The Water Zone

Arizona homeowner John Bartlett, shares his concerns about pressing water issues impacting communities nationwide. The discussion covers the legal definition of water rights as interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court and explores whether the government can alter senior water rights, including current litigation trends. Bartlett and the hosts also examined the global PFAS crisis—known as “forever chemicals”—and debated the necessity and environmental impact of fracking, along with mining brine for rare earth minerals. The episode concluded with practical ideas on how individuals can contribute to long-term water sustainability.

Podcast Recorded on December 11, 2025

Moses West, President of AWG Contracting and the Moses West Foundation, shares his journey into Atmospheric Water Generation (AWG). Drawing on his military experience and engineering background, Moses developed a groundbreaking water harvesting system to provide clean, abundant water for troops in the field—a prototype that earned military approval and orders. Today, his company delivers scalable solutions from small units to large systems producing up to 1.5 million gallons per day, supporting disaster relief, community resilience, and sustainable infrastructure. Moses highlights installations like the one in Jackson, Mississippi, and explains how his solar-powered technology can even generate water in de...

Scott Revell, manager of Roza Irrigation District, and Larry Mattson, director of the Office of Columbia River, discuss the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan. They highlight historically low reservoir storage and streamflows after three consecutive drought years, prompting strict water diversion restrictions to protect fish and senior water rights. They explain key drought factors, current supply levels, and projected water availability, along with voluntary and mandatory conservation measures for domestic users. They also outline resources and emergency drought grants available to farmers to help mitigate crop and livestock losses.

Podcast Recorded on November 20, 2025

Donna DiFrancesco, conservation coordinator for the City of Mesa, AZ, who shares how Mesa won the Wyland’s National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation. Donna highlights the city’s innovative programs—like water management for commercial customers and HOAs, residential grass-to-landscape drip conversions, tree bonus incentives, and water education for schools—that empower residents and businesses to use water more efficiently. She also introduces helpful tools such as Mesa’s Water Calendar for personal water budgeting and a library of videos on demand covering landscaping, irrigation troubleshooting, and DIY water-saving tips. Donna explains how these efforts help Mesa reduce water...

In this episode, Tia Fleming, executive director of the California Water Efficiency Partnership, explains California Bill 1572 and its impact on water conservation. The bill restricts the use of potable water for irrigating non-functional turf, but exempts residential yards, parks, cemeteries, golf courses, and sports fields. Tia defines non-functional turf, outlines compliance deadlines, and discusses enforcement. She also introduces a new online toolkit to help commercial users and water agencies understand the law, and encourages listeners to check with local water providers for rebates and turf removal programs.

Podcast Recorded on November 6, 2025

Ryan Meres, Paulette McGhie, and Michael Matthews from RESNET explore the significance of the HERS H2O rating system, which evaluates a home's water efficiency alongside its energy performance. They explain the types of homes eligible for certification and share statistics on adoption in California and other states. The discussion highlights how the HERS H2O rating aligns with the EPA’s WaterSense label, offering builders and homeowners a pathway to formal recognition and incentives. The guests also detail the inspection criteria used in certification and emphasize the value of water-efficient homes—even in regions not currently facing water scar...

In this episode, we speak with Mauricio Guardado, general manager of United Water Conservation District, about their fight for fairness in water policy. A recent federal court ruling allows the government to take most of a community’s water without compensation, citing species protection—even when the science doesn’t support it. United Water is pushing back, demanding that environmental decisions be based on credible science and the rule of law. Listen to learn how this landmark case could reshape regulatory accountability and the future of water management across the country.

Podcast Recorded on October 23, 2025

Homeowner and new listener Alan Lee, from Ohio joins he show seeking advice for his new home's irrigation system after years of apartment living. Hosts Rob and Chris guide him through landscape basics like design costs, DIY installation, and irrigation controller options. They also cover turf selection, watering schedules, winterization techniques, and troubleshooting common system issues like zone failures and drainage. This episode offers practical insights for homeowners navigating irrigation for the first time.

Podcast Recorded on October 16, 2025

Dr. Kyle Murray of principal scientist at Murray GeoConsulting, discusses how brine—an oil and gas byproduct—contains nearly every element in the periodic table, including critical minerals like lithium, rubidium, and platinum. These elements are vital for industries such as energy, computing, and transportation. He explained that recovering and selling these minerals could help oil and gas companies offset drilling costs. Additionally, brine holds large quantities of sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, which can be reused in manufacturing and fertilizer production. Dr. Murray also outlined methods for extracting these minerals from brine waste.

Podcast Recorded on Octo...

Anthony Giudice introduces AquaFlow’s innovative valve technology designed to optimize water flow and reduce costs across residential, commercial, and industrial applications. The product uses a 3-in-1 system that compresses trapped air and gas in water lines before it reaches the meter—preventing users from being charged for air volume. He explains that air enters water systems through municipal pumps, repairs, temperature shifts, and micro-leaks, and since most meters read total volume, this leads to inflated bills. The valve also regulates flow and pressure, reducing water consumption by up to 35%, minimizing water hammering, and extending plumbing lifespan. In simple term...

Kendall DeJonge, a USDA Research Agricultural Engineer, discusses his team's award-winning work on standardizing evapotranspiration (ET) software for water resource management. While ET methods have long been documented, Kendall highlights the lack of unified, publicly available code—until now. His team overcame major challenges to create collaborative tools using Python, chosen for its readability, extensive libraries, and broad applicability.

Podcast Recorded September 25. 2025

Derek Heeren, PhD, Professor and Irrigation Engineer at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, shares insights into his award-winning work in irrigation education. Honored with the 2025 Irrigation Association’s Excellence in Education Award, Heeren discusses his leadership in developing coursework, certificate programs, and a graduate specialization in agricultural water management. He also highlights his role as general editor for Irrigation Systems Management procedures published with ASABE in 2021. Beyond teaching and research, Heeren drives curricular reform, builds faculty teams, and fosters partnerships with community colleges. He further supports global and domestic irrigation efforts as the IWMI Education Coordinator for the Daugherty Water for...

