Scaling UP! H2O

Boilers can feel intimidating the first time you step into a boiler room—the heat, the noise, the pressure gauge, and the weight of knowing that mistakes can be costly. Trace Blackmore opens with a reminder that boilers deserve respect, not fear—and that learning fundamentals is how you replace mystique with clarity.  The talent gap behind the boiler room door Eric Johnson, Founder and CEO of Boilearn, explains why boiler expertise is becoming harder to replace. He points to the shrinking pipeline of boiler-trained technicians—historically strengthened by Navy steam training—and why companies can't rely on "tribal knowledge" and informal shadowing alone to develop the next generation.  Training that scales past the 2–3 day class  Eric shares what pushed him to build Boilearn: technicians and operators need structured, repeatable competency systems—not just scattered classes and a "shotgun approach" to on-the-job training. He lays out why fundamentals can be taught effectively online when it's done well, and why travel-heavy training models often spend a large share of the budget on logistics instead of learning.  Troubleshooting that starts with fundamentals  Troubleshooting is where boiler work can feel like a mystery—until you understand fundamentals and sequence of operations. Eric explains how technicians can isolate problems faster by knowing what should be moving (or not moving), testing one theory at a time, and using electrical diagrams as a practical roadmap when formal sequence documentation isn't available.  Better partnerships between boiler techs and water treaters  The conversation closes with practical steps that reduce friction and finger-pointing: take photos during inspections, package observations clearly in service reports, communicate directly when possible, and over-communicate inspection schedules so the water treater can prepare the program before the boiler is opened.  Listen to the full conversation above. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps  02:20 - Trace Blackmore sets the stage on boiler fear vs. Respect, learning boilers from a Navy-Trained mentor  09:20 - Words of Water with James  10:50 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals   14:20 - Interview with Eric Johnson of Boilearn  16:30 – Eric's Path: HVAC school – Boiler Service Tech – Founder   19:10 – What Boilearn Does  22:10 – The lost "lifeline" problem  33:20 – Electrical Troubleshooting  44:20 – Coordinating Boiler Openings and Inspections    Quotes  "I've learned that boilers are something you definitely need to respect, but definitely not fear."  "There's a career behind boilers. There's a career behind water treatment and not enough people talk about it."    Connect with Eric Johnson Email: eric.johnson@boilearn.com  Website: Boilearn I The Foundation of Boiler Training  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericjohnson2020/   Boilearn: Overview | LinkedIn     Guest Resources Mentioned   Boilearn Boilearn mission and origins  Boiler operator roles and skills  Common steam‑boiler problems   Safe boiler operation guide  Boiler start‑up and maintenance  Safer operation manual    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  AWT Technical Training Seminars   Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea    Words of Water with James McDonald Today's definition is water lost from a cooling tower as liquid droplets are entrained in the exhaust air.     2026 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.     

