21st Century Water

Latest Episodes:

Seattle Public Utilities CEO Andrew Lee on Building an Equitable and Sustainable Water System Jun 27, 2023

Show notes

Today, Aquasight's Mahesh Lunani welcomes Andrew Lee, CEO of Seattle Public Utilities. He currently manages about 1,400 employees, and has previously worked in Bellevue, San Franscisco, and various consulting firms.

First and foremost to Andrew is a desire to serve people. Yes, in Seattle they service large corporations like Microsoft and Amazon, but Andrew takes pride in serving the most vulnerable and underserved communities. This means more than infrastructure - it also means wealth building and jobs. Today's guest works at the intersection of service, faith, and engineering and technical skills.

Overall, SPU provides water to 1.5 million people and drainage/wastewater servivces to abourt 800,000 on an annual budget of $1.4 billion.

While investments in the future are primarily driven by regulatory compliance and asset management, SPU is also looking at improvements for frontline workers, and even AI -which Andrew sees as a tool to be implemented, not feared. And it can be used to educate customers.

Andrew believes in partnering with residents and customers. Cutting down on waste can be helped by reducing consumption. In fact, SPU's vision statement is "community-centered, one water, zero waste." Public perception often focuses on rates. But when customers are invited in to see all the work Seattle Public Utilities are doing, the focus often shifts from rates to awe, with regard to everything SPU is tackling.

Andrew wants to battle the "silver tsunami" in our industry by promoting the purpose of jobs in the water sector, as well as reaching out to underserved communities with job opportunities. In fact, he wants his legacy to be turning the tide of long-held practices and policies that have disavantaged certain communities.

Seattle Publc Utilities website: https://www.seattle.gov/utilities/

Aquasight Website: https://aquasight.io/

Madison’s Michael Mucha on Building Public Trust Through Sustainability May 24, 2023

Show notes

Michael Mucha, the Chief Engineer and Director for the Madison Metropolitan Sewage District (MMSD), has bi-coastal experience as both an educator and administrator. Prior to his current role in Wisconson, he's worked in both Olympia, Washington, and Reading, Pennslyvania. This structural engineer by degree explains how a job as a civil engineer completely changed his career trajectory.

Michael discusses the challenges faced by MMSD, including maintaining public confidence, an affordability dichotomy, and decarbonization. He also identifies efficiency opportunities for MMSD, including adaptive strategies, sustainable infrastructure, consolidation, and automation. Mucha emphasizes the importance of focusing on public health as a solution to water quality issues, rather than just building bigger treatment plants. He also discusses the proactive approach MMSD is taking to manage their infrastructure and collection systems, including the use of real-time data and technology. According to our guest, 70% of reductions in greenhouse gases come from day-to-day operational decisions.

Michael's answer to Mahesh's question about the talent gap differs from previous guests. He actually talks about successes they've had in recruiting.

Finally, Mucha emphasizes the importance of building public trust through sustainability and leaving a legacy of a trustworthy and effective government. His personal mission statement is "building public trust through sustainability." He explains what goes into that.

Michael Mucha's Bio on the MMSD Website: https://www.madsewer.org/who-we-are/district-leadership/

Aquasight Website: https://aquasight.io/

LADWP GM Marty Adams on the Future of LA's Water Systems Apr 18, 2023

Show notes

As GM of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Marty Adams is in a very unique position in the water world. Not only does he oversee a combined department of water and power, he's doing it for the second largest city in the country, along with all the climate challenges faced by the state of California.

Having worked at LADWP for 39 years, Marty has seen the department through many difficult events in Los Angeles' history - from the LA riots to the 1994 earthquake and more. He frames those challenging moments as learning opportunities, seeing how the entity could adapt and change.

Environmental concerns and regulations have also changed during Marty's tenure, and consumers are more actively concerned. Marty talks about how this has affected his perspective as he prepares LADWP for the coming decades and longer.

While LA has seen many droughts, they recently had one of their wettest years on record. We talk about evolving technology to save and store excess water, trying to cut down on the "yo-yo effect" on customers. We also spend a fair amount of time on Marty's efforts to use more resources inside LA County, and the benefits of the circular economy.