Scott Bowmen, president of Precision-Rain Irrigation, shares his company’s unique business model focused on filling gaps in the landscape and irrigation industry. He emphasized the importance of selecting the right contractor and helping clients organize their project goals into actionable categories. His firm offers full project management or specialized services like irrigation system selection, water management, and arborist support. A key part of their approach is educating clients to understand the technical and operational aspects of their projects.

Podcast Recorded on September 11, 2025

Guest Mark Freeman, Mayor of Mesa, Arizona highlights the city's leadership in water conservation, including winning the 2025 Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge, with residents pledging to save over 22 million gallons of water. He discusses educational and rebate programs that support conservation and sustainability. Additional efforts—like reducing electronics use and switching to refillable bottles—are projected to cut 6.2 million kWh of electricity and eliminate 14,000 plastic bottles. He also addresses Arizona’s climate challenges, emphasizing the urgency of water stewardship.

Podcast Recorded on September 4, 2025

In the latest episode of The Water Zone podcast, Quinten Dreesmann, principal & partner at Sciens Capital Management, discusses the firm’s investment focus on the water industry through its Sciens Water Opportunities Fund, launched in 2018 to acquire and grow private companies addressing U.S. water infrastructure challenges—particularly in utilities, transmission, distribution, and wastewater treatment—while delivering both income and long-term value for investors.

Podcast Recorded on August 21, 2025

Eric Santos, president of Epic Landscape and Water Management Services, shares how his grandfather sparked his interest in landscaping. He discusses key qualifications for success in the industry, what HOAs look for in service providers, and the top challenges they face. Eric also advocates for more rebate funding for water-efficient products and supports state licensing for irrigators to ensure better water management.

Podcast Recorded on August 7, 2025.

Tom Lyons, Founder of Viridis Advisors, explores how resilient freshwater systems are central to global investment themes like energy, health, and technology. He highlights gaps in current water demand solutions and outlines opportunities across the water cycle—from supply and consumption to collection and treatment. Tom also shares how emerging water tech firms can build strong business strategies and secure long-term funding in this evolving landscape.

Podcast Recorded July 31, 2025

Guest Greg Chick, an irrigation engineer, and Festus Langat, a teacher and project leader in Kenya, share how they partnered with Global Water Works to bring rain harvesting systems to rural Kenyan villages. These gravity-fed systems, now installed in five locations, provide clean water and save residents hours of travel each day. Festus leads local volunteers in maintaining the systems, while Greg discusses their next project—composting toilets—and offers listeners a free digital copy of his book via his website.

Podcast Recorded on July 24, 2025

This episode of The Water Zone features activist and endurance athlete Leo Gripari (filmmaker, co-founder of That Gorilla Brand),  David Finn (CEO of Globe House Streaming) and Nubia DuVall Wilson (President of Starfury Productions) who joined forces to distribute the award-winning documentary MAJI. The film follows Leo as he takes on five extreme physical challenges across four continents to raise 150,000 Euros for clean water projects in Uganda, while spotlighting the global water crisis, political tensions in regions like Nepal and Jordan, and efforts to preserve sacred springs in Arizona’s Grand Canyon. That Gorilla Brand has raised over half a mil...

This special episode marks The Water Zone’s 10-year anniversary and 500th broadcast, featuring current and former co-hosts Rob Starr, Mike Baron, Chris Davey, Inge Bisconer, Paul McFadden, and Chris Austin. Surprise guest Rick Olson, Chairman and CEO of The Toro Company, joins to share his thoughts on the show’s impact.

The team reflects on favorite guests, key topics like water efficiency, drought, and irrigation tech, and expresses gratitude for the award winning show's outstanding public outreach.

Podcast Recorded on July 17, 2025

Sandra Giarde, executive director of the California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA), shares the organization’s origins dating back to 1952 and its mission to support members in creating lasting, high-quality landscapes. She highlights CLCA’s code of ethics focused on professionalism and customer satisfaction, and details their advocacy work on water regulations, legislative issues, and equipment use such as lawn mowers and leaf blowers. Sandra also discusses CLCA’s specialized workshops, dual water certification program, and events that inform members and educators about proposed legislation and its potential impact on the industry.

Podcast Recorded on July 10, 2025

In the latest episode of The Water Zone, Mary Conley-Eggert and Frank Slovenec, co-directors of Global Water Works (GWW), discuss how their nonprofit platform connects technology, case studies, and community expertise to accelerate smart water solutions worldwide. They highlight rainwater harvesting as an overlooked but powerful approach and share how GWW has helped implement major collection and purification systems across Africa. The conversation also explores “orphan lakes,” with GWW estimating that 40% of U.S. lakes are impaired or neglected. To address this, they’re leading a pilot program in Illinois that uses real-time data to track the status of 12 lakes...

In this episode, we welcome Tim Quinn, water policy strategist for Ocean Well, to discuss a revolutionary new approach to ocean desalination.  Tim explains how Ocean Well’s innovative underwater “pod” system harnesses natural hydrostatic pressure at depths of 400 meters to power reverse osmosis—cutting energy use by up to 40% compared to traditional land-based systems. The process is entirely chemical-free and avoids harmful brine outfalls, using a specially designed circulation system to protect marine ecosystems. With the ability to scale to millions of gallons per day, Ocean Well’s technology offers an environmentally responsible solution for delivering high-quality freshwater directly fro...

Guests Mike Hightower, director of the New Mexico Produced Water Consortium, and Jonas Armstrong, director of New Mexico’s Environmental Water Protection Division, discuss the state’s innovative produced water project, which treats contaminated groundwater from oil fracking and converts it into clean, usable water. Jonas explains his team’s role in sampling, analysis, and updating Source Water Assessments to identify and mitigate contamination risks, while Mike outlines the fracking process and highlights partnerships working to turn produced water into a community resource. They also explore current treatment technologies—such as carbon filtration—and the challenges of filter disposal, emphasizin...