23/01/2026 • 63:10

Industrial water professionals are increasingly pulled into conversations about scarcity, resilience, and "where the next gallon comes from."  Dr. Veronika Zhiteneva, CEO and Co-founder of Waterloop Solutions frames water reuse as an implementation challenge more than a technology gap—and explains where the practical starting points are when the scope feels overwhelming.   Moving reuse forward when the technology already exists  Waterloop Solutions was founded to accelerate implementation: clarifying end-use quality, identifying post-treatment needs on the back end of existing plants, and building risk management plans that fit real operational and regulatory expectations. The conversation stays grounded in what slows projects down (time, permitting, funding, and public acceptance) and where progress can be made without reinventing the toolbox.  Centralized vs. decentralized: why "less regulated" can move faster  Europe's agricultural reuse regulation (noted as coming into effect in June 2023) created shared minimum requirements, but also uncertainty around permitting and responsibility at the local level. In contrast, decentralized reuse is described as an "early adopter" space—often driven by innovative building projects (gray water separation, rooftop rain capture) and, in some cases, easier implementation from scratch than retrofits.  What matters to industrial listeners: partnerships, autonomy, and distance  For industrial teams, Dr. Veronika points out opportunities for synergistic partnerships with municipalities and agriculture—balanced against the realities of infrastructure distance and cost. She also makes the case for industrial autonomy: decoupling from conventional sources through internal reuse to protect future production when municipal needs take precedence.  Communication and the "toilet to tap" problem  Public perception remains a stubborn barrier. Dr. Veronika calls out the long-lasting impact of "toilet to tap" framing and why first impressions can derail technically sound reuse projects.  Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps  03:58 - Trace Blackmore shares how "Pinks and Blues" questions get chosen—and where listeners can submit them  05:05 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals   07:42 – Words of Water with James McDonald  11:47 – Meet Dr. Veronika Zhiteneva and why Trace invited her from LinkedIn insights  12:20 — Veronika's path: UMD → Colorado School of Mines → PhD at Technical University of Munich 15:40 — Why Waterloop Solutions started: progress is slow, but implementation support is missing  19:40 — Decentralized reuse: why interest is rising, and why it can be easier to implement in buildings  20:20 — EU agricultural reuse regulation (June 2023): minimum quality, crop types, and risk plan uncertainty  23:40 — Unique barriers by sector: municipal timelines, industrial ROI, and the difficulty of reaching farmers  33:20 — Lowest-hanging fruit: municipal reuse for street cleaning and parks; industrial autonomy via internal reuse  45:00 — Women and young professionals: visibility, role models, and why the sector's willingness to help matters  47:20 — Where to learn more: US EPA resources, EU work underway, and Australia as a reuse leader    Quotes "It's okay to ask questions."  "But actually, all the technology needed for it already exists."  "What I think is awesome in the US, for example, that you guys are really pursuing this direct potable reuse now."  "I think these are all valid options to have kind of in the water management portfolio on a local level and also on a regional level."    Connect with Dr. Veronika Zhiteneva Email: vzhiteneva@gowaterloop.com   Website: Home – Waterloop Solutions  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vzhiteneva/    Waterloop Solutions: Overview | LinkedIn    Guest Resources Mentioned   Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (Paperback)     European Commission's Water reuse: New EU rules to improve access to safe irrigation  Intermezzo Paperback – by Sally Rooney (Author)   Radical Candor: Fully Revised & Updated Edition: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity by Kim Scott   US EPA State Water Reuse Resources  US EPA Water Reuse Information Library  US EPA's "A Framework for Permitting Innovation in the Wastewater Sector Report"  US Department of Energy's About the BuildingsNEXT Student Design Competition  The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)    Water Reuse Europe Policy and Regulations    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)   AWT Technical Training Seminars   Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses   Submit a Show Idea   The Rising Tide Mastermind    Words of Water with James McDonald  Today's definition is a device for removing condensate from a steam line without allowing the steam to escape.  Can you guess the word or phrase?       2026 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.     

16/01/2026 • 55:41

"Stay curious. And you only have one reputation. Guard it with your life." Hiring for judgment, not just rehearsed confidence   Industrial water treatment is full of decisions made with incomplete data—on sites, with customers, and inside the business. JD Roth (Managing Director and Co-owner of Guardian Chemicals) builds his hiring around that reality. His aim is straightforward: protect the team and the culture by selecting people who can think, collaborate, and lead under pressure. JD frames the organization as a group of people choosing to work toward a common goal: building a better future for communities, the environment, and staff. That priority shows how Guardian hires, who they keep, and what becomes a deal-breaker. If a candidate is misaligned with core values, JD is clear: performance elsewhere won't override that mismatch. The "Hiring Olympics" structure For a high-bandwidth, project-based role (their Graduate Business Analyst program), Guardian needed a way to evaluate many strong candidates without consuming 40–50 hours of team time. The result is a four-hour, multi-station day that includes: Core values interviews (two-person format) Competency interviews (horsepower and capability) An individual case study (primarily math/business-oriented) A collaborative case study (decision-making and team dynamics) The collaborative case study is the centerpiece. Candidates work with peers who are also competitors for limited roles, using real cases built around business decisions—often with imperfect or incomplete information—so the team can observe how candidates break down problems, delegate, support others, and present recommendations. How decisions get made afterward After candidates leave, the interview team convenes for a group decision. JD starts by looking for any "vetoes," especially around core values to fit (he references an EOS-style standard of meeting 5 out of 6 core values most of the time). From there, the team compares notes across competency, core values, and observed collaboration behaviors. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps    02:20 – Trace Blackmore shares part of a real-world service routine and ongoing professional improvement  05:35 – Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals   12:00 – Words of Water with James McDonald  13:52 – Fun Fact about 1903 from this day  14:28 – Interview with JD Roth, Managing Director and Co-Owner of Guardian Chemicals  15:20 - "A company is people"   19:00 – First solo site lesson: ask for help vs. pretend  25:10 – The GBA Program (Graduate Business Analyst)   27:50 – Hiring Olympics format + Efficiency  33:30 – "Ping pong balls in a jumbo jet" example  39:10 – Selection rules: Core values veto + EOS bar + Values list    Quotes  JD:"And if you've got great people and you take care of great people, they take care of your customers, and your customers take care of you."  JD: "There really isn't a company. There is just a whole bunch of people who have decided to work together towards a common goal."   Trace: "I can only imagine how empowered your team feels because they're so involved in this process and you're involving everybody"   Trace: "I love the fact that we're diving deeper into the most important thing, and that's protecting and enhancing our culture."    Connect with JD Roth Email: jdroth@guardianchem.ca  Website: http://www.guardianchem.ca/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-david-jd-roth-58714113/     Guest Resources Mentioned   Entrepreneurs' Organization   Verne Harnish 'Scaling Up'   About Verne Harnish   Harvard Business Review Case Studies    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  AWT Technical Training Seminars  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind  7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen. R. Covey  Fearless Pricing: Ignite Your Team, Own Your Value, and Command What You Deserve by Casey Brown   Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection by Charles Duhigg   Charles Duhigg — "The science behind dramatically better conversations" (TEDxManchester)   12 Week Year Plan   457 2026: A New Year with New Intentions  Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business    Words of Water with James McDonald  Today's definition is an ion with a net positive charge, formed when an atom or molecule loses one or more electrons.  Can you guess the word or phrase?    2026 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.   

