Words On Water #81: Cam Davis on Elected Office and the Great Lakes

March 4, 2019

Cameron Davis is Vice President at GEI Consultants and a Commissioner for the Metropolitan Water District of Greater Chicago. He was formerly the Senior Advisor for the Great Lakes for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and CEO of the Alliance for the Great Lakes. In this episode, Cam talks about the experience of running for an elected office, the role of a water commissioner, and his focus on the issues of infrastructure, equity, and climate change. He also discusses the need to care for the Great Lakes, including through collaboration with Canada and by dealing with nutrient pollution, invasive species, and habitat loss.

Episode #81
Hosted by Travis Loop

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Words On Water #62: Marleah LaBelle on Alaska Native Villages

November 5, 2018

Marleah LaBelle is a project manager with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. In this episode, Marleah discusses the challenges with drinking water and sanitation in Alaska Native villages, which includes about 3,000 households with no service. She describes the central place of water in the Alaska Native culture, including for subsistence living, and an initiative to use art to strengthen awareness of water issues. Marleah also explains how climate change is impacting Alaska Native villages, even forcing relocation.

Episode #62
Hosted by Travis Loop

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Words On Water #53: Mike Matichich on Making Progress on Affordability

September 17, 2018

Mike Matichich leads the financial services consulting team for Jacobs. In this episode, Mike explains how the increasing attention to affordability of water rates stems from the pinch created by necessary investments in infrastructure and rising costs for households. He says it is more important than ever for utilities to create customer assistance programs and to turn research on affordability into action. Mike also discusses how lessons can be learned at looking at state-by-state variability, approaches in public versus private water systems, and in how places like Australia, Canada, and Europe address affordability issues.

Episode #53
Hosted by Travis Loop

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Words On Water #51: Preview of WEFTEC 2018

September 7, 2018

WEFTEC, the Water Environment Federation’s Technical Exhibition and Conference, is the largest annual water quality event in the world. This year it will be held September 29 to October 3 in New Orleans. In this episode, WEF staff provide a preview of WEFTEC, including highlights of the conference program, the new additions to the exhibit floor, what to expect at the opening session, and how to use the app to navigate the event.

Episode #51
Hosted by Travis Loop

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Words On Water #50: Kishia Powell on Atlanta’s Community Investments

September 4, 2018

Kishia Powell is the Commissioner of the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management. In this episode, Kishia talks about the utility’s new $1 billion, five-year capital improvement plan. She discusses Atlanta’s extensive use of green infrastructure, including using it to create public spaces such as the Historic Fourth Ward Park and to educate citizens on water management. Kishia also explains the importance of community involvement in the planning process and how the utility is focused on equity across neighborhoods.

Episode #50
Hosted by Travis Loop

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Words On Water #48: Manny Teodoro on Affordability of Rates

August 20, 2018

Manny Teodoro is an Associate Professor at Texas A&M University. In this episode, Manny discusses the issue of affordability of water, including how water can be simultaneously underpriced and unaffordable. He talks about why the water sector must address the affordability issue now. Manny also explains why the median household income isn’t an accurate measure for determining affordability and offers more effective ways to calculate costs for working class households.

Episode #48
Hosted by Travis Loop

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Words On Water #47: Cathy Bailey on Lead in Drinking Water

August 13, 2018

Cathy Bailey is the Executive Director of Greater Cincinnati Water Works. In this episode, Cathy discusses her rise from a chemist working nights to the first woman and African-American to lead the utility in its 200-year history. She also talks about the fight against lead in drinking water – Cincinnati’s program has received national attention and is based on extensive education and a proactive effort to remove lead service lines. Cathy stresses how it is the right thing to do for the community and to start kids off on the right path.

Episode #47
Hosted by Travis Loop

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Words On Water #46: Darryl Haddock on Urban Waters in Atlanta

August 6, 2018

Darryl Haddock is the Education Director for the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance and the Federal Urban Waters Ambassador for Proctor Creek. In this episode, Darryl explains how a community struggling with environmental justice issues came together to advocate for more desirable wastewater and stormwater solutions. He also talks about the many benefits of reinvesting in urban waterways and the neighborhoods around them, as well as how residents in these areas can provide meaningful input into projects.

Episode #46
Hosted by Travis Loop

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Words On Water #36: Kathryn Sorenson on Water in Phoenix

June 4, 2018

Kathryn Sorenson is the Director of Phoenix Water Services. In this episode, Kathryn discusses how the utility collects, distributes, and treats water in the desert home of the fifth-most populated city in the United States. She also talks about how Phoenix has decreased water consumption and replenished vital groundwater, the continuation of ancient Native American practices for moving water via canals, the oasis known as the Tres Rios wetlands, and a new biogas project that means all resources are recovered at the city’s largest treatment plant.

Episode #36
Hosted by Travis Loop

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Words On Water #31: Abigail Gardner on Public Opinion Poll Results

April 23, 2018

Abigail Gardner is the communications adviser for the Value of Water Campaign and U.S. Water Alliance. In this episode, Abigail talks about the results of a new public opinion poll that found 88 percent of voters support increasing federal investment to rebuild America’s water infrastructure and how that support cuts across age, gender, political party, and geography. She also discusses how results have changed over time, findings on drinking water behavior, and the public’s priorities for wastewater utilities.

Episode #31
Hosted by Travis Loop

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Words On Water #14: Andrew Sawyers on EPA’s Water Finance Programs

December 11, 2018

Andrew Sawyers is the Director of the Office of Wastewater Management at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In this episode, Andrew discusses infrastructure finance, including the status of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, implementation of WIFIA (Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act), EPA’s technical assistance programs, and the agency’s perspective on public-private partnerships.

Episode #14
Hosted by Travis Loop

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Words On Water #13: Mustafa Santiago Ali on Environmental Justice

December 4, 2017

Mustafa Santiago Ali is the Senior Vice President of Climate, Environmental Justice, and Community Revitalization for the Hip Hop Caucus. In this episode, Mustafa discusses the meaning of environmental justice and how it relates to water, the essential role of public engagement in addressing environmental justice problems, the issue of water rates and affordability, and the central role of water in community revitalization.

Episode #13
Hosted by Travis Loop

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS