The Authority Podcast: Plumbing and Mechanical

In this episode we welcome guests Kelly Cunningham from PG&E and Steffi Becking from 2050 Partners to discuss the adoption of the Water Demand Calculator in California. They delve into the significance of this adoption, highlighting its potential to save water, energy, and construction costs while improving building efficiency and sustainability. Steffi and Kelly share insights into the adoption process, stakeholder engagement, and the importance of data validation in overcoming objections.

In this episode we welcome Tim Bartrand, executive director of ESPRI, and Gary Burlingame, senior scientist with ESPRI, to discuss water quality and construction practices for potable water. We’ll delve into bridging the gap between water utilities and building plumbing systems, emphasizing the significance of factors like pH, alkalinity, and disinfectants in maintaining safe and reliable water supply. Additionally, Bartrand and Burlingame will provide insights into the Manual of Water Quality for Plumbing Industry Professionals and Building Managers and its incorporation into the Construction Practices for Potable Water as an annex.

Local jurisdictions and states have varying rules when it comes to water reuse. Join us for an insightful discussion with Stuart Bailin from Wahaso as we delve into the world of water reuse and purification. Learn about the process of harvesting water from rainwater, groundwater, stormwater condensate, and greywater, and the subsequent cleaning, sanitization, and repurposing for common applications such as site irrigation, cooling tower makeup, boiler makeup, and toilet flushing. One of the most significant challenges regulators face is ensuring public health and safety. They are particularly concerned about the systems being deployed in the field, unsure whether they are being built in someone's garage or in a legitimate, technically organized manner. The introduction of third-party standards alleviates the burden on local health departments, sparing them from having to evaluate each individual system. Third-party certification ensures that the equipment has undergone rigorous testing and will produce water that is safe for use.

On this episode, we talk with Steven Rodzinak, director of code enforcement for the borough of Bound Brook, New Jersey about if specific building codes hurt or help FEMA reimbursement. Bridgewater, New Jersey is situated on a floodplain of the Raritan River and has experienced devastating floods for decades from Hurricane Dora in 1971 to Hurricane Ida 50 years later. According to Riskfactor. com, 70% of all properties in the municipality have greater than a 25% chance of being severely affected by flooding over the next 30 years. Mr. Rodzinak talks to us about the intersection of building codes and the impact on federal emergency management agency, FEMA funding to answer the question if specific building codes hurt or help with FEMA reimbursement.

The EWTS provides a unique opportunity to meet well-known experts from across the globe. Participants are able to discover ideas and approaches about emerging technologies that benefit drinking water and wastewater systems, improve efficiency, and preserve public health. Of particular interest is how these new technologies help cope with drought, reduce carbon emissions, and contribute to overall water sustainability. This year’s theme will focus on the nexus between sustainability and safety, and avoiding unintended consequences of each. Together, we’ll look to find solutions to our 21st Century water challenges.

Scaling UP! H2O podcast features weekly podcast episodes and daily digital content across social media platforms. With over 10,000 monthly downloads and a ranking in the top 3% of all podcasts globally by Listen Notes, Scaling UP! H2O serves as an invaluable, free educational resource for professionals in the water industry. On this episode, we'll be speaking with Trace Blackmore, CWT, LEED AP, esteemed CEO and founder of Blackmore Enterprises and host of the Scaling UP! H2O podcast, about how the podcast began, and the importance of water management plans, education, and communication.

Water is facing alarming stress levels in the U. S. from drought and drinking water pollution, but outdated policies and inefficient use of water resources leave us vulnerable to a future where safe drinking water scarcity can no longer be ignored. On this episode, we'll be speaking with Pete Muñoz, EcoDistricts AP senior engineer and practice lead at Biohabitats, about how the state of Oregon successfully implemented water recycling policies to ensure sustainable water management for generations to come.

Aaron Tartakovsky, co-founder and CEO of Epic Cleantec, highlighted the newfound prominence of water during the renowned World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos this year. On this episode, we'll be speaking with Tartakovsky about the convergence of technology, regulations, and innovative business models aimed at tackling water-related climate issues. We also discuss how to market plumbing, like marketing recycled water for beer!