09/01/2026 • 56:38

 Trace Blackmore opens 2026 with a practical reset: how to plan with urgency, sharpen the fundamentals that make troubleshooting easier, and use the tools around this podcast to keep your development moving all year. The 12-Week Year: urgency you can use Annual goals often feel "far away" until December forces focus. The 12-week year flips that dynamic by treating each quarter like a year—creating urgency sooner and giving you four chances to reset and improve. Trace walks through the structure: start with a vision (he uses a three-year example), then choose 3–5 tactical goals for the next 12 weeks, so you don't overload and quit. He also ties it to a water treatment reality: quarterly customer touchpoints are simply more productive than an annual "re-introduce everything" meeting.  Trace points listeners to planning support and easy on-ramps:  the book link: ScalingUpH2O.com/12weekyear  the planning guide PDF: ScalingUpH2O.com/12weekyearplan  and an Audible option (free month + free book mentioned in the transcript).  Mailbag: how the show is made—and what's changing  A listener asks how an episode goes from spark to air. Trace lays out the workflow: idea sourcing, research and pre-production, guest outreach, scheduling, outline creation, recording discipline, post-production with audio engineer Sean, then show notes, graphics, social posts, scheduling, and promotion. He also shares a key quality upgrade: guests now receive equipment prerequisites (including budget-friendly mic options) because the Scaling Up Nation can hear the difference.  On what's new for 2026, Trace shares a major personal commitment: he's pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration, including research, data collection, and defending a thesis—with an intent to involve listeners through future surveys.  Skills to build in 2026: foundation, communication, and technology  Trace's recommendations land in three buckets:  Strengthen fundamentals (chemistry, products, and the "why" behind test kits),  improve communication and relationship-building (including temperament-based communication concepts he references), and  Learn what's available in data and technology so you can show up to accounts better prepared—and avoid time-wasting return trips.  He closes with a direct action: browse the ScalingUpH2O.com events section and pick learning opportunities you can attend (especially those nearby), then build a 12-week plan that helps you justify bigger conferences by clearly stating what value you'll bring back.  Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps    02:38 - Welcome to 2026 and what this "first show of the year" is designed to do (reset, tools, and a mailbag).  07:30 – 12 Week Year Planning format  21:09 – Dive Into The Scaling UP! H2O Mailbag   30:54 – What Is New for 2026 for Trace Blackmore  38:05 – Words of Water with James  40:15 – Trace's Favorite Food  46:42 – What Are The Top 2 to 3 skills Water Treaters Should Focus On    Quotes "Now the reason I really like the 12-week year is because it puts the urgency of not having a full year of time, only having a smaller amount of time to work for you." "It also gives you 4 chances a year to reset and improve, not just one." "Everybody in water treatment should focus on developing skills around a solid foundation." "That leads me to my third skill that I want to talk to you about, and that's learning what's available to you when it comes to data and technology."    Connect with Scaling UP! H2O  Submit a show idea: Submit a Show Idea   LinkedIn: in/traceblackmore/   YouTube: @ScalingUpH2O    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind Audible  Book - The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months  12 Week Year Plan   Episode 100 The 100th One  Episode 117 The One With Temperament Expert, Kathleen Edelman Episode 179 Another One that Teaches Us to Communicate Better with Others  AWT – The Analyst - Library  I Said This, You Heard That 2nd Edition by Kathleen Edelman  HACH Water Analysis Handbook    Words of Water with James McDonald  Definition: Today's definition is the ratio of the dissolved solids in a system's circulating water to the dissolved solids in the makeup water. Can you guess the word or phrase?    2026 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.   

