Episodes

In Sacramento, the shift to viewing wastewater as a critical resource is transforming regional water security and ecological health. In this episode, Christoph Dobson, General Manager of Sacramento Area Sewer District, explains how the landmark $1.7 billion EchoWater project has elevated treatment standards to tertiary levels, protecting the sensitive Bay Delta while creating a massive new supply of recycled water. This advanced infrastructure enables the Harvest Water project, which will ...

Is the Chesapeake Bay finally turning a corner, or is restoration falling behind on its most critical deadlines? This episode provides an expert "check-up" on America’s largest estuary with Hilary Falk, President and CEO of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF). After decades of investment, the results are a complex mix of record-breaking successes and urgent new challenges. Explore the "Oyster Revolution"—a massive effort that has restored 11 tributaries since 2014—and learn how billions of...

Explosive growth in data centers, semiconductors, and power generation is driving unprecedented industrial water demand, pushing reuse from niche to necessity across the U.S. In this episode, Bruno Pigott of the WateReuse Association, Courtney Tripp of Grundfos, and Jim Oliver of Black & Veatch unpack their joint report, Accelerating Industrial Reuse, spotlighting proven and sustainable strategies to meet that demand. They highlight how existing technologies enable up to 75–90% water savin...

What happens when laws designed to protect water fail — and what legal action does it take to set things right? For decades, the health of the Chesapeake Bay has struggled because of three major pollution sources: stormwater, wastewater, and agriculture. These pressures send nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment into streams and rivers that flow into the Bay, where they harm water quality and the environment broadly. While there have been many solutions implemented and tremendous progress mad...

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 cover...

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 water...

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 oxid...

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 o...

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 bypa...

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 strengt...

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 bu...

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 commun...

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 m...

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 eme...

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 w...

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 mill...

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 in...

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 allow...

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 Facto...

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 int...

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...

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 ...

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—...

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 Al...