Talking Under Water

Episode 65: EPA proposes PFAS Maximum Contaminant Levels

On March 14, U.S. EPA held a press conference in Wilmington, North Carolina to announce the Maximum Contaminant Levels and Maximum Contaminant Level goals for six PFAS, including the two most prolific ones, PFOA and PFOS. Endeavor Water Group Editor Jeremy Wolfe shares the details of this press conference as well as responses from industry experts and organizations following the announcement. 
Show Notes:  
EPA proposes MCLS for six PFAS in drinking water 
Organizations have mixed responses to EPA’s proposed PFAS MCLs 
Timestamps:  
Episode summary | 0:10 
The six regulated PFAS | 1:28 
PFOA and PFOS MCL limits | 1:43 
The PFAS hazard index | 1:55 
Industry responds o PFAS MCLs | 3:46 
Cost challenges | 4:21 
Start Admin Regan audiogram | 4:56 
EPA to hold polluters accountable | 5:38 
Stresses on workforce and supply chains | 6:12 
Criticism of hazard index | 6:47 
Housekeeping | 7:32 
Awards 
WWD Young Pros :  wwdmag.com/nominate 
WQP Awards: www.wqpmag.com/faces-industry 
 
StormCon Discount: 
Talking Under Water listeners have access to a special discount code to register for this year's StormCon. When registering, use the code ONEWATER10 to receive a 10% discount on your conference registration. Visit bit.ly/stormconreg2023 to register and use the code. 
https://bit.ly/stormcon23reg 
 
About the Podcast  
Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Water & Wastes Digest (WWD), Water Quality Products (WQP) and Storm Water Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, point of use, point of entry, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and on-site interviews with experts for WWD, WQP and SWS. New episodes of the podcast are released on the third Friday of every month. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.  
Contact the Talking Under Water podcast editors by emailing talkingunderwater@sgcmail.com or engaging with them on Twitter @TUWpodcast. Join the conversation by commenting or using the hashtag #talkingunderwaterpod on social media. 
 

Episode 64: Women in Water with Naomi Jones & Michaela Rempkowski

In this month’s episode of Talking Under Water the hosts discuss U.S. EPA’s recent MCLs proposal for six PFAS in drinking water, share notes from a Build America, Buy America webinar and talk about new funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law through this year’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund. Finally, our interview this month is with Naomi Jones and Michaela Rempkowski, who are design integration directors for McCarthy Building Company’s Water Business Unit. They share with us their career paths, advice and what it means to be women in water.  
 
Show Notes:  
EPA allocates $2.4B for 2023 Clean Water State Revolving Fund
Talking Under Water Episode 63: Women in Water with Megan Glover
Women in Water: Creating a Pipeline to Opportunity 
EPA proposes MCLs for six PFAS in drinking water
Examples of PFAS Hazard Index Equations
 
Timestamps:
Cold open | 0:00 
Episode summary |  1:27
EPA PFAS MCL & MCLG announcement | 2:08 
Cybersecurity memorandum | 5:19 
Update on Build America, Buy America | 5:57 
Impact of BABA delays on business | 8:32 
EPA announcement of CWSRF funding | 9:27 
Interview begins | 10:30 
Michaela Rempkowski career path | 11:10 
Naomi Jones career path | 12:15 
McCarthy’s all-women design integration team | 13:20 
What working with an all-women team is like | 15:17 
The role of mentorship | 17:39 
Michaela’s advice for young women professionals | 20:01 
Naomi’s advice for young women professionals | 20:55 
What it means to be a woman in the water industry | 22:30 
Awards:
WWD Young Pros
WQP Young Pros & Industry Icon  
StormCon Discount: 
Talking Under Water listeners have access to a special discount code to register for this year's StormCon. When registering, use the code ONEWATER10 to receive a 10% discount on your conference registration. Visit bit.ly/stormconreg2023 to register and use the code.
About the Podcast  
Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Water & Wastes Digest (WWD), Water Quality Products (WQP) and Storm Water Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, point of use, point of entry, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and on-site interviews with experts for WWD, WQP and SWS. New episodes of the podcast are released on the third Friday of every month. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.  
Contact the Talking Under Water podcast editors by emailing talkingunderwater@sgcmail.com or engaging with them on Twitter @TUWpodcast. Join the conversation by commenting or using the hashtag #talkingunderwaterpod on social media. 
 