02/01/2026 • 60:36

 A year-end recap is more than a highlight reel—it's a practical reset. In this New Year episode, Trace Blackmore walks through 2025 using a "12 Days of the Scaling Up Nation" format, tying together performance, community growth, listener engagement, and the sponsor support that keeps the podcast and its companion tools available at no cost.   Year-end by the numbers   Trace explains how he used to track every stat closely—and how that shifted into an unhealthy measure of self-worth—so the team now uses numbers as feedback, not validation. He notes the show released 56 brand-new episodes in 2025 (including the additional releases during Industrial Water Week) and explains why the data still matters: it helps confirm what the community is using, such as discussion guides and other tools, and what needs to be improved.  Most-downloaded episodes and what listeners leaned into  Trace shares the three most-downloaded episodes of 2025:  Episode 405 — cooling water innovation using treated wastewater  Episode 418 — maleic acid (with Mike Standish)  Episode 424 — chlorine dioxide (the most downloaded episode of the year)  Engagement that keeps learning moving  The episode highlights growth in the Scaling Up Nation across newsletter subscriptions, discussion guide downloads, and an expanding LinkedIn community.   Recognition, partners, and momentum into 2026  Trace acknowledges milestones including AWT naming Scaling Up H2O the official podcast of the Association of Water Technologies, and he thanks the sponsors who make the podcast's free content possible—19 sponsoring partners in 2025. The episode closes with a direct invitation for listeners to share what they want to learn next, who they want interviewed, and what stories could help the industry keep "raising the bar."  Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below.   Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps  02:50 — Show open and New Year framing: a reset point for leaders and operators heading into 2026  03:10 — Why the retrospective exists: improve the next year and celebrate what the Scaling Up Nation achieved together  05:00 — The format revealed: "12 days" of highlights built from what happened in 2025  08:40 — The final 2025 "Water You Know" question: hydroxide ion formula—and the answer reveal  16:30 — The top three downloaded episodes of 2025  29:00 — Signature segments and field lessons: community participation, Detective H2O, and "quicker is not better    Quotes "Slow is smooth and smooth is fast." "It's not going to take somebody's job away because of AI, but somebody who knows AI or is familiar with AI over somebody that is not familiar with it and refuses anything with AI, that person will probably take that other person's job." "Lift others as you rise."    Connect with Scaling UP! H2O  Submit a show idea: Submit a Show Idea  LinkedIn: in/traceblackmore/  YouTube: @ScalingUpH2O   Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind 405 Cooling Water Innovation: Harnessing Wastewater for Sustainability  418 Maleic Acid-Based Corrosion Inhibitors: Expanding the Water Treatment Toolbox with Mike Standish  424 Chlorine Dioxide Insights with Greg Simpson  420 Tapping Into Tech: How Ben Frieders Uses AI to Elevate Water Treatment Marketing   422 Inside the Association of Water Technologies with John Caloritis  423 Pushing the Boundaries: Jacob Deak on Innovating Water Treatment Systems   446 Leveraging the Culture Index for Business Success with Danielle Scimeca and Conor Parrish   447 Unlocking Team Potential with Culture Index with Randi Fargen  179 Another One that Teaches Us to Communicate Better with Others    Water You Know with James McDonald Question: What is the molecular formula for hydroxide ion?     2025 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.     