Gisele Schoniger, organic gardening educator for Kellogg Garden Products shares fascinating insights into how organic soils and plant foods are manufactured, highlighting Kellogg’s commitment to sustainable and environmentally responsible practices. She discusses the company’s OMRI Listed products and explains how to select the right soil and amendments for various garden types—including small spaces, edibles, raised beds, and landscape gardens. Gisele emphasizes the importance of keeping soil alive with nutrients and beneficial organisms, as well as applying and distributing water correctly to maximize garden health.

Podcast Recorded on May 29, 2025

Dr. Melissa Matlock, Director of Programs at the California Water Efficiency Partnership (CalWEP), shares insights into her leadership initiatives including the creation of CalWEP’s flagship Peer to Peer Program, which brings water professionals together to exchange real-world strategies and innovations. She introduces the Implementation Hub & Resources, a centralized platform offering tools and templates to help agencies implement the California Conservation Framework. Melissa also highlights her new Charting the Course for Compliance Series, designed to simplify complex regulatory requirements, and discusses CalWEP’s Data Streaming Efforts, which aim to reduce reporting burdens and improve data system coordination for water purv...

Guest Steve Creech, President of the Wyland Foundation, shares how the organization—founded by famed marine artist Wyland—has grown its impact through education, community outreach, and partnerships promoting environmental sustainability. Steve highlights key programs like the Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, which engages thousands of water agencies and their customers in pledging to save water, with prizes ranging from smart irrigation controllers to a $50,000 electric vehicle. He also discusses the Wyland Art Challenge for K-12 students, a new watershed study curriculum supporting STEM learning, and the foundation’s 80-foot mobile water museum featuring a theater, mini wat...

Eddie Wallace, owner of MidWest Landscaping in California, shares his perspective on the recent Southern California fires and how property owners can proactively protect their homes and businesses. Eddie outlines a three-zone planting strategy using specific types of ground cover, shrubs, and trees to reduce fire damage and describes a simple irrigation system modification that can create a protective water shower during a wildfire. He also discusses the latest advancements in controllers, spray heads, and high-capacity rotors for fire defense, emphasizing the importance of maintaining irrigation systems for peak performance. Listeners can view Eddie’s instructional videos on his we...

In this episode we welcome Marc LoPresti, CEO and chief market strategist of Market Rebellion, Wall Street veteran, securities attorney, and media contributor. Marc shares his legal team’s pivotal role in the landmark multi-billion-dollar lawsuit against 3M over forever chemical contamination in U.S. drinking water, offering insights into the technical evidence that led to the historic settlement. He also discusses litigation involving DuPont and its spin-offs Chemours and Corteva for similar violations. Looking ahead, Marc offers his take on water-related investments—viewing utilities as stable but recommending tech-driven water solutions like filters, pumps, and desalination for t...

In this episode of The Water Zone, Rylan Dobson, water stewardship programs leader at the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), shares how he drives public-private collaboration and policy advocacy to advance global water sustainability. He highlights water's critical role as a connector across environmental priorities like climate and nature, and addresses key issues including water scarcity, stress, security, hygiene, and their link to UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6). Rylan voices frustration over water being sidelined in broader environmental conversations, noting that “water is where climate impacts hit first,” and stresses the importance of data-driven action. He also discusses WWF’s partne...

In this inspiring episode of The Water Zone, guest Atul Bhatara, President and CEO of Atul Skin Care Products, shares his powerful personal journey and insights into the vital role water plays in skin health. Diagnosed with severe cerebral palsy as a toddler and given only a few years to live, Atul defied the odds to build a successful career and launch a skincare brand rooted in natural healing. He explains how the body is 75% water and highlights the differences between micellar, alkaline, and oxygenated water—revealing which are best for drinking and skincare. Atul also discusses the benefits of...

Brenda Burman, general manager of the Central Arizona Project (CAP), shares her background and insights from her time as Administrator of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. She provides a deep dive into CAP’s history, infrastructure, and its critical role in delivering Colorado River water to Arizona. Brenda discusses the economic impact of this water, the causes behind current shortages, and what that means for the state’s future. She also addresses potential challenges related to energy supply, cybersecurity threats, and water quality protection. Highlighting CAP’s use of artificial intelligence to safeguard infrastructure, she shares updates on a majo...

In the latest episode of The Water Zone, guest Tiffany Baca—public affairs manager for the Municipal Water District of Orange County and executive director of the Water Energy Education Alliance (WEEA)—discusses how WEEA is uniting over 260 organizations across California to build career pathways in the water and energy sectors. She explains how the alliance was formed, its rapid growth, and the critical need to align education and training with industry demands. Tiffany highlights key workforce challenges, including an aging workforce and skills gaps, and shares how WEEA is addressing them through partnerships with educational institutions, hands-on programs like...

Mike Hammond, President & CEO of Signal Relief, introduces a groundbreaking drug-free pain relief technology that harnesses the water within the body to reduce or eliminate pain—without the need for medicine, power, or external devices. The patch utilizes the 4th phase of water, a scientifically recognized state found in the human body that carries a negative electrical charge within the exclusionary zones of muscles. Featuring a specialized antenna array layout, the patch activates a positive charge state when placed on the skin, stimulating the negatively charged internal water to trigger rapid pain relief. Mike also underscores the critical role of...

Arizona State Senator Tim Dunn shares his journey from farming to politics and discusses the state’s pressing water challenges, including water quality, salinity in agriculture, and surface and groundwater management. He highlights the need for inland desalination facilities to support future farming and emphasizes the importance of balancing water pricing and allocation to ensure economic efficiency, social equity, and environmental sustainability.

Podcast Recorded on March 6, 2025

Jeff Mosher, general manager of the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA), discusses the agency’s role in managing and protecting water resources in the Santa Ana River basin. Established in 1975 as a joint power authority, SAWPA is composed of five member agencies working together to address water supply reliability, water quality, recycled water, wastewater treatment, groundwater management, brine disposal, and regional planning. Jeff highlights SAWPA’s mission to develop and maintain collaborative programs and projects that ensure the economic and environmental sustainability of the watershed.