Episode 63: Women in Water with Megan Glover

In episode 63 of Talking Under Water, we feature an interview with Megan Glover, CEO of 120Water. In just seven years, Glover has grown her Indiana-based business focused on lead in water awareness to a premiere thought leadership business on the Lead & Copper Rule.  
In the spirit of Women’s History Month, she shares her experience growing her business as a woman in the water industry, how she addresses those challenges and where she wants to take the business moving forward. 
Show Notes:  
https://www.wwdmag.com/editorial-topical/women-in-water 
https://www.wwdmag.com/editorial-topical/young-pros/video/10938966/megan-glover-2020-wwd-young-pros 
Time Stamps: 
Introduction | 0:00 
Why water? | 1:21
What about your position excites you right now? | 3:36 
What is the most important issue facing the industry to you? | 5:44 
Complex business opportunities for lead in water | 8:04 
The role of mentorship | 9:23 
What it means to be a woman in water | 10:50 
Breaking into the industry as a woman | 12:13 
Differences in social and societal gender expectations | 13:59 
Mentally checking out and meditation | 15:39 
Housekeeping | 18:32 
Award Programs: 
Stormwater Solutions Young Pros 
Stormwater Solutions Industry Icon 
Wastewater Digest Young Pros  
  
StormCon Discount: 
Talking Under Water listeners have access to a special discount code to register for this year's StormCon. When registering, use the code ONEWATER10 to receive a 10% discount on your conference registration. Visit bit.ly/stormconreg2023 to register and use the code. 
 
About the Podcast  
Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Water & Wastes Digest (WWD), Water Quality Products (WQP) and Storm Water Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, point of use, point of entry, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and on-site interviews with experts for WWD, WQP and SWS. New episodes of the podcast are released on the third Friday of every month. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.  
  
Contact the Talking Under Water podcast editors by emailing talkingunderwater@sgcmail.com or engaging with them on Twitter @TUWpodcast. Join the conversation by commenting or using the hashtag #talkingunderwaterpod on social media. 

Episode 62: Diversity, equity & inclusion in the water sector

In this month’s episode, the hosts discuss The Norfolk Southern East Palestine train derailment, new funding for emerging contaminants and share an interview on DE&I in the water industry.  
In this month’s episode of Talking Under Water co-hosts Bob Crossen and Katie Johns share an update on the The Norfolk Southern East Palestine train derailment’s impact on surface and groundwater in Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania and touch on new funding for emerging contaminants in drinking water through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.  Additionally, this month’s interview dives into diversity, equity and inclusion in the water sector with W&T Contracting Corporation co-owners and brothers Wiley and Terrell Richards. The Richardses talked with Johns about their careers, goals, advice and more.  
Show Notes:  
Ohio EPA asserts low contamination risk from train derailment  
EPA announces $2B available for emerging contaminants in drinking water 
Talking Under Water Episode 49: The Importance of DE&I to the Water Industry  
 
Timestamps:  
Cold open | 0:00 
Episode summary | :057 
The Norfolk Southern East Palestine Train derailment | 1:51 
Emerging contaminant funding | 8:48 
Interview intro | 11:06 
Interview starts | 11:25 
Wiley & Terrell Richards’ career paths | 12:10 
About W&T Contracting Corporation |14:42 
The importance of mentorship programs | 18:20 
MBE requirements | 20:13 
DE&I evolution | 22:18 
Addressing the staffing shortage | 24:52 
Advice | 26:36 
Subcontract at Ford Blue Oval Plant | 27:55 
Final thoughts | 29:58 
Interview ends | 31:05 
Housekeeping | 31:22 
End | 33:45 
Award Programs: 
Stormwater Solutions Young Pros 
Stormwater Solutions Industry Icon 
Wastewater Digest Young Pros 
 
StormCon Discount: 
Talking Under Water listeners have access to a special discount code to register for this year's StormCon. When registering, use the code ONEWATER10 to receive a 10% discount on your conference registration. Visit bit.ly/stormconreg2023 to register and use the code. 
 