26/12/2025 • 54:53

 "So one thing I never do is try to start giving remediation or advice before I truly have understood and diagnosed the problem."  Mentorship and certifications don't replace experience—but they can accelerate it when paired with the right mindset and a disciplined approach to learning. Nella Fergusson, CWT (District Manager, Southern California, Garratt-Callahan), lays out what "growing up" in industrial water treatment actually looks like: repeated exposure to real problems, strong diagnostic habits, and a willingness to keep learning long after year one.  Learning that keeps you employable  Water treatment evolves. Nella contrasts today's challenges with what she faced 15 years ago and explains why complacency is the fastest path to getting left behind. She describes water treatment as industry-specific by nature—food processing cooling and commercial real estate operations don't behave the same, don't shut down the same way, and can't be serviced the same way.  Diagnosing before prescribing  Her troubleshooting process starts with questions: the system's history, what changed, when symptoms appeared, and how critical the impacted use is. She emphasizes water sampling across different times of day and refuses to offer remediation before a proper diagnosis—because misdiagnosis creates extra problems instead of solving the original one.  Career decisions, culture, and the 80/20 risk  Nella shares a candid career detour: leaving Garratt-Callahan for GE Water/Suez, then realizing quickly what she lost—support, resources, and "family"—before returning. She frames many job moves through an 80/20 lens: chasing a missing 20% can cost the 80% that already works, especially when recruiters' incentives don't align with yours.  Credentials that signal competence—and protect end users  Nella explains why she pursued the CWT: an industry-agreed benchmark that reflects years of varied problem-solving. She also discusses ASSE 12080 recertification and why correct sampling, shipping, labeling, and interpretation matter—particularly in Legionella and water safety work. Customers may fear testing; she argues the goal is to find risk where maintenance is weak, then build site-specific procedures that facilities can actually sustain with their staffing. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps    02:22 - Trace message: CWT prep course + planning for 2026  09:17 - Water You Know with James McDonald  10:48 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals   14:49 - Interview with Nella Fergusson, CWT, (District Manager, Southern California, Garratt-Callahan)  16: 27- Ongoing education + how the industry has changed  21:06 - Nella's troubleshooting approach: history, what changed, sampling, impact, don't prescribe before diagnosing  31:00 - Nella's 80/20 rule for deciding whether to leave a company  34:22 - Why she pursued CWT + value of certifications in the industry  40:15 - Getting results immediately + confidence while testing Connect with Nella Fergusson Email: nfergusson@g-c.com  Website: http://www.garrattcallahan.com/   LinkedIn: Nella Fergusson, CWT | LinkedIn     Guest Resources Mentioned   ASSE 12080 Certification – ASSE International  Why ASSE Certifications Matter – Garratt‑Callahan  Impact of Cooling Tower Downtime in Food & Beverage Operations – Aggreko  Scheduling Off‑Peak HVAC Maintenance – Facility Response Group  Parenting the Strong-Willed Child: The Clinically Proven Five-Week Program for Parents of Two- to Six-Year-Olds, Third Edition    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  AWT - Value of Certification Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind   Water You Know with James McDonald  Question: What is the piece of equipment called that is a heat exchanger placed in the gas passage between the boiler and the stack designed to recover exhaust gas heat into the boiler feedwater?    2025 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.   