Podcast Recorded on February 27, 2025

In this episode of The Water Zone podcast, experts Pei Xu, PhD, from New Mexico State University, and Mike Hightower, PhD, director of the New Mexico Produced Water Research Consortium, explore cutting-edge research in water treatment. They delve into their work on the desalination and treatment of brackish and saline waters, as well as high-salinity waste waters. The conversation highlights current advances in produced water treatment and reuse, presenting data that demonstrates how such water can be safely transformed for various applications, including agricultural use and drinking water. Additionally, the guests share insights into their ongoing projects, innovative technologies...

In this episode, Cat Shrier, Ph.D., Founder & CEO of WaterCitizen.org, shares how her nonprofit transforms water professionals and entrepreneurs into industry changemakers through virtual and high-engagement in-person events. She highlights the organization’s three core pillars—Water Innovation, Water Workforce, and Water Leadership—and discusses "Water Pitch," a high-energy startup matchmaking event connecting entrepreneurs, funders, and clients. Cat also introduces WaterCitizen’s virtual educational lab, which helps individuals launch water programs and events in just 10 weeks, fostering relationships, revenue, and long-term impact.

Podcast Recorded on February 13, 2025

Gregg Semler, founder & CEO of InPipe Energy, introduces HydroXS, an innovative energy recovery system that replaces traditional control valves by converting wasted water pressure into renewable energy. Instead of burning off excess pressure, HydroXS optimizes flow control, reduces operating costs, conserves water, lowers carbon emissions, and extends infrastructure lifespan. This smart control technology also provides real-time data for improved system verification. Gregg highlights how water districts across the U.S. are already using HydroXS to generate revenue, making water systems more reliable, efficient, and sustainable.

Podcast Recorded on February 6, 2025

Guests Clifford Chan (GM, East Bay Municipal Utility District), George Hawkins (CEO, Moonshot Missions), and Lou Bendon (CEO, Flycatcher Marketing) discuss key water industry challenges and innovations. The conversation examines how firefighters ran out of water during the Los Angeles wildfires, what went wrong, and how various utilities collaborated to support local agencies during the crisis. Lou also highlights proven methodologies for reducing energy costs and carbon footprints, enabling utilities to accelerate decarbonization efforts. Additionally, the group explored how artificial intelligence is transforming utility operations by optimizing data collection and analysis to reduce unnecessary expenditures.

Podcast Recorded...

Troy Hayes, Water Services Director for the City of Phoenix, Arizona, shares insights into the city’s water treatment and distribution system. Phoenix operates five water treatment plants, with two in North Phoenix (Union Hills and Lake Pleasant) utilizing Colorado River water delivered by the Central Arizona Project (CAP), while three central plants treat Salt River Project (SRP) water. CAP water can also be redirected to any plant during maintenance or drought. Troy details the city’s treatment process, robust water quality monitoring, and its 6,000-mile interconnected pipe system, which delivers an average of 264 million gallons of water daily. Deli...

In this episode of The Water Zone, California Secretary of Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot discusses the state’s water infrastructure, detailing its current status and future needs. He highlights key initiatives, including the Sites Reservoir project and Delta Conveyance expansion, emphasizing their critical role in meeting California’s long-term water demands. Crowfoot also explores the integration of advanced technologies for agricultural irrigation and groundwater monitoring, as well as partnerships with countries like Israel, the Netherlands, and Denmark to adopt cutting-edge water efficiency methods. Additionally, he provides insights into the diverse entities he oversees, such as the State Board of Wate...

Dr. Gerald Pollack, Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Washington, shares insights from his groundbreaking book, The Fourth Phase of Water. He introduced "EZ water" (Exclusion Zone water), a structured form of water (H3O2) that forms upon contact with most surfaces and differs fundamentally from conventional H2O. This unique phase generates an electric charge, offering energy with potential applications in medicine, agriculture, energy production, and health. Dr. Pollack discussed his experiments and how this discovery could revolutionize our understanding of water’s role in biology, chemistry, and beyond, paving the way for innovative uses in science an...

In this episode of The Water Zone, Brad Loiselle, President & CEO of Artic Freshwater, discusses his company’s mission to combat the global water crisis by unlocking the potential of trillions of liters of renewable freshwater. He emphasizes the severity of issues such as water scarcity, lack of access, the burden of water collection, and child mortality, highlighting Artic Freshwater’s innovative, collaborative, and socially responsible approach. Brad details their partnerships with local and governmental agencies, regional distribution networks, and their active involvement in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6) program. He also shares how their awareness and educat...

JP Robinette, Engineering & Construction Manager for the Sites Reservoir Project, discusses his role in overseeing the construction and management of this innovative 15-million-acre-foot off-stream reservoir. Designed to capture rainfall and runoff from extreme storms, the reservoir will provide a flexible water supply for California's communities, farms, and environment during times of scarcity. Once integrated with the California State Water Project and Central Valley Project, it will improve water management during floods and droughts while delivering key environmental benefits, such as 372,029 acre-feet of water for ecological use, increased Delta freshwater flows, and cold water for salmon in the Sacramento River.<...

Clifford C. Chan, general manager of East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), discusses the utility's ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. He highlights the water industry's significant carbon footprint—4 gigatons annually, four times that of aviation—and the critical role of innovation in reducing it. Mr. Chan shares how EBMUD tackles the challenge of balancing decarbonization efforts between large utilities and underserved communities, emphasizing that while the industry may be perceived as slow to innovate, many water agencies are actively driving progress. 

Podcast Recorded on November 21, 2024

In this episode, Tom Ferguson, managing partner at Burnt Island Ventures, discusses his venture capital group’s role in driving innovation in water technology. Burnt Island Ventures invests in emerging solutions to address critical water challenges, emphasizing the importance of entrepreneurial creativity and engineering ingenuity. Joined by guest host Lou Bendon, Ferguson highlights the connection between water management and climate change, sharing insights on transforming environmental issues like brine from petroleum fracking and blue-green algae into valuable resources. He stresses the need to balance innovation with production success, offering a forward-thinking perspective on the future of water sustainability.