 
About the Podcast  
Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Water & Wastes Digest (WWD), Water Quality Products (WQP) and Storm Water Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, point of use, point of entry, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and on-site interviews with experts for WWD, WQP and SWS. New episodes of the podcast are released on the third Friday of every month. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.  
  
Contact the Talking Under Water podcast editors by emailing talkingunderwater@sgcmail.com or engaging with them on Twitter @TUWpodcast. Join the conversation by commenting or using the hashtag #talkingunderwaterpod on social media. 

Episode 61: Xylem acquires Evoqua

In this bonus episode, Bob Crossen talks with Albert Cho, Al Cho, Chief Strategy and External Affairs Officer at Xylem, and Snehal A. Desai, Chief Growth and Sustainability Officer at Evoqua, about Xylem’s recent $7.5 billion acquisition of Evoqua.  
What does this all-stock acquisition mean for water and wastewater professionals? Learn how the acquisition will impact plant managers and operators looking to maintain their equipment from either company for the long term, and what it will mean for purchasing and specifying engineers and consultants. Lastly, Cho and Desai share their thoughts on the future of the water and wastewater industry in light of this business deal. 
Show Notes:  
Xylem to acquire Evoqua in $7.5B transaction 
Xylem acquires Evoqua Water Technologies [Video] 
Time Stamps: 
Introduction | 0:00 
Interview starts |  
Why did Xylem make this acquisition? | 1:42 
How is Evoqua viewing the transaction? | 4:00 
How Xylem and Evoqua are integrating their goals | 6:28 
Lowering the barrier to solving problems | 9:33 
What to expect in the near and long term? | 10:33 
Closing out the interview | 12:02 
Housekeeping | 12:55 
Award Programs: 
Stormwater Solutions Young Pros 
Stormwater Solutions Industry Icon 
Wastewater Digest Young Pros  
  
StormCon Discount: 
Talking Under Water listeners have access to a special discount code to register for this year's StormCon. When registering, use the code ONEWATER10 to receive a 10% discount on your conference registration. Visit bit.ly/stormconreg2023 to register and use the code. 
 

Episode 60: Industrial Water Trends to Watch

In this month’s episode of Talking Under Water co-hosts Bob Crossen and Katie Johns share brief highlights of the EPA’s Effluent Limitation Guidelines Plan 15, an overview on a potential pricing model for water utilities and a look at a U.S. Geological Survey groundwater study about the connection between groundwater sources and agricultural use. 
This month's interview is with Daniel Gaddy, managing editor for Water Technology, Processing and Processing Instrumentation, all of which are Endeavor Business Media publications much like Wastewater Digest, Stormwater Solutions, WaterWorld and Water Quality Products. Gaddy and Crossen discussed the trends in the industrial water and wastewater sector, and what that likely means for business opportunity in 2023. 
Show Notes: 
Groundwater is running low in agricultural areas of Nevada
A promising water pricing model for equity and financial resilience
EPA announces plans for new landfill wastewater PFAS regulations
Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15 
Detroit’s major sewer interceptor connecting tunnel | 2022 WWD Top Projects
Timestamps: 
Cold open | 0:00 
Episode summary | 1:02 
News | 2:30 
Interview with Daniel Gaddy begins | 7:49 
Trends in the industrial sector | 8:18 
Business development for industrial water and wastewater | 12:25 
Regulations impacting industrial users | 14:44 
Industrial storm water management | 18:51 
Housekeeping | 29:39 
Award Programs:
Stormwater Solutions Young Pros
Stormwater Solutions Industry Icon
Wastewater Digest Young Pros 
StormCon Discount:
Talking Under Water listeners have access to a special discount code to register for this year's StormCon. When registering, use the code ONEWATER10 to receive a 10% discount on your conference registration. Visit bit.ly/stormconreg2023 to register and use the code.
 
About the Podcast 
Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Water & Wastes Digest (WWD), Water Quality Products (WQP) and Storm Water Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, point of use, point of entry, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and on-site interviews with experts for WWD, WQP and SWS. New episodes of the podcast are released on the third Friday of every month. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com. 
Contact the Talking Under Water podcast editors by emailing talkingunderwater@sgcmail.com or engaging with them on Twitter @TUWpodcast. Join the conversation by commenting or using the hashtag #talkingunderwaterpod on social media. 