Replacing aging infrastructure is also a priority - while decreasing the average lifespan of pipes is important, it's also critical to use technology to assess pipe quality - age shouldn't be the only consideration.

Marty talks about idea sharing on an international level. LADWP has imported innovative ideas from high-tech solutions to black balls sitting on top of the reservoir. And they've worked with other countries across the world to share ideas. This collaboration will come in handy as Los Angeles prepares to host the Olympic Games in 2028.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion is important on two fronts for LADWP. Los Angeles has some of the richest residents in the country, but 40% of the population live below the poverty line. How can the department continue to generate revenue but not exclude anyone? Also, as we see a shortage in future workers, how do we reach out to underserved communities and make them aware of the career opportunities in this field? You may be surprised to hear what some high schoolers told Marty and his team.

LADWP Website: https://www.ladwp.com/

Marty Adams Bio: https://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/faces/ladwp/aboutus/a-whoweare/a-wwa-ourteam/a-wwa-ot-gm

Aquasight Website: https://aquasight.io/

New Water Green Bay's Tom Sigmund on How a Mid-Sized Utility Plans for the Future Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

NEW Water in Green Bay, Wisconsin, may be a mid-sized utility. But during our interview with executive director Tom Sigmund today, you'll hear about the remarkable things they are doing to prepare for the future.

NEW Water covers 15 municipalities and over 240,000 residents. Over the next 20 years, they will implement a $470 million dollar capital improvement plan. Like many utilities, Tom sees their top three challenges as this capital improvement plan, retaining quality employees, and replacing infrastructure.

They recently made changes on the solids handling side, and their next focus will be on the liquids handling side. This includes replacing equipment that is nearing 50 years old. Their direct customers are municipalities and a couple of large businesses, including a new paper mill that recently opened.

While NEW's primary role is public health, Sigmund also believes that it has a role in economic development - helping the area attract new business. This is all done within a $49 million annual budget - $27 million for operations and $22 million for capital. Looking ahead, they rely on 15% cash financing and 85% debt financing.

They've recently added anaerobic digestion, gas recovery, and electrical energy generation, with an eye on the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act to see what opportunities could be next. In the meantime, Wisconsin's Clean Water Fund has been very helpful.

To work toward the future, there may be a 5.5% to 7% increase in rates. One of Tom's challenges is explaining that to customers, and why the short-term investment is important for long term success. When he arrived, NEW Water was, as he puts it, "out of sight, out of mind." Now communication is key - with consumers and to help recruit new talent. He talks about some of the programs they are using for that.

In today's episode we also touch on climate change, resiliency, ESG, and circular economy. He's realized he needs to focus not on being a better engineer, but a better leader.

New Water Green Bay Website: https://www.newwater.us/

Aquasight Website: https://aquasight.io/

How Kamuron Gurol is Building 3rd Generation Wastewater System in King County, WA Dec 19, 2022

Show notes

Today, Mahesh Lunani talks to Kamuron Gurol, Director of the King County Wastewater Treatment Division, Washington State (including Seattle). Prior to taking on this role, Kamuron was a Corridor Development Director at a 116-mile rail system connecting greater Seattle area. Kamuron was also the City Manager at City of Burien, a community of 50,000 with hundreds of businesses.

In his current role, Gurol oversees 5 treatment plants, 400 miles of interceptor pipes, 48 pump stations, 39 CSO outfalls, and 25 regulator stations- an asset base worth billions.

In a wide ranging conversation we talk about the future of water, including how we treat everything to wastewater to hot water, to PFAS, medication residue in waste, and more. He believes the circular economy can be not cradle to grave, but rather cradle to cradle.

Kamuron looks at the job of building the third generation of King County infrastructure like fixing up an hold house. It may have good "bones," but it needs to be worked on.

We look at ESG - too long, loud or "smelly' plants have gone into poor neighborhoods. What can we do to work with our neighbors instead of dictating to them?

Today's guest as a perspective on recruiting the next generation of water workers that we haven't had before. If we are looking to find young people fresh out of school, we might be looking in the wrong place.

Use all of your senses, and not just your brain. Kamuron explains what that advice means.