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Recorded live from the Irrigation Association Show at the Long Beach Convention Center, Rob and Chris connect with four influential figures in the irrigation industry. Outgoing IA President Inge Bisconer reflects on her tenure, shares her vision for the association’s future, and introduces Surf & Earth Enterprises’ advanced, free software for industry users. Tyler Fields, sr. director, Valley Water Delivery at Valmont Industries, Inc., highlights his company’s journey to winning the IA’s prestigious Vanguard Award. IA CEO Natasha Rankin offers insights into the association's expanding educational initiatives and its active role in public policy advocacy. Finally, Dan Winterto...

Steve Counter, VP of the Irrigation & Lighting Category at SiteOne Landscape Supply, shares his journey into the landscaping industry and how SiteOne became the largest irrigation distributor in the U.S., with over 500 stores nationwide. Steve highlights what sets SiteOne apart from competitors, including their extensive product range covering irrigation, lighting, turf and landscape maintenance, nursery, hardscape, and pest control. He discusses the company's commitment to supporting customers with in-depth knowledge and specialized services, such as irrigation system and lighting design, drainage planning, and their SiteOne University training for professionals. Steve also offers insight into the future challenges contractors...

Noel Carter, general manager of the Buckeye Water Conservation and Drainage District (BWCDD), discusses the district's role in supporting agriculture through irrigation water, power, and flood irrigation services, as well as protecting farmland from alkali drainage. He shares the district's history and its evolution in developing guidelines as the area transitioned from a major agricultural hub. Noel also highlights a new bipartisan infrastructure deal that allocates over $11 million to BWCDD for canal modernization and energy projects, including concrete lining for the Main Canal and implementing solar and wind-powered systems. With Buckeye, Arizona rapidly expanding and set to develop over 100,000...

In this episode, Susan Kennedy, Chairman and CEO of Cadiz, Inc., discusses the company's mission to expand safe, reliable water access through innovative water management and conservation. Cadiz is focused on building infrastructure, such as a pipeline connecting their wellfield to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California's Colorado River Aqueduct, storing surplus water underground, and treating water to remove harmful contaminants. Susan highlights partnerships like the one with the Farmworkers Institute of Education to install clean water filtration systems in underserved communities and shares the company's agricultural efforts in the Cadiz Valley. She also emphasizes how Cadiz’s gr...

Rob Starr and Chris Davey broadcast from their recent visit to the 2024 WaterSmart Innovations Conference in Las Vegas, NV, where several companies shared their innovations addressing water and environmental challenges. RESNET's Paulette McGhie and EPA's Jonah Schein discuss new building standards for energy and water efficiency. Atoco's Magnus Bach highlights sustainable atmospheric water harvesting and CO2 capture technologies. John Green of BlueGreen Water Technologies introduce solutions for controlling blue-green algae. Kamstrup's Joe Ball detailes how ultrasonic water meters optimize revenue and water management. Lastly, Biogreen's Teresa Kim explained the benefits of Agromon biodegradable mulching film for sustainable farming.

Special guests Joaquin Esquivel, chairman of the California State Water Resources Board, and Lou Bendon, CEO of Flycatcher Marketing, join the show to discuss key water issues facing California water operators. The conversation covers the impact of climate change on the water industry, the importance of decarbonization, and how water budgeting and water loss mandates from the Water Board are linked to decarbonization efforts. They also explore what the State Water Resources Board can do to advance decarbonization in the absence of legislation and mandates, and how these initiatives can help offset rising operational costs for larger water agencies.<...

In this episode, Lindsey Stuvick, sustainable resources officer at Moulton Niguel Water District, and Lou Bendon, CEO of marketing at Fly Catcher Communications, discuss carbonizing water, water use efficiency, and the financial benefits for ratepayers and water districts. As part of a five-segment series, Lindsey explains how carbonizing water can drive cost savings and sustainability, while Lou shares his expertise in public relations for California water districts. He highlights creative strategies to educate customers on water conservation, implement innovative projects, and enhance operational management. Together, they showcase how these efforts contribute to both environmental and financial gains in water...

Lynn Priddy, PhD, President of Claremont Lincoln University, and Joanna Bauer, Executive VP and Chief Academic Officer discuss their parent entity, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, and its unique curriculum for various public sectors. They explore the degrees offered by Claremont Lincoln University, key factors of leadership classes for mid to high-level executives, the formation of Teams and Fellows to resolve real-world issues, and the university's accreditation and compliance with necessary regulations and state rules for education.

Podcast Recorded on September 5, 2024

This episode features Mike Hightower, program director of the New Mexico Produced Water Research Consortium; Justin Mattingly, manager of the Water Reuse Program at the U.S. EPA; and Malynda Cappelle, facility manager of the Bureau of Reclamation’s Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility. The discussion centers around the EPA’s Water Resource Action Plan (WRAP), highlighting key priorities such as produced water and water stewardship. The guests delve into the federal role in treating and reusing produced water for agriculture, with Malynda Cappelle detailing her work on treatment requirements and new water treatment technologies. They also share insi...

On this week’s show, Cynthia Campbell, water resources manager and advisor for the City of Phoenix, AZ, discusses how her passion for water conservation led her to the water industry after serving as the assistant city manager and working as an attorney. She provides insight into the current state of water in her district, highlighting the conservation initiatives spearheaded by Phoenix Water, including a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment center that creates more usable water for the community. Cynthia shares her involvement in key projects such as the "Save Water to Promote Water Conservation" pledge, a drought simulation game testing re...

This week’s guest is Ralph Holt, the owner of Eco-Verde Irrigation Company in Phoenix, AZ. He shares insights about his business and what sets it apart from other companies. Ralph’s motto is “Turf is not a four-letter word,” and he discusses the importance of turfgrass for the environment. He also describes various water-saving methods that don’t involve removing existing landscapes. His presentation includes a commonsense discussion on sustainability, covering topics such as conservation, risk, compliance, monitoring, and more.