19/12/2025 • 73:59

 Industrial cooling is one of the biggest levers industrial facilities can pull on water use—and it's getting harder to ignore as data centers and other high-heat operations grow. Returning guest Dr. Kelle Zeiher (Project Manager at Garratt Callahan) breaks down what water reuse looks like when you move past slogans and into the realities of pretreatment, concentrate management, footprint, and cost.  Cooling water reuse: the scale of the opportunity  Dr. Zeiher reframes "drought" beyond rainfall, emphasizing aquifer recharge and the limits of focusing only on household restrictions. She contrasts domestic use (~12%) with the much larger share tied to cooling (~50%), then connects that to why optimizing industrial cooling matters—especially when operations sit in arid, desert-like regions with limited water availability. She also shares a data-center statistic that puts "the cloud" into physical terms: ~53 gallons of purified water per gigabyte of data stored to keep environments cool enough for microchips.  Higher cycles, RO blending, and the concentrate question  The conversation moves into practical tower strategy: driving cycles up as far as the water and metallurgy allow. Dr. Zeiher describes a case moving from three cycles to six with RO blending and pretreatment, resulting in millions of gallons saved annually. From there, the engineering problem becomes unavoidable: higher cycles create a concentrated cooling-water stream, and RO adds its own waste stream. The key operational question is how to manage both streams without trading water savings for disposal and reliability issues.  Minimal liquid discharge, and the AEROS approach  "Zero liquid discharge" (ZLD) remains a theoretical target, but Dr. Zeiher is clear about the realities: ZLD can require large equipment and high energy demand. She shares a cost example where a 20 gpm ZLD concept came in at nearly $8 million in capital. Her team's approach focuses on minimal liquid discharge (MLD)—recovering roughly 80–90% of water rather than 98–99%, while reducing energy intensity and footprint. She introduces AEROS (Aqueous Recovery Optimization System): rapid precipitation/conditioning, followed by sequential mechanical and membrane filtration, then an RO polishing step to return purified water.  Industry wisdom: proof-first projects, relationships, and AI  You'll also hear Dr. Zeiher's "proof-first" pathway—bench-style testing, then a 5–10 gpm flow-through evaluation in Oak Ridge, Tennessee (with BioLargo)—plus a process guarantee framework and how credits can apply toward a final system. She closes with leadership lessons on documentation, continuity of customer care, and practical guidance for working with AI: feed it strong technical inputs, then apply human critical thinking before recommendations reach customers.  Listen to the full conversation above. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps   02:40 — End-of-year reflection becomes a professional challenge: keep learning fast enough to keep systems stable and clients confident. 05:50 — "Dry December" as a discipline story—used to tee up Trace's broader point: habits beat calendar-based resolutions. 12:00 — Water You Know  13:10 — The events page pitch: planning early protects training time and reduces last-minute operational fire drills. 17:00 — Dr. Kelle Zeiher returns after Episode 351; AWT Louisville hallway energy turns into a deep dive on reuse. 18:40 — Mystery novels as technical storytelling: The Cupcake Caper, real lab practices, and a pen name built for a non-scientific audience. 20:50 — Data centers and water: 53 gallons per GB stored reframes "the cloud" as heat management with real resource costs. 23:40 — Macro water math: 50% of U.S. water use tied to cooling vs. 12% domestic—why industrial optimization moves the needle. 27:50 — "Pretreatment is everything": RO's tiny flow channels make debris control and scale prevention non-negotiable. 30:10 — Cycles example: 3 to 6 cycles with RO blending/pretreatment, plus the caution that RO-softened blends can increase corrosion risk. 31:30 — ZLD vs. MLD: energy-heavy evaporation/distillation compared to a lower-energy recovery target that still returns most water. 33:50 — AEROS explained: rapid precipitation + filtration + RO polish, with solids handling designed to keep water moving back to the front end. 37:00 — Customer pathway: bench demos → Oak Ridge pilot (5–10 gpm) → engineered system; upfront testing credits toward purchase. 43:20 — Performance accountability: process guarantee includes refund/take-back if promised performance can't be met. 47:40 — Trust and continuity: plant presence, documentation, and relationship handoffs prevent "solution drift" when people change roles. 54:40 — Working with AI: feed it strong data, then apply human critical thinking so recommendations don't outpace experience.     Quotes "Water is not a limitless resource. It's a finite resource, and we simply purify it and reuse it over and over again." "We have to learn to work with AI when it's still a toddler before it grows up into the 6th grade bully and beats you up for your lunch money."  "Persistence overcomes almost anything."  "An AI will give you a great outline for a presentation, but it won't give you a full presentation."    Connect with Dr. Kelle Zeiher Phone: (630) 660-3457  Email: kzeiher@g-c.com   Website: Water Treatment Expertise Since 1904 I Garratt-Callahan  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelle-zeiher-6bab221/     Guest Resources Mentioned   The Cupcake Caper (Undercover Cat Mysteries) by Kelle Z Riley  Process Heating and Cooling Show Paper (Cooling Tower Cycles & MLD)  Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI Paperback by Ethan Mollick   Sensitive: The Hidden Power of the Highly Sensitive Person in a Loud, Fast, Too-Much World Paperback by Jenn Granneman (Author), Andre Sólo (Author)  Empower Your Investing: Adopting Best Practices From John Templeton, Peter Lynch, and Warren Buffett Hardcover by Scott A. Chapman CFA  Membrane Technologies for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment: Advances, Challenges, and Applications in Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) and Minimal Liquid Discharge (MLD) Systems  Comparative techno-economic and environmental analysis of minimal liquid discharge (MLD) and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) desalination systems for seawater brine treatment and valorization  Forever Chemicals: A Look at the History, Regulations, Emerging Trends and Technologies to Solve the PFAS Crisis    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind 351 Maximizing Water's Potential: Tech and Water Treaters in Perfect Harmony    Water You Know with James McDonald  Question: How much heat energy does it take to heat 1 pound of liquid water by 1 degree Fahrenheit?    Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.   