Episode 59: 2022 State of the Industry

 In this month’s episode of Talking Under Water, co-hosts Bob Crossen and Katie Johns share some recent industry news, including the influx of policy movement from the U.S. EPA in the past month. In lieu of an interview this month, Crossen and Johns dive into the results from the state of the industry surveys that Water & Wasted Digest, Storm Water Solutions and Water Quality Products sent out to their respective audiences. The results provided insight into all verticals of the water industry: drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, residential, commercial and industrial water.
Show Notes
[Video] Interview with Radhika Fox
Water Shares Final Comments on PFAS CERCLA Proposal
What is Build America, Buy America?
[Video] OMB Takes Up BABA Implementation
Preview of WWD SOTI
U.S. EPA Marks One Year Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Shares Anniversary Report
EPA Issues Guidance to States to Reduce Harmful PFAS Pollution
EPA Releases One-Year Progress Report for PFAS Strategic Roadmap
Timestamps
Cold Open | 0:00 
Host Introduction | 0:55 
Episode Summary | 1:06 
The State of Municipal Water & Wastewater | 2:09 
The State of Stormwater | 6:35 
The State of Residential/Commercial Water | 9:29 
Regulatory impacts | 10:40 
Municipal water and wastewater | 11:01 
Stormwater | 14:57 
Residential and commercial water | 16:13 
Build America, Buy America | 20:30 
Funding | 26:36 
Housekeeping | 29:25
About the Podcast 
Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Water & Wastes Digest (WWD), Water Quality Products (WQP) and Storm Water Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, point of use, point of entry, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and on-site interviews with experts for WWD, WQP and SWS. New episodes of the podcast are released on the third Friday of every month. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com. 
 
Contact the Talking Under Water podcast editors by emailing talkingunderwater@sgcmail.com or engaging with them on Twitter @TUWpodcast. Join the conversation by commenting or using the hashtag #talkingunderwaterpod on social media. 

Episode 58: Smart Water Trends & Best Practices

In this month’s episode of Talking Under Water co-hosts Bob Crossen and Katie Johns dive into recent industry news, including the EPA’s PFAS CERCLA proposal, the Jackson, Mississipi Water Crisis and recent funding for both drought resiliency in the West and SRFs. Additionally, the hosts share an interview with Steve Drangsholt, account executive with Trinnex. Johns and Drangsholt spoke about smart water and how the digital transformation is impacting the water industry. They also dive into machine learning and digital twins, and Drangsholt shares how you can bring digital transformation to your workplace. 
 
 Show Notes: 
EPA Issues Final List of Contaminants for Potential Regulatory Consideration in Drinking Water 
Water Associations Share Final Comments on PFAS CERCLA Proposal 
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $210 Million for Drought Resilience Projects In the West 
Illinois EPA Awards $70M in SRF to 13 Projects 
NY Wastewater Projects Receive $176M in CWSRF  
 
Timestamps: 
Cold open | 0:00 
Host intro and episode summary | 0:38 
EPA’s proposal to add PFOS and PFOA | 1:25 
Jackson, Mississippi, Water Crisis | 6:34  
Funding for drought resiliency in the West | 7:15 
SRF funding update | 8:08 
Steve Drangsholt Introduction | 9:10 
What is Trinnex? | 9:36 
Current smart water trends | 11:10 
Mitigating digital risks | 14:40 
Impact of increasingly Intense weather | 17:09 
Machine learning & digital twins | 18:57 
How digital twins can improve infrastructure | 26:29 
Advice for implementing smart water practices | 28:41 
Keeping the human element | 31:06 
Interview ends | 32:47 
Housekeeping | 33:02
Outro | 33:52 
 
 About the Podcast 
Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Water & Wastes Digest (WWD), Water Quality Products (WQP) and Storm Water Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, point of use, point of entry, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and on-site interviews with experts for WWD, WQP and SWS. New episodes of the podcast are released on the third Friday of every month. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com. 
Contact the Talking Under Water podcast editors by emailing talkingunderwater@sgcmail.com or engaging with them on Twitter @TUWpodcast. Join the conversation by commenting or using the hashtag #talkingunderwaterpod on social media. 