The high volume of wastewater generated by hospitals is a challenge for engineers that want to promote safety and sustainability. Not only that, but due to waterborne pathogen concerns, hospitals are set to flush even more water to drain in an effort to control water age. On this episode, we'll be speaking with Bob Salvatelli, director of Water Organization for NextEra Distributed Water, and Patricia Sinicropi, executive director of the WateReuse Association, about how hospital water reuse systems work, costs that hospitals need to consider up front for installation and ongoing maintenance, and what policymakers should consider for codes and standards governing hospital reuse.

The city of Vancouver is consistently named among the world's most desirable places to live and the region is expected to add nearly 1 million more residents by 2050. Massive development leads to growing pains for any city, and for Vancouver, the dirty secret was insufficient sewer capacity. On this episode, we'll be speaking with Chris Radziminski, Development, Buildings & Licensing Building Policy Engineer for the city of Vancouver, BC, who will share how a water reuse system, along with correctly sizing system pipes, helped mitigate the impact of stormwater on the city’s combined sewer overflow infrastructure. This episode is sponsored by Epic Cleantec.

We usually think about the Legionella threat in terms of hospitals and buildings. But did you know the Legionella threat can impact home water systems too? Joining us for the second time, on this episode we'll be speaking with Dr. Janet Stout, executive vice president and founder of Special Pathogens Laboratory, who will discuss the threats of Legionella and what steps communities should consider in new home construction and remodeling. This episode is sponsored by QFlow B.V. (Netherlands) – offering innovative Legionella membrane filters to stop and help prevent legionellosis and more. Just because it’s clear, doesn’t mean it’s clean.

Relief is finally coming for the more than 9 million homes and buildings still serviced by lead pipelines, as federal infrastructure funds are making replacements possible. But those projects take time, and lead in drinking water remains a threat right now, especially to children where even low levels of lead exposure can cause permanent cognitive deficits and behavioral difficulties. The good news is that some point-of-use water filters will actually reduce the amount of lead without a big infrastructure investment. On this episode, we'll be speaking with Tina Donda, vice president of IAPMO R&T Water Systems, who will discuss the different types of point-of-use water filters that can reduce the amount of lead in drinking water and how they are regulated. This episode is sponsored by QFlow B.V. (Netherlands) – offering innovative Legionella membrane filters to stop and help prevent legionellosis and more. Just because it’s clear, doesn’t mean it’s clean.

Did you know that water filters can mitigate lead, PFAs, and legionella threats? But not all of them. Many people are familiar with water filters — such as those built into refrigerators and pitchers inside the refrigerator. Water filters to improve drinking water quality and mitigate legionella bacteria in the shower are quite different, however, and must pass stringent performance requirements. On this episode, we'll be speaking with Tom Palkon, chief technical services officer for The IAPMO Group, who will break down how certified water filters work and how the public can be assured of their performance. This episode is sponsored by QFlow B.V. (Netherlands) – offering innovative Legionella membrane filters to stop and help prevent legionellosis and more. Just because it’s clear, doesn’t mean it’s clean.

The U.S. Geological Survey has found that at least 45% of the nation's tap water is estimated to have one or more types of chemicals known as per or polyfluorinated alcohol substances, otherwise known as PFAS. PFAs are harmful chemicals that contaminate our drinking water. Fixing water systems to reduce the risk to human health is a priority, but treatment solutions can be costly to communities and taxpayers. The good news is that certified water filters can effectively remove these dangerous compounds and protect you and your loved ones from their negative impact. The key is understanding the specific types of water filters and how they are (or not) regulated to reduce PFAS in drinking water. On this episode, we'll be speaking with Brian Donda, technical sales manager for The IAPMO Group, who will be discussing how certified water filters can effectively remove these dangerous compounds and protect you and your loved ones from their negative impact. This episode is sponsored by QFlow B.V. (Netherlands) – offering innovative Legionella membrane filters to stop and help prevent legionellosis and more. Just because it’s clear, doesn’t mean it’s clean.