12/12/2025 • 71:42

Industrial water professionals sit at the intersection of risk, regulation, and community trust. In this episode, Dr. Annette Davison ("the water risk doctor") joins Trace Blackmore to show how disciplined governance, clear supply chain thinking, and community engagement can turn fragmented water systems into coherent, defensible risk management frameworks.  Water risk from source to customer  Annette starts with a simple question most customers never ask: "Where's your water coming from?" She walks through a conceptual supply chain from source to end point—collection, transfer, treatment, distribution, and customers—then layers governance on top. Who holds custody at each handover point? Are water quality objectives clearly defined and documented? What happens when something "stuffs up," and how is that communicated downstream? For leaders, it's a practical reminder that risk isn't just about treatment performance; it's about clearly assigned responsibilities along the entire chain.  Governance, ISO 31000, and the Water31K framework  Drawing on her background in microbial ecology and environmental law, Annette explains why "you can't do a good risk assessment unless you've got the context right." She describes how ISO 31000 inspired the Water31K framework—an approach that is jurisdictionally agnostic and capable of spanning drinking water, recycled water, and recreational water guidelines. Using Water31K, her team walks into any jurisdiction and systematically maps stakeholders, legal and formal requirements, reporting lines, and internal obligations so utilities can see their governance landscape clearly before they start scoring risk.  Critical control points, AI, and learning from incidents  Critical control points may have started in the food industry, but Annette shows how they can be sharpened for water. Her test— "would a computer understand this?"—forces teams to close logical gaps and define thresholds and responses precisely enough to be automated. She also explores how AI and "agents as a service" could help analyze incident data, while warning that AI is useless if utilities haven't done the basics: monitoring the right things, at the right place, at the right time, with a firm grasp of supply chain risk. Her mantra: never waste a good incident; dissect it and make sure it doesn't happen again.  Regulations, public–private contracts, and community projects  Using Australia as an example, Annette unpacks the complexity of layered laws—Commonwealth, state, local—and the different regimes governing public, metro, and private utilities. She shares a five-part checklist for public–private contracts (quantity, quality, maintenance, ownership, operations) and explains how weak agreements can undermine water quality objectives and monitoring. In parallel, she talks about social initiatives like One Street and One Creek, community-led work on Rocky Creek, and bringing STEAM (not just STEM) into high schools so the next generation sees water as a diverse, creative career path.  Strong water risk governance isn't just about compliance; it's about making better decisions for customers and communities over decades. This conversation gives leaders language, frameworks, and examples they can use to tighten their own systems and engage people beyond the plant fence.  Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps    02:15 — Trace reflects on the end of 2025, recap planning, and how goal setting shapes a stronger 2026 for sales and learning. 11:12 — Introducing lab partner Dr. Annette Davison and her diverse day-to-day across mediation workshops, field work, and high school outreach. 12:10 — The Risk Edge Group mission: protecting people, processes, and the planet from contaminated water with documents, templates, tools, and audits. 13:14 — "Incidents Online" as a free learning resource and how sharing real events helps others protect themselves. 14:10 — Becoming Australian Water Association's Water Professional of the Year and launching the One Street and One Creek social initiatives. 15:29 — From microbial ecology and contaminated sites to environmental law and a career focused on water quality governance. 19:47 — Training as a core "case study": lighting up operators and directors by finally explaining the "why" behind procedures and funding. 22:00 — Walking the water supply chain from source to end point and identifying governance handover points and quality objectives. 24:22 — Strategy-to-operations workflow: from planning and design to commissioning and operations, and why design must serve operators. 24:45 — Critical control points, space diarrhoea origin-story, and the discipline of defining CCPs so clearly "a computer would understand." 30:30 — How Water31K creates a common language for teasing out complex legal and regulatory structures across jurisdictions. 33:03 — The multi-layered Australian governance example: Commonwealth guidelines, state acts, and differing regimes for local, metro, and private utilities. 36:23 — Rocky Creek and the Karingai "Kraken" network: turning an unloved creek into a pilot for community care and data-driven education. 38:19 — onestreet.earth, mobilising your community, and building a playbook so others can replicate a "One Creek" model. 39:21 — STEAM power in schools: bringing science, technology, engineering, art, and maths together to improve water communication. 42:01 — Public vs private utilities, the Water Industry Competition Act, nimble private operators, and the five-part contract checklist. 44:39 — Emerging hazards (microplastics, PFAS) and the reminder not to take our eyes off the basics while we monitor new risks. 46:19 — Annette's core message: we've got to love water and help customers understand what it takes to keep it safe and reliable.   Quotes "You can't do a good risk assessment unless you've got the context right."  "Where's your water coming from? How do you collect it? How do you transfer it to where it needs to go to? How do you treat it?"  "We now just keep asking ourselves the same question, will the computer understand this?"  "AI's not going to help us until we get the right inputs to AI. Let's get the basics right first."  "We've got to love water. We've got to make sure that people are aware of water, not only the technocrats, but also the people who are using it."    Connect with Annette Davison Email: annette@riskedge.com.au  Website: https://www.riskedge.com.au/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annettedavison/    Guest Resources Mentioned   The Risk Edge Group – Water31K Framework & Services  Incidents Online (Risk Edge)  Risk Edge Training (e.g., CCP and Governance Courses)  Ku-ring-gai Community Rotary Network ("the Kraken")  Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG)  WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality  The Overstory – Richard Powers  The Three-Body Problem – Cixin Liu  The Covenant of Water – Abraham Verghese    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind    2025 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE. 