King County Wastewater Treatment Division Website: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/dnrp/wtd.aspx

Kamuron Bio: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/dnrp/wtd/about/agency/wtd-director.aspx

Aquasight Website: https://aquasight.io/

Woodard and Curran CEO Alyson Watson's View From The Private Sector Oct 06, 2022

Show notes

Alyson Watson is our first non-utility CEO guest, and she lends her perspective from the private sector. Alyson is the CEO of Woodard and Curran, a planning, funding, engineering, construction and O&M (operations and maintenance) organization.

Alyson talks about three big trends in the water industry: resiliency, the switch from an extraction to a creation economy, and ESG (environmental and social governance). These trends include climate change, viewing nothing as waste, and water equity.

Water customers now have access to data they never saw before. Sometimes, they even see more than the utility companies. This necessitates a need for increased communication between all parties involved.

Mahesh and Alyson talk about the differences between running a regional and a national organization - Alyson has done both.

Woodard and Curran partner with their public and private clients, sometimes testing out ideas with private clients that can be translated to the public ones.

As far as investment in the future, Watson believes there are unprecedented funding opportunities in the water and wastewater areas. But the biggest investments will be in people.

Mahesh and Alyson talk about the new workforce and the challenges of maintaining work-from-home flexibility but still fostering company culture and relationships between employees. This also relates to the labor market, and not just recruiting for Woodard and Curran, but also for the water industry as a whole.

Finally, we talk about the place for new innovation in the industry, and what Alyson would like to leave behind as a legacy.

Woodard and Curran Website: https://www.woodardcurran.com/

Alyson Watson Bio: https://www.woodardcurran.com/people/alyson-watson/

Aquasight Website: https://aquasight.io/

Laura Briefer of Salt Lake City Talks Drought, Iterative Planning, and Collaboration Sep 14, 2022

Show notes

Laura Briefer is the director of Salt Lake City Public Utilities. Today she joins Mahesh Lunani of Aquasight to talk about her unique role in the water community as it relates to her appointment, droughts in the West, collaboration, and leadership.

Unlike many of her colleagues, Laura's job is appointed by the Mayor, and she's been in the role through three administrations. There are unique opportunities that come with that, as well as some challenges. She also explains her role on the Public Utilities Advisory Committee.

Briefer's department is 150 years old - she talks about the need to replace infrastructure, as well as the balance between using the institutional knowledge in her workforce and adjusting for future needs and challenges.

Climate change is a threat everywhere, but this is especially true in the Western United States, where they are already seeing the effects of drought, wildfire, and more. Laura talks about some of the unique challenges they face in Salt Lake City, but also how their residents have made a big difference in conservation efforts. And SLCPU is partnering with the University of Utah to study climate change and what strategies can be employed.

Finally, Mahesh and Laura talk about her strategies and tactics for ESG, guided by a member of her team who has a PhD in environmental equity projects and environmental justice projects.

More Information:

Laura's Bio: https://www.nacwa.org/about-us/board-of-directors/laura-briefer

Laura's co-written article The lost narrative: Ecosystem service narratives and the missing Wasatch watershed conservation story https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212041615300462

Salt Lake City Public Utilities Website: https://www.slc.gov/utilities/

Aquasight Website: https://aquasight.io/

Workforce, Culture, Talent and Authentic Leadership with Calvin Farr, CEO of PWCSA Jul 06, 2022

Show notes

Today, Aquasight founder and CEO Mahesh Lunani sits down with Calvin Farr, Chief Executive Officer of Prince William County Service Authority, providing water and wastewater services for over 360,000 customers.

Calvin talks about changes to workplace culture in his two decades in the industry. The days of a two-generation workplace, where Baby Boomers order around Gen X'ers, are gone. Now, with 4 generations in the building, there's a much more collaborative approach, where employees aren't afraid to challenge the status quo and engage in open dialogue with their superiors. He's also seen more collaboration and less adversarial relationships under consent decrees.

Calvin talks about the size of PWCSA, and the fact that he inherited a great organization that takes pride in customer satisfaction. One of his biggest concerns is the rapid growth in his area, and being able to serve an increasing customer base. But despite being one of the wealthiest counties in the nation, they need to take care of underserved communities. Mahesh and Calvin discuss how the bipartisan infrastructure law (BIL) can help with that.