Podcast Recorded on August 8, 2024

Darcy Burke, a board member for the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District, shares her experience as a government advisory committee member for the EPA. She co-chairs water and climate adaptation communication workgroups and participates in The California Water for Food & People Movement. This movement's mission is to unite all of California's water-for-food-and-people advocates, coalitions, organizations, groups, bureaus, alliances, growers, and more into one large action force. Their goal is to compel immediate long-term solutions to protect and provide water for humans. She describes the organization’s grassroots efforts around water management and its commitment to education and water policy.

Lou Bendon, president of Flycatcher Marketing, has over 40 years of strategic marketing experience in water and commercial industries. In this episode, Lou tells us about the AWWA's (American Water Works Association) mission to decarbonize water by creating renewable energy from existing water pipeline infrastructure. He explains that water utilities and other water intensive industries face climate disruption, and increased energy costs that threaten the reliability of the water supply. Lou shares emerging technologies that are helping to solve the issue of decarbonization of water while also lowering energy costs.

Podcast Recorded on July 25, 2024

The Water Report offers in-depth analysis of solutions written by the world's industry leaders covering a breadth of perspectives and expertise across multiple sectors. The monthly publication’s Owner and Editor in Chief Shaina Shay details her experience dealing with water use efficiency and varied water policies. Shaina describes how she came to purchase the publication and how she is using her expertise in water policy and management, conservation, and community outreach to take The Water Report to the next level.

Podcast Recorded on July 11, 2024 

Candidate for Arizona State Representative, Gary Snyder talks about his experience in the farming industry. He discusses how he promotes and implements water conservation and soil management best practices into his farming activities. Gary also describes the need for a higher appreciation of water and new technologies to help farmers and the public use water more efficiently. Gary also provides his vision for the future of water in Arizona, and how his ideas and water management knowledge play a significant role in his bid for Arizona State legislation.

Podcast Recorded on June 27, 2024

Scott Burr and Rick Penn of Accelerated Filtration, explain their new technology, specialized metal filters designed for produced water markets. They provide detail on the unique challenges of this innovative start-up and how this specialized filtration helps clean contaminants from dirty water, and how it can help provide solutions in several applications. This breakthrough technology is being met with much excitement in the marketplace and the technology is being advanced through the work of its users.

Podcast Recorded on June 20, 2024

Ron Burke, president and CEO of the Alliance for Water Efficiency, explains the organization’s mission and presents their priorities around education, advocacy, research, and training. Ron also takes us on a deep dive into the approach to water efficiency in regions throughout the U.S. He tells us about the organization’s strategic plans, their vision for the future of water in the U.S., and what needs to be accomplished to fix top issues facing the industry.

Podcast Recorded on June 13, 2024

Guest Charley Wilson, executive director and CEO of the Southern California Water Coalition, provides his perspective on the biggest water challenges in California today and what his organization is doing to secure greater water supplies. He shares his thoughts on how climate change is affecting water supplies and discusses the status of the Delta Fix project. He also speaks about the need to expand storm water storage throughout the state, the implementation of desalination projects and presents his view on the future of water.

Podcast Recorded on June 6, 2024

The first of a six-part series on New Mexico Produced Research Consortium, a joint effort of the New Mexico Environment Department and New Mexico State University. Throughout this series, we will have participating members in the Consortium like EPA representatives, government agencies, legislators, scientists, and utilities representatives, to share their perspectives and contributing actions toward the implementation of produced water. In this episode, Mike Hightower, Consortium program director, provides insight into the EPA's National Water Reuse Action and explains the significant role of produced water in that plan. He also describes "the Global One Water Concept" and how the...

Irrigation Association President and owner of Surf ‘N Earth Enterprises, Inge Bisconer, describes her role and plans for working with membership, the industry and legislators. Inge reflects on recent accolades from the American Society of Irrigation Consultants and her 40 plus years in the irrigation industry. A long-time advocate for sustainability and water use efficiency, she has been a leading expert helping agricultural growers improve their profitability through better technology, management, and education.  Her newest educational endeavor includes the co-development of a software program to monetize the benefits of efficient irrigation.

Podcast Recorded on May 23, 2024

Special guest Steven Moore, CEO of Moore Water Management, talks about best practices in water management and how they can be practically applied in the real world.  He describes evapotranspiration (ET) and factors to consider when developing watering plans like crop coefficients, soil conditions, temperature, humidity, wind, and solar radiation. Finally, he discusses smart controllers and soil moisture sensors, how each works hand-in-hand to provide the right watering schedule and how ET data plays a role in delivering precise irrigation schedules.

Podcast Recorded on May 16, 2024

Moses West Foundation leverages cutting edge atmospheric water generation technology to provide water access, foster community development and promote environmental responsibility. Founder Moses West joins the show to present the foundation’s latest technology for atmospheric water generation. He also shares how the foundation has generated over 5 million gallons of clean water around the world since its launch and how it has provided many potable water generator systems to the US military, the Red Cross and others. This unique technology has proven effective in any type of environment, even in the hottest deserts.

Podcast Recorded on May 9, 2024

We are joined by friend of the show, John Farner, executive director of the Babbitt Center for Land and Water Policy, a center at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. John provides insight on the center’s activities and objectives. He also details the history and importance of the Colorado River Basin and why the center started its work there. He addresses the biggest challenges facing the basin and highlights some key programs relevant to overall global water challenges.

Podcast Recorded on May 2, 2024

This week’s guest is Thomas Schumann, CEO of Thomas Schumann Capital (TSC). TSC has emerged as a leading advocate for sustainable freshwater management and global water security. Recognizing the importance of water, TSC’s mission is to harness innovative strategies to protect freshwater supplies for the future. The company has also developed innovative financial instruments to promote water security, including the world’s first security token backed by real-world assets in the form of Arctic freshwater exploration rights. They have also developed the TSC Water Security Index, the world’s first index family to measure water risks in equities and...

Chris Willis, owner of Colorado Total Maintenance company located in Denver, Colorado details his journey from grounds worker to business owner.  Colorado Total Maintenance manages landscape and irrigation for the City of Denver Parks & Recreation along with other large scale commercial properties. Chris believes that his experience starting in the industry and the opportunity to learn from experts has made him a wiser businessman and a owner. He provides insight to the many irrigation opportunities that his company deals with each day, educational resources from the Irrigation Association and Colorado State University, and mentorship experiences in the soil, water a...

