Tap Talk (Illinois State Water Survey)

Pennsylvania has no statewide well construction code or other private well regulations, but this suburban Philadelphia county is one of a small number leading the way to greater public health protection in the state. In this episode we’re chatting with Kyle Schmeck about the Montgomery County program and the lessons he has learned.

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In the second half of our conversation with Dr. Kelsey Pieper, we discuss alternate perspectives on real private well problems. The conversation reiterates the need for personalized solutions, raises various research questions, and shares opinions on the needed direction for public outreach.

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This week we are pleased to welcome another deeply knowledgeable guest from the state of Minnesota: Vanessa Demuth, a geologist and well inspector from Dakota County, Minnesota's Environmental Resources Department. Dakota County is one of a set of Minnesota counties that has stricter standards for well water pollutants than the state. Vanessa tells Steve and Jennifer how these stricter standards benefit the well owners of Dakota County, other well care tactics the county undertakes, unique pollutants, and more!

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This week on Tap Talk, Jennifer and Steve chatted with Dr. Andrea Albertin and Dr. Yilin Zhuang of the University of Florida Extension's Florida Well Owner Network (FWON). From intensified hurricanes to rising sea levels to eroding coasts, climate change has brought a number of significant environmental challenges to Florida. The state's millions of well and septic users — common in urban areas as well as the typical rural ones — face unique struggles in equipping their properties to face these challenges and responding to the damage they wreak. FWON works to provide education, resources, and support to these homeowners as Florida's landscape evolves. 

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Research engineers like Kelsey Pieper get to work at the interface between knowledge discovery and real world application. In this first of two conversations with Dr. Pieper we explore some of the challenges of improving access to safe water, particularly for private well users. This episode highlights how both social understanding and real data are needed to design equitable solutions.

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Next up on Tap Talk, Steve and Jennifer welcome Dr. Sidney Innerebner of Colorado-based Indigo Water Group to the show. Sidney is certified as an engineer and as both a wastewater operator and industrial operator in Colorado, and has been working in various aspects of the environmental services field since 1990. At Indigo, much of her work revolves around operator training, both in-person and online. Best practices in online training to enable meaningful learning is a particular passion, which she explores in depth on the show.

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How will asset management drive decision-making and funding for water infrastructure?

This episode continues our conversation from the previous episode with Art Astarita, a retired technical assistance provider. We touch not only on the future of data acquisition and sharing, but also how this big picture thinking applies to private wells.

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In Tap Talk's 58th episode, Dr. Andrew Whelton of Purdue University visits to discuss plumbing and water system safety in buildings. Dr. Whelton is the lead of Purdue's Center for Plumbing Safety, and among many duties, he explores solutions at the intersection of water infrastructure and public health. Listen to learn about how plumbing affects water quality, how the COVID pandemic rocked the water systems of unpopulated buildings, how to keep your office's water system safe, and more.

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This week we are bringing you part two of our conversation with Brenda Culler and Joshua Pecek of Cleveland Water's lead service line replacement team! The substantial efforts of their team provide a model for other water systems of all sizes who are developing their own plans to replace the millions of lead service lines in the United States. 

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We're officially halfway through Tap Talk's fifth season! This week, we welcome some guests from our state's neighbor to the West: Mindy Uhle, Bureau Chief of Environmental Health at the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, and Erik Day, a Senior Environmental Specialist at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Mindy and Erik work on Iowa's Private Well Grants Program, a cross-agency effort to provide Iowans with free or discounted well services. (See more from HHS and DNR). The program was established through the Iowa Groundwater Protection Act, and bolsters relationship between all areas of Iowa's private well community in addition to saving well owners money.

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The EPA estimates there are over nine million lead service lines to replace in the United States. During this week's Tap Talk, we learn about the efforts at Cleveland Water to replace these service lines that have landed Cleveland and Cuyahoga County ahead of the curve. We welcome Cleveland Water's Brenda Culler, Lead Program Manager, and Joshua Pecek, Work Administrator of the Lead Service Line Replacement Program.

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How do we get to small system sustainability?

In this episode we're chatting with Art Astarita about asset management with a small systems lens, focusing on the importance of full cost accounting, funding depreciation, engaging board members with water system planning, and integration of asset management with broader community infrastructure planning.