Having a "deep bench" is also a big issue for Farr. Folks are no longer working the same job for 30 years, and the pandemic has caused "the great re-evaluation." It's important to recruit the next generation of employees. It's also important to have a diverse team at PWCSA, reflective of the community they serve. The CEO has modified the core value of respect to now be respect and inclusion.

We also talk about cybersecurity and the real threat that now poses to water systems. And how can advances in technology be leveraged to improve service to PWCSA customers? Calvin says we are now "data rich."

Our guest also talks about being an assertive and authentic leader, building a network of stakeholders within his community, and taking pride in watching his employees grow.

PWCSA Website: https://www.pwcsa.org/

Calvin Farr Bio: https://www.pwcsa.org/executive-management

Aquasight Website: https://aquasight.io/

Pinellas County Florida's Megan Ross on Her Unique Water Challenges Jun 01, 2022

Show notes

Megan Ross is the Utilities Director of Pinellas County Florida, which includes Clearwater and St. Petersburg (near Tampa). A chemical process engineer by trade, her background is different than other water professionals we've spoken to. She entered this industry because she saw a need, and she wanted to stay close to home and serve her community.

Megan describes the unique governance structure her organization has, working with 14 municipalities as well as Tampa Bay Water.

She calls her top 3 challenges "Workforce, workforce, and workforce," and has implemented plans to hire everyone from veterans to former prison inmates. This enables her to find workers and be involved with various community organizations. And some positions will need to be outsourced.

Megan talks about becoming more empathetic as a leader during COVID, and keeping her cool when others around her aren't. And she has a healthy appreciation for the essential workers that work in water.

You may think that Florida has no shortage of water, but it is a challenge to find affordable fresh water for residents. Ross explains why that is. Also, climate change remains a major threat to all aspects of life, including the area's lifeblood, tourism. Megan talks about what measures are being undertaken at the state level and with individual residents.

Ross talks about the differences between being a supervisor and a manager. As a supervisor, you are managing people. But as a manager, you need to manage the processes that help the managers manage.

Finally, we talk about women in STEM, and the pride our guest takes in hiring and mentoring other women.

Links:

Pinellas County Website:http://www.pinellascounty.org/

Aquasight Website: https://aquasight.io/

Smart Risks, Rebuilding Infra, Change and Women in STEAM with Carla Reid, CEO of WSSC Water May 04, 2022

Show notes

Carla Reid is the CEO of Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) Water, one of the largest utilities in the country, serveing over 1.8 million residents through 11,000 miles of water and sewer mains, 2 water filtration plants, and 6 Water Resource Recovery Facilities. She also served on the boards of several reputed organizations such as DC Water, Prince George County Revenue Authority and was an adjunct professor at the University of the District of Columbia.

Carla first tells us about her upbringing, and how that, along with some early career mentors, motivated her to grow from entry level to the corner office at WSSC. She then talks about her "Triple A" challenge - aging infrastructure, an aging workforce, and customer affordability issues. Of course, all of this was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Innovation is key in meeting all of these challenges, and while the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) will help with some improvements, much more needs to be done in terms of system-wide upgrades.

Carla wants WSSC to be a "world class" organization - not just in the water industry, but as a company that both customers and employees are passionate about. She explains.

From there we look at Carla's overall approach to system-wide improvements and the idea of "simplify, focus, and connect."

Climate change is certainly a major factor in the water sector - we explore how WSSC is preparing for the future in that regard. We also talk specifically about the word change: and the different ways to look at change. This involves going to the change instead of letting it come to you, and getting buy-in from your entire team on your strategic plan.

A topic that Carla is very passionate about is STEM, or STEAM (with the addition of the Arts). She was often the first woman to hold many of the positions she was in. She talks about the many ways to connect with girls and women to get them involved with STEAM and related career paths.

Mahesh and Carla talk about how they've evolved as leaders and CEO's over the years. For Carla, she talks about only competing with yourself, not needing to know everything, and work-life balance.

Finally, we talk about the future workforce in the water industry- and the skills they will need. Budgeting is an important skill, but don't forget about the ability to function in the political world!

Links:

WSSC Water Website: https://www.wsscwater.com/

Carla's Bio: https://www.wsscwater.com/person/carla-reid

Aquasight Website: https://aquasight.io/

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