Theo Wirtz and Philliph Prosenko of the IRRISketch company discuss their low-cost, innovative web-based irrigation system planner for landscape professionals and homeowners. Their software can significantly reduce the time to create a professional irrigation system design down to approximately 30 minutes. The system automatically determines pipe size, spray heads or rotors required and how many can be operated by each valve. IRRISketch also identifies all the components needed to install the irrigation system from to PVC connectors to the controller. IRRISketch’s suggested pricing is around $450 versus the thousands of dollars for other design systems.

Podcast Recorded on April 1...

Part two of our discussion on cybersecurity affecting the water, electrical and petroleum industries. Contributors to the discussion are Frank Taylor, former under secretary for Intelligence and Analysis at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Sherri Ramsay, former director of the National Security Agency/Central Security Service Threat Operations Center, Hafsah Lak, former FBI Department of Cyber Security chief, and Harri Hursti, world-renowned data security expert. They discuss issues like the risk of cell phone use for cyber attacks, the dark web, infrastructure safety, the future of cyber security, and how we can get involved.

Podcast...

The first of an eye-opening two-part series, this episode dives into the heart of cybersecurity, featuring an elite panel including Frank Taylor, former Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Sherri Ramsay, former Director of the NSA/CSS Threat Operations Center, Hafsah Lak, former FBI Cyber Security Chief, and Harri Hursti, a world-renowned data security expert. Together, they illuminate the potential cyber threats targeting vital infrastructures like water and electrical utilities, and petroleum refineries, while outlining robust response strategies of government agencies and practical measures for private sectors to fortify their IT...

The New Jersey Irrigation Association is known for its leadership in groundbreaking legislation for the industry. The New Jersey IA helped drive legislation that requires all irrigators in the state to be licensed. Gregg Rogers, owner of Garden Irrigation in New Jersey, chronicles his efforts to help drive new legislation through his work with the Irrigation Association and discusses his company’s growth over the past 30 years. He also describes the many educational activities that they have initiated to provide homeowners and contractors with a wealth of knowledge on irrigation technologies and state regulations.

Podcast Recorded on Ma...

Tom Lucas, president of Performance Nursery, provides a history of how and what attracted him to the green industry. He recounts the changes to the industry over time and how those changes have shaped the sales of low water use plant materials and water conservation. Tom also shares how these changes have impacted marketing, promotion and produced a more educated customer base.

Podcast Recorded on March 14, 2024

Featured guest Seth Bangerter of Thrive Smart Systems joins to share the company’s new valve technology that can immediately and remotely connect back to an installed smart irrigation controller. This product can communicate up to 200 yards through typical landscape obstructions with no wires or pairing required with the controller. He describes how this technology fits within most residential irrigation systems and can manage up to four individual stations.

Podcast Recorded on March 7, 2024

Salt Lake City Utilities is the oldest retail water provider in the west. Conservation Manager for Salt Lake Cities Utilities, Stephanie Duer gives us a brief history on this special purveyor and talks about her role in water conservation. She also shares the many projects that they are involved with focused on water use efficiency and discusses how the organization handles the population growth, climate change, and short-term weather fluctuations that have impacted water supply.

Podcast Recorded on February 29, 2024

Water activist, Seth Siegal, joins the show to share his experience during a recent trip to Israel in a quest to see how the current conflict is affecting people and businesses in the region.  He describes to listeners the even more critical need for water and discusses new, highly efficient technologies for agricultural utilization in the Middle East, Europe and the United States receiving praise for reducing their water usage to grow crops.

Podcast Recorded on February 22, 2024

CEO and General Manager of San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District, Heather Dyer, speaks about many of the area’s projects including a gravity pipeline that delivers non-reclaimable waste from the Santa Ana River to an Orange County treatment plant. As well as the Santa Ana River water rights project that provides leadership in the management of water resources throughout its service area. Finally, Heather discusses water conservation education programs and workshops they provide to their customers.

Podcast Recorded on February 8, 2024

Tia Fleming, director of external affairs for the California Water Energy Partnership (CALWEP), gives a brief history of the organization and explains how they advocate for California water agency legislation and regulatory requirements. CALWEP provides technical tools and training as well as professional networking opportunities. It also serves as the technical expert for partners and agencies and fosters research, evaluation and management assistance for conservation rebate programs.

Podcast recorded on January 25, 2024

Featured guest Michael Davidson, president of Davidson Consultants details his experience in Israel relevant to the agricultural industry and how magnetic technology is helping to increase crop production. He shares how the current conflict has impacted food supply, water security and distribution in the region. Michael also provides a broader understanding of what is driving the Israeli AgTech sector and how these new technologies are being shared around the world.

Podcast Recorded on January 18, 2024

Hosts Rob Starr and Chris Davey celebrate the Water Zone being named FeedSpot’s #1 podcast on water with a review of highlights from 2023 including segments with Reese Tisdale and John Berryman from Bluefield Research who addressed national water trends; Innovyze President, David Totman regarding the challenges facing water utilities; and a range of fabulous guests representing climate science, irrigation technology, legislation, water supply, meteorology, education, manufacturing and more.

Podcast Recorded on January 11, 2024

Natasha Rankin, CEO of the Irrigation Association (IA), details the Association's 2023 achievements and reviews legislative activities that helped the IA, water agencies, the agriculture industry, and property owners.  She shares plans to provide interested individuals with a solid understanding of the significant opportunities within the industry and the educational training and networking capabilities for those seeking a great career path.  She also comments on the rise of women in the water industry and how they play a key role in leadership, project management and operations.

Podcast Recorded on January 4, 2024

Metropolitan Water District (MWD) Resource Specialist, Krista Guerro, provides a history of the water purveyor and explains how they serve their Southern California region. She describes her specific role within the organization and details of some of the challenges facing water suppliers right now.  Krista speaks about their progress in water conservation activities over the past 30 years and how their customers have become more water efficient. 