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In this episode we're chatting with David Reckhow, Emily Kumpel, and Patrick Wittbold, colleagues and collaborators at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Their research, teaching, and service experiences related to small drinking water systems is the focus of our conversation, which will span two episodes.

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For the penultimate episode of our fifth season, Glenn Barnes joins us for the first episode of a two-part series. Glenn is the director of Water Finance Assistance, a consulting agency that provides finance-focused training and technical assistance to water systems. Our discussion focused specifically on water auditing at utilities, or the process of identifying and minimizing the loss of non-revenue water — also known as water loss.

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In this episode we're chatting with Eric Yeggy of the Water Quality Association about the organization's code of ethics, considerations when selecting a provider, and the first thing every homeowner needs to do.

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In this episode we're chatting with Frieda von Qualen from the Minnesota Department of Health. Our conversation features insights on running a successful outreach program, an upcoming Minnesota-focused private well forum, and the shift towards policy that Frieda's own work in the program has taken.

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And now for the final episode of Season 5!

To wrap up this great season, we have the second installment of our conversation with Glenn Barnes, the director of Water Finance Assistance — a consulting agency that provides finance-focused training and technical assistance to water systems. This episode focuses on the role of technical assistance providers in performing water audits and how to develop useful recommendations for water systems' stakeholders.

Thank you for listening with us this season, and we will be back again with Season 6 before you know it!

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Bob Dunlevy of U.S. EPA's Region 7 (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska) has been hosting and facilitating an asset management stakeholder group and conference call for 15 years. This week, Steve and Jennifer talk with Bob about building understanding of asset management in water utilities and how informal communities can be an essential tool for knowledge building. 

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The methods with which we teach and train water operators have evolved as the world changes around us, but one thing hasn't changed: It takes skill and effort on the parts of both the teacher and learner to ensure the most effective possible training. In this episode, we chat with Ramzi Mahmood of the Office of Water Programs at California State University, Sacramento, about what he's learned from his years of teaching and the future of operator training.

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Tammy Helms has been a certified water operator for 27 years because she refused to be told 'no.' Today she also manages Alaska DEC's technical assistance program. In this episode you'll not only hear Tammy's story but other examples of persistence and resilience when it comes to protecting public health in rural Alaska.

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In this episode we're chatting with Dr. Jackie MacDonald Gibson about her work at the intersection of environmental health and public policy. We focus on the disparities that private well users in disadvantaged communities face, even when there is a public water system in close proximity.

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Regionalization is not just one thing, but a spectrum of partnership opportunities for efficiency and economies of scale. In this episode we’re chatting with RCAP’s Laura Landes and Sarah Buck about the fundamentals of regionalization and why these conversations are so important to the sustainability of small and rural water systems.

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U.S. EPA's WaterTA program is an umbrella for a range of services that directly serve the regulated community. In this episode we're chatting about how the program is reducing barriers to capacity development, including funding accessibility, by matching water system requests with local technical assistance providers.

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One of our goals with this podcast is breaking down the silos of our work in water.

In this episode, which kicks off Season 2, Nathan Ohle reflects on his experience leading RCAP, the Rural Community Assistance Partnership, for the past five years and the deeper water sector context he'll bring to his new position at the International Economic Development Council.

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Does hosting a webinar feel like a chore? In this episode we're chatting with our own Katie Buckley about the steps we take to produce a successful webinar program with The Private Well Class. We cover advance planning, running the event, and recommended best practices for follow-up.

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How do you motivate the public to change their behavior?

In this episode we're chatting with PhD student Simon Mooney, who has explored important questions about environmental health communication efforts and risk perception in his research.

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In this episode we're talking with Margaret Martens of the Water Systems Council and the Water Well Trust about the need for education, support, and funding for private well users in the US. You'll learn about recent changes that expand access to that funding as well as the breadth of resources available for free.

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On this week's Tap Talk, we're talking about a topic that is becoming ever more important for water utilities: cybersecurity. Steve and Jennifer discuss how essential it is to protect the digital systems at even the smallest of water systems and the basic steps that those smallest utilities can take with Jennifer Lyn Walker, the Director of Infrastructure Cyber Defense for WaterISAC.