On this episode of The Authority Podcast: Plumbing and Mechanical, we speak with Travis Loop, founder and host of the nonprofit media outlet waterloop; Dr. Christine Curtis (formerly DeMyers), research associate at the Pacific Institute; and Spencer Brown, director of Sales for Pfister Faucets, and also the executive producer of American Plumber Stories. To learn more about waterloop, visit https://waterloop.org and follow them on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. To learn more about Pacific Institute, visit https://pacinst.org and follow them on Twitter. To get in touch with Dr. Christine Curtis (formerly DeMyers), email her at cdemyers@pacinst.org or find her on LinkedIn. To learn more about American Plumber Stories, visit https://americanplumberstories.com and follow them on YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. To watch the American Plumber Stories episode featured in this episode, visit https://www.americanplumberstories.com/blogs/episodes/signing-day-special-american-plumber-stories.

Welcome to this episode of The Authority Podcast: Plumbing and Mechanical. In our first segment, we speak with George McGraw, founder and CEO of Dig Deep. In our policy segment, we speak with Chad Seidel, President at Corona Environmental Consulting LLC, adjunct professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a council member with the Water and Health Advisory Council. In our last segment, we speak with Gabe Pinchev, CEO of Field Pulse, talking about trends in the plumbing industry. To get in touch with DigDeep, email info@digdeep.org. You can find also find DigDeep on Twitter @digdeepH2O and on Instagram @digdeepwater. You can find research, videos, and information about DigDeep projects all over the US at DigDeep.org. Chad Seidel and Corona Environmental can be reached on Twitter @ChadSeidel and @CoronaENV, respectively. You can reach the Water and Health Advisory Council at WaterAdvisory.org. Gabe Pinchev can be reached at Gabriel.Pinchev@fieldpulse.com. If you'd like to learn more about FieldPulse, visit fieldpulse.com.

On this episode, we speak with Anish Desai, Senior vice president of product certification at IAPMO R&T, about product certification at IAPMO R&T in our News segment; Adam Cory, Founder and Business Unit Leader of ThermoGrid at ECI Software Solutions, about how businesses in the trades can utilize cloud-based business management software in our Trends segment; and Markus Lenger, co-founder and CEO of CleanBlu, about his company and how emerging technologies can help underserved communities in needin our Good Vibes segment. To get in touch with Anish Desai, you can visit www.iapmort.org to find contact information and information about about IAPMO R&T. To get in touch with Adam Cory, you email him at sales@thermogrid.com or call at 1-800-592-3611. To get in touch with Markus Lenger, you can email him at markuslenger@cleanblu.com.

On this episode, we have a chat with Brian Courtright, national sales engineer for Lubrizol Corporation representing Corzan CPVC . Get in touch with Brian at Brian.Courtright@Lubrizol.com and learn more about Corzan CPVC at www.corzan.com.

On this episode, we'll be speaking with Troy Benavidez, Government Relations and Policy for LIXIL International, about the skilled labor gap in the plumbing profession and sanitation issues around the world, and Sherry Bradley, director of the Bureau of Environmental Services for the state of Alabama, about the Black Belt Unincorporated Wastewater Program (BBUWP) and its collaboration with IAPMO's International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (IWSH) Foundation. To get in touch with Troy Benavidez, you can find him on LinkedIn or Twitter, and find LIXIL at www.lixil.com. To get in touch with Sherry Bradley, call her directly at (334) 206-5805. If you want to know more about BBUWP, visit www.bbuwp.org.

On this episode, we'll be speaking with a returning guest, Kerry Stackpole, CEO and executive director for Plumbing Manufacturers International, in our news and information segment; Pete DeMarco, IAPMO executive vice president of Advocacy and Research, in our policy segment, and Nimish Shah, Ph.D., and managing director of IAPMO India, in our good vibe segment. To get in touch with Kerry Stackpole, visit www.safeplumbing.org. To get in touch with Pete DeMarco, email pete.demarco@iapmo.org. To get in touch with Nimish Shah, look him (and IAPMO India) up on LinkedIn.