Podcast Recorded on December 14, 2023

Special guest Jeff Graydon, sr. associate director of athletics at Princeton University chronicles his journey in sports fields and grounds and agronomy. Jeff manages the university's sports field design, construction and maintenance including management of various types of natural and synthetic turf. Jeff explains the variables that can impact the field and players like mold and other field characteristics.  He also shares insightful stories about sports fields that he has designed and how they differ throughout the country.

Podcast Recorded on November 16, 2023

The city of Plano, Texas has won two EPA WaterSense Partner awards. Outreach & Engagement Coordinator, Katie Walker, joins the show to discuss the city’s educational and conservation activities to capture attention and boost water saving activities among residents. She even shares a musical parity she created for radio and local television broadcasts.  Katie further details the rebate and assistance programs that the city offers its customers to help reduce both water and electrical usage. 

Podcast Recorded on November 9, 2023

Featured guest Jazmine Molloy, director of product development for Eagle Aerial Solutions shares insight on the company’s off-the-shelf aerial imaging technology that provides landscape detail at a 6-inch square resolution. They’ve also developed specialized software to help users manage compliance, efficiency, and adoption of state and local mandates. Jazmine also discusses some of their scientific technologies like "near infrared" remote sensing which assists the State of California's Department of Water Resources in it's state wide water conservation efforts. 

Podcast Recorded on November 2, 2023

Guest Brad Jakubowski, instructor at Penn State University’s Department of Plant Science, has been involved with the green industry for over 30 years. Brad details his philosophy around teaching irrigation and water management. His classes incorporate hands-on, field activities, and include life skills that provide insight to the opportunities that the water industry provides. Also, he is a vigorous defender of the inherent benefits of turf like carbon absorption, climate cooling, atmosphere health and more.

Podcast Recorded on October 26, 2023

Special guest Megan Jenkins, founder and CMO of Yoppify, describes the company’s interface solution between water and electrical utilities and their customers. They provide assistance with communications to deliver social norming, conservation messaging, rebate and program awareness and to measure customer engagement. Megan describes a myriad of activities, training and custom solutions that Yoppify performs for utility companies and how they help deliver a higher level of service for these companies.

Podcast Recorded on October 19, 2023

Pamela Berstler, founder of G3 Green Garden Group joins the show to discuss regenerative landscape management. G3 Green Garden Group asserts that the front yard is where we can start reversing climate change by designing, installing and managing the landscape using the watershed approach. The group conducts certification classes on water use efficiency and offers free tools for professionals and homeowners including books to learn how to create a drought tolerant garden utilizing a water shed approach.

Podcast Recorded on October 12, 2023

This week’s show brings a collective of WaterSmart Innovations Expo exhibitors who describe their business, products, and activities. Guests include Krista Guerrero of Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Heidi Putze from Ecorain, Megan Jenkins from Yoppify, Volker Brohm at Gutermann, Quincy Hayes from Hayes Automation, Trey Cutler of Niagara Conservation, Kris Loomis from Sonoma Water, Janice Gould at Responsive Drip Irrigation, and Susan Musica from Flume Water.

Podcast Recorded on October 5, 2023

Dominic Rullo, parks superintendent for Marana, AZ, joins the show to discuss his journey from a part-time lawn mowing service to parks and recreation management. He walks us through the challenges and opportunities that go along with managing a large crew of landscape specialists and how he collaborates with the city council, water agencies and the general public to receive input and buy-in for new projects that will help improve irrigation and reduce water use.

Podcast Recorded on September 28, 2023

The fundamentals of a Smart Water Triangle include smart controls, BMP's in installation and most importantly the use of AxisDE as a soil conditioner. Rich Miller, co-owner of Miller Landscape in Clearwater, Florida, describes the Smart Water Triangle and his holistic approach to water conversation. He explains ways the State of Florida can bolster their contractor certifications to help create a more professional and knowledgeable work force and discusses his approach in attracting new customers through the promotion of smart irrigation products.

Podcast Recorded on September 21, 2023

Overland Distribution Company specializes in magnetic technology that induces a strong magnetic field into an irrigation system to influence water's physical structure and therefore, its behavior. Overland representative, Edward Mathieu joins the show to describe how this change in water behavior brings a higher level of performance and benefits irrigation efficiency, soil health and operational costs for agriculture applications.

Podcast Recorded on September 7, 2023

Like many of us, Cove Mesa Vineyard Owner Emil Molin and his wife discovered a new passion during the pandemic.  He joins the show to share how they turned inspiration into a small business and how irrigation technology helped the burgeoning winery’s weak vines to receive additional water. Since opening he has learned much more about soil conditions and the need for instant feedback regarding moisture content and evapo-transpiration information.  He also speaks about the different varietals of wine perfectly suited to the Arizona climate and soil.

Podcast Recorded on August 31, 2023

Noreen Rich, director of member engagement & industry relations for the Irrigation Association (IA) provides a history of the association, the organization's mission and long-term vision. She also discusses the upcoming IA show in San Antonio, Texas and details all the activities that make up the event from product displays, new up-start companies, certification training, educational classes, IA resource displays, special awards, and most importantly, networking with industry professionals.

Podcast Recorded on August 24, 2023

Featured guest Michael Davidson of Moleaer Technology returns to the show to provide an in-depth exploration of his company's nanobubble generators. Nanobubbles are 200 nanometers in size; small enough to fit 5,000 or more side by side in a single millimeter.  These extremely small bubbles contain a negative electrical charge that helps to reduce the amount of bacteria on fresh produce and can also be used for water treatment, agricultural water sanitation and algae removal.

Podcast Recorded on August 17, 2023

Featured guest Michael Davidson president of Moleaer Inc., discusses how the company has developed nanobubble technology for utilization in agriculture and how it enhances crop growth.  He explains how nanobubbles are generated and then incorporated into water to stimulate crop growth. He also defines Climate Smart Agriculture and it’s implementation in farming within Africa, the Middle East and the United States.

Podcast Recorded on August 3, 2023