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In this episode we're chatting with Heather Himmelberger, a professional engineer and director of the Southwest Environmental Finance Center. Our conversation features the role of the EFC network, why water systems shouldn't be intimidated by asset management, and her mixed feelings about infrastructure spending.

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In this episode we're chatting with Paul Bishop, president and CEO of Water Professionals International, about water and wastewater certification in a post-pandemic world. Our conversation includes ideas for the future as well as the shifts that will be needed to recruit new water professionals.

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In North Carolina the drilling of a new well kicks off a robust construction oversight and homeowner education program to protect groundwater.  In this episode we’re chatting with Wilson Mize about his state’s notable efforts, including their use of downhole cameras, the unique challenges of older wells, and how the pandemic has impacted outreach efforts.

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Tap Talk hits 50 episodes! For this landmark episode, we welcome Matt Jones to the show. Matt is the manager of the Continuing Education Credit Program for the Water Environment Federation (WEF). Steve and Jennifer discuss with him the complexities of certifying and delivering continuing education credits to operators and engineers in all 50 states, particularly for large in-person events like WEFTEC and other WEF conferences.

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How do you protect public health when there are no regulations that provide minimum standards for well construction?

In this episode we're chatting with Bryan Swistock about his experiences in outreach, education, and research at PennState Extension, one of the oldest and most robust private well programs in the country.

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As we approach 50 years of the Safe Drinking Water Act, public water systems and state regulators continue to face new and long-standing challenges. In our conversation with Alan Roberson, Executive Director of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, we discuss the most pressing issues as well as efforts to increase compliance and sustainability for the most disadvantaged communities.

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In this episode we’ll share some of the backstory behind this show and our partnership as your co-hosts. We’ve leaned on our own individual strengths to build our outreach programs and our family. Now it’s time to learn more about how our friends and colleagues are getting things done.

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How can we help private well users if the data isn't accessible? In this episode we chat with Clare Pace about her work in California to understand issues related to private well data, safe water access, environmental justice, and outreach that's actually helpful.

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When Saco, Maine calculated the true cost of not updating their wastewater plant to accommodate the impacts of climate change, local government officials took action to secure the needed funding. Our conversation with Emily-Cole Prescott and Howard Carter includes the importance of communication and outreach in gaining support for the project.

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Those who rely on a single well as their source of drinking water have much in common, even as some are regulated and others are not.

In this episode we're chatting with Jim Siriano of the American Water Works Association about his diverse career experiences working on small system drinking water issues, including the similarities between private wells and transient non-community systems and the differences between water issues in the east and the west.

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Three months after retiring from Illinois EPA Dave McMillan starting working for the Illinois Rural Water Association as a trainer and technical service provider. In this episode we reflect on Dave's career in the industry, including what's changed and what hasn't. We dive deeper on preventing and addressing nitrification issues in water systems that use chloramines for disinfection.

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In the premiere episode of our fifth season, Steve and Jennifer welcome Terry Morse to Tap Talk. Terry is the CEO of the National Ground Water Association, as well as its charitable arm, The Groundwater Foundation. Last year, the foundation launched Water Well Wish, an endeavor to make sure that every American has access to clean, safe water by funding the construction of wells for families in need. Steve, Jennifer, and Terry discuss the success of Water Well Wish and the commitment of the groundwater industry to bringing water to everyone who needs it.

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How do we better understand how groundwater becomes contaminated and the future of our water supplies? Basic and applied research is where it begins.

In this episode we're chatting with groundwater geochemist Walt Kelly about our organization, the Illinois State Water Survey, risk communication in groundwater supply planning, and approaches to studying some of today's biggest water quality issues, such as microplastics and lead.

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The latest episode of Tap Talk delves back into the topic of how to develop and train the newest generation of the water workforce. Jennifer and Steve talk with Matt Maas, the director of the Environmental Resources Training Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The ERTC is a one-of-a-kind facility with working pilot plants and laboratories that allow students to experience hands-on training throughout the entire certification program. 