Episode 57: Rising Water Leaders

In this month’s episode of Talking Under Water co-hosts Bob Crossen and Katie Johns discuss a recent funding announcement for water storage and conveyance projects in the West and share a PFAs regulation update from Radhika Fox, assistant administrator for the EPA Office of Water. They also touch on SeaLab, a new tidal pool built on the Middle River that will be used by students at St. Mark’s Episcopal School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to teach them about global water and sustainability issues. And, this month’s interview is with Maura Jarvis, who is the assistant manager of the public outreach team for the Philadelphia Water Department and is the 2022 US Water Prize winner for Rising One Water Leader. Jarvis and Crossen talked about her career, why water is so important and what one water means to her. 
Show Notes: 
Value of Water Series: Utility Perspective with Buffalo Sewer Authority
Veolia NA Breaks Ground on Thermal Waste Treatment Facility
Clean Water Act, Funding & PFAS with Radhika Fox
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $210 Million for Drought Resilience Projects In the West
Timestamps: 
Cold open | 0:00 
Host intro and episode summary | 0:38 
Water storage and conveyance project funding | 1:15 
Clean Water Act Anniversary | 3:07 
Update on PFAS regulations for water and wastewater | 3:54 
Maura Jarvis interview introduction | 6:42 
Maura Jarvis’ career path and successes | 7:33 
What One Water means to Maura | 11:45 
Representation matters for One Water | 13:59 
Interview ends | 17:15 
Housekeeping | 17:53 
Outro | 19:27
Surveys:
Storm Water Solutions State of the Industry Survey
Water Quality Products State of the Industry Survey 
About the Podcast 
Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Water & Wastes Digest (WWD), Water Quality Products (WQP) and Storm Water Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, point of use, point of entry, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and on-site interviews with experts for WWD, WQP and SWS. New episodes of the podcast are released on the third Friday of every month. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com. Contact the Talking Under Water podcast editors by emailing talkingunderwater@sgcmail.com or engaging with them on Twitter @TUWpodcast. Join the conversation by commenting or using the hashtag #talkingunderwaterpod on social media. 
#BBD0E0 »

Episode 56: The Emerging Contaminants Puzzle

In this month’s episode of Talking Under Water co-hosts Bob Crossen and Katie Johns give an overview of the Jackson, Mississippi, Water Crisis and touch base on the latest proposal from the EPA, which relates to adding PFAS chemicals to Superfund. Additionally, this month’s interview is with Jeff Cornell, global PFAS practice lead for Black & Veatch. Crossen and Cornell talked about all things emerging contaminants, particularly as it relates to PFAS, but Cornell also shares an exhaustive list of just how many things are on his and the industry’s radar as it relates to water contamination. 
Show Notes: 
Water Pressure is Restored in Jackson, Miss. 
EPA Proposes Designating Certain PFAS Chemicals as Hazardous Substances Under Superfund  
Water Experts Respond to PFOA, PFOS CERCLA Proposal  
Timestamps: 
Cold Open | 0:00 
Host Introductions | 0:25 
Episode Summary | 0:36 
Water Crisis in Jackson Mississippi | 1:10 
EPA Proposes Adding PFOA, PFOS to Superfund | 3:43 
Interview with Jeff Cornell begins | 6:43 
Overview of emerging contaminants in water and wastewater | 6:54 
The CERCLA designation is complex and vast | 19:55 
Viewing emerging contaminants with a one water lens | 21:20 
Exciting technologies to address emerging contaminants | 25:11 
What’s the roadmap for addressing emerging contaminants | 30:13 
Interview ends | 34:38 
Housekeeping | 35:01 
End | 35:36 
Events: 
StormCon 2022 is happening September 26-28 in National Harbor, Maryland. Join us for networking opportunities, an exhibit floor and educational sessions on stormwater, green infrastructure and more. Click here for more information and to register. 
About the Podcast 
Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Water & Wastes Digest (WWD), Water Quality Products (WQP) and Storm Water Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, point of use, point of entry, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and on-site interviews with experts for WWD, WQP and SWS. New episodes of the podcast are released on the third Friday of every month. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com. 
Contact the Talking Under Water podcast editors by emailing talkingunderwater@sgcmail.com or engaging with them on Twitter @TUWpodcast. Join the conversation by commenting or using the hashtag #talkingunderwaterpod on social media.