STEM education and occupations. In this episode, Tim discusses what motivates him as a mentor and how he has encouraged minorities to pursue STEM at the University of Illinois, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and as a Plant Manager at the Gary Sanitary District. waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet helping water leaders to discover solutions and drive change. Visit waterloop.orgThis episode was made possible by support from Spring Point Partners.

During the last century, large engineering projects were used to control water resources. But in many ways, that man-made infrastructure is failing to meet challenges in the 21st century such as drought, flooding, pollution, and population growth.How can a pivot back to nature provide more sustainable solutions for water management?The nature-based approach is discussed in this episode with Sandra Postel, the author of Replenish and the Director of the Global Water Policy Project. Sandra discusses a variety of examples from across the U.S. of the benefits of nature-based solutions, including restoring the flow of rivers, putting watersheds to work, providing room for floods, and bringing down dams.waterloop is sponsored by Varuna, the tool that provides water utilities with full system awareness and offers a new resilience dashboard that identifies internal and external risks. Learn more at Varuna.citywaterloop is a nonprofit media outlet helping water leaders to discover solutions and drive change. Visit waterloop.org

In an increasingly thirsty world, there is much potential in desalination, the process of removing salt from seawater. But desalination has historically posed challenges - it consumes massive amounts of expensive energy, produces a waste called brine, and raises concerns about impacts on aquatic life. So how is desalination becoming more of an option for the creation of freshwater?That question is answered in this episode with Peter Fiske, Executive Director of the National Alliance for Water Innovation and Director of the Water-Energy Resilience Research Institute.Peter explains how desalination is becoming more efficient and effective through innovation in membranes, technologies for handling brine, and extraction of valuable elements. He also talks about upcoming pilot projects, the role of desalination in addressing Western water scarcity, and international collaboration.waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet helping water leaders to discover solutions and drive change. Visit waterloop.org

In a recent poll, U.S. voters overwhelmingly agreed that water is a human right, clean waterways are important, and infrastructure investments are critical. While those results are encouraging, the real value of polls are in how they can be used to test language, create messages, and influence policy. That work is discussed in this episode with Nicole Lampe of Water Hub, Yasmin Zaerpoor of PolicyLink, and Jenifer Collins of the National Wildlife Federation. They talk about opportunities to use the poll results to shape specific policies such as jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act, financial assistance with water bills for low-income Americans, and the upcoming Farm Bill.waterloop is the podcast helping water leaders to discover solutions and drive change. Visit waterloop.orgwaterloop is sponsored by Varuna, the tool that provides water utilities with full system awareness and offers a new resilience dashboard that identifies internal and external risks. Learn more at Varuna.city

P3 involves a public agency partnering with a private entity on a project. A twist on the traditional public-private partnership puts the community first and focuses on its challenges and opportunities. This approach works particularly well with green infrastructure, as discussed in this episode with Dominique Lueckenhoff, a former water official for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and a Senior Fellow at the US Water Alliance. Dominique talks about the creation of community based P3s to advance green infrastructure as part of the Chesapeake Bay TMDL, beginning in Prince George’s County, Maryland. She also explains how Chester, Pennsylvania used the formula to establish a stormwater utility.waterloop is sponsored by Varuna, the tool that provides water utilities with full system awareness and offers a new resilience dashboard that identifies internal and external risks. Learn more at Varuna.citywaterloop is a nonprofit media outlet featuring conversations about solutions and science. Visit waterloop.org

2022 is the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, which fundamentally changed regulation and management of water resources in the U.S. The Clean Water Act Owner’s Manual was created to help people understand and use the law to reduce pollution. The tool is discussed in this episode with Katherine Baer, Vice President of River Programs at the River Network, and Matt Rota, Senior Policy Director at Healthy Gulf. Katherine and Matt talk about how citizens own the Clean Water Act, using the owner’s manual to tackle specific problems, and the addition of climate change and environmental justice to the version released for the 50th anniversary. waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet featuring conversations about water solutions and science. Visit waterloop.org waterloop is sponsored by Varuna, the tool that provides water utilities with full system awareness and offers a new resilience dashboard that identifies internal and external risks. Learn more at Varuna.city

Algae blooms that pollute waterways, produce toxins, and cause dead zones are one of the most widespread and challenging environmental problems in the U.S. Nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural land is the leading fuel for the algae blooms, but efforts to reduce the nutrient pollution from farms have largely been unsuccessful.In this episode, Dr. Donald Boesch, President Emeritus of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, says it’s time to change the approach and create a national strategy for regulating agriculture pollution. Don talks about approaches for reducing the use of fertilizers, paying farmers for performance, stopping production of corn-based ethanol, and improving water quality as part of fighting climate change.waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet featuring conversations about solutions and science. Visit waterloop.orgwaterloop is sponsored by Varuna, the tool that provides water utilities with full system awareness and offers a new resilience dashboard that identifies internal and external risks. Learn more at Varuna.city