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The Rural Communities Assistance Partnership (RCAP), WaterOperator.org's principal collaborative partner, has been providing technical assistance to America's rural communities for 50 years. Today, we chat with RCAP CEO Olga Morales-Pate about the challenges of ensuring the sustainability of rural communities, what it means to be a technical assistance provider, and why passion is the most important part of the job.

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Water is often only part of the healthcare conversation about children when there is a problem. Dr. Alan Woolf, as part of a larger network of pediatricians specializing in environmental health, hopes to change that. In this episode we discuss the simple and not-so-simple reasons that providers don't counsel patients on drinking water as well as potential next steps towards a consistent and proactive approach.

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Renters of homes with private wells are among the populations most vulnerable to unsafe water supplies.

In this episode we're chatting with Mark Johnson of RCAP Solutions about his own experience as renter in Vermont, challenges in reaching both renters and landlords, and advice for those who want to ensure their water is safe.

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In our latest episode of Tap Talk, our guest is Molly Sullivan, a Program Engineer at Community Engineering Corps (CECorps), a partnership that provides pro-bono engineering and consulting services for infrastructure projects to communities in the United States, the US Territories, and tribal lands. A significant portion of CECorps' projects center on water and wastewater infrastructure, and Molly chats with Jennifer and Steve about their approach to helping underserved communities find and implement the solutions they need to thrive.

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In this episode we're chatting with Judy Manners of the Tennessee Department of Health, whose work has included outreach, education, and research on roadside springs. Many of these unregulated drinking water sources have long cultural histories, but also pose a significant health risk.

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This week, Jennifer and Steve are chatting with Amie Shei from the Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts, which for five years has been lobbying for the implementation of statewide regulations on private well water quality. Listen to learn how data from sampling private wells has been essential to these efforts and other strategies to advocate for the safekeeping of private wells.

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This is an exciting week for Tap Talk: Our newest episode is our first fully dedicated to decentralized wastewater and septic systems! Steve and Jennifer welcome Dr. Sara Heger, an industry expert, researcher, and trainer from the University of Minnesota's Onsite Sewage Treatment Program. Whether you're a water professional or a homeowner with a septic system, listen for an introduction to the recent progress, needs, and issues in the decentralized wastewater industry.

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How do we solve the most difficult water infrastructure problems? It requires a more nuanced approach to trust-building and a proactive perspective on the challenges still to come. In this episode we're chatting with CAPT David Harvey about what we can all learn about problem solving in rural communities from the Indian Health Service.

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In this episode we're chatting with Molly Woloszyn, a Regional Drought Information Coordinator with NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System. You'll learn more about current drought issues in the Midwest and across the US as well as how water and health professionals can network with experts in this area.

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In the final episode of our fourth season, Steve and Jennifer welcome Travis Loop to Tap Talk to discuss how to use solutions-focused journalism and storytelling to address our various water problems. Travis is the founder of waterloop, a nonprofit media outlet exploring the progress and successes in tackling water challenges in the United States through podcasts, videos, and social media content.

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In this episode we're chatting with David Henrich, a water well contractor and industry advocate on the national stage. Our conversation includes Mr. Henrich's perspectives on customer knowledge, shifts in the industry and regulatory landscape, and the one thing that could make all the difference for public health.

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In the time we've spent building and maintaining WaterOperator.org and its family of websites, the importance of building strong partnerships and teams has never been more apparent. In our Season Four premier episode, Tap Talk hosts Steve and Jennifer Wilson look back on the beginnings of WaterOperator.org, discuss the evolution and expansion of our programs, and the value of our partnerships in helping those we serve.

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Tribal communities share many of the water issues experienced by public water systems and private well users across the US, but they also have some unique challenges. In this episode we're chatting with Billy Hix, a licensed water operator and registered sanitarian who works for the Cherokee Nation. Our conversation highlights the innovative solutions the Tribe is using to address safe water access as well as significant obstacles that remain.

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Private well users are the operators of their own tiny water system, a role that comes with substantial responsibility and no required training. In this episode we're chatting with Barb Liukkonen about the pros and cons of private wells vs. public water supplies. We specifically look at the question of whether it's always the better choice for a private well owner to connect to a distributed system when feasible.

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In this episode we chat about the value of public service, connecting with community members to build trust, and the multiple hats technical assistance providers wear.

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