05/12/2025 • 56:42

 Entamoeba histolytica nearly ended Ron Blutrich's scientific career. Instead, it pushed him to rethink how we protect people in multi-family buildings, senior facilities, and dense urban centers from invisible microbiological risks in their drinking water. In this episode, he joins host Trace Blackmore to unpack what whole-building UV can (and can't) do for Legionella, biofilm, and real-world water safety.  When One Bad Cup of Water Redefines a Career  In the middle of his PhD in molecular genetics, Ron drank from an under-sink reverse osmosis tap at an Airbnb and contracted Entamoeba histolytica. The infection triggered more than three years of severe gastrointestinal symptoms and a 100-pound weight loss, despite being "clinically cured." That experience—and the lack of clear answers—led him to dig into how governments, utilities, and buildings actually manage microbiological risk in water. He discovered that even in urban centers, there is "a lot left to be desired" in monitoring, guidelines, and the epidemiology of waterborne disease.  UV at the Point of Entry: Why Medium Pressure Matters  Ron explains why he chose UV as the primary disinfection tool for CLEAR's whole-building solutions. He contrasts conventional filters (carbon, RO, media) that remove contaminants but do not kill biology with UV systems that directly target DNA and other cellular structures. He walks through the differences between low-pressure and medium-pressure UV, including temperature independence for hot water recirculation and the broader wavelength spectrum that can damage DNA, proteins, membranes, and even DNA repair enzymes. That same technology is being used for multicellular control in marine environments, ballast water, and mollusk control, and Ron argues it is uniquely suited to domestic hot water systems facing Legionella and biofilm.  Legionella, Biofilm, and the Limits of "Good Enough"  Drawing from CLEAR's field work, Ron describes how often Legionella shows up in single homes, condos, and new buildings, and how standard practices typically focus on remediation and short-term clearance instead of long-term prevention. He highlights the gap between ASHRAE 188's recommendations for hot water temperatures and real constraints in senior housing, where anti-scalding concerns keep tanks too cool to reliably control Legionella. He also shares stories of property managers and public agencies reluctant to test because they lack cost-effective treatment options or don't want to confront what the data might show.  Scaling UV from Towers to Single Homes  Ron walks through why conventional media and RO systems don't scale well to large towers—footprint, cost, and pressure loss—and how CLEAR instead installs inline UV systems at the point of entry. These systems can handle up to roughly 2,000 gallons per minute, require minimal head loss, and are designed as a single point of installation and service. From there, he explains how his team layered on monitoring and a tenant-facing dashboard so that properties can see UV dose, transmittance, and flow in real time, and service can be triggered based on performance instead of fixed schedules. He also discusses emerging opportunities in UV LEDs and next-generation media that could make fully comprehensive point-of-entry treatment feasible in more buildings.  For leaders responsible for building portfolios, senior living, or high-density residential properties, this conversation offers a rigorous look at what it really takes to move from "we hope the water is fine" to a defensible, data-backed stance on microbiological safety.  Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps  04:59 - Trace talks about skipping turkey and ham this year and explains his usual turkey-stock "ice cube" tradition  13:59 - Trace introduces today's lab partner, Ron Blutrich of Clear Inc., and sets up the UV-in-buildings topic  13:03 – Events page shout out   10:57 - Water You Know with James McDonald  16:21 – Drinking from an under-sink RO line at an Airbnb, contracting Entamoeba Histolytica  19:15 - Why unmaintained RO and carbon filters can increase microbiological risk  23:27 - UV to keep post-UV systems cleaner   34:51 – Installation  40:23 – Cyanotoxins, Great Lakes algal blooms, and using medium-pressure UV to denature toxins, not just microbes  43:31 – Ron's current habits  48:08 – Future Opportunities: UV LEDs   49:04 – Multi-spectral UV LED arrays    Quotes "And what I learned really changed my life, because what I understood is that even in urban settings, not just in remote communities, there's a lot left to be desired when it comes to water quality, water quality treatment, guidelines, monitoring" - Ron Blutrich  "I think that in general, we need to understand with our eyes open exactly what it is that we do when we treat." - Ron Blutrich  "So generally, there's a lot left to be desired in terms of what we're trying to do for Legionella. It turns out that Legionella is extremely susceptible to UV. Legionella can be reduced almost 6 logs with most conventional UV systems" - Ron Blutrich  "So, at this point, our UV systems, it's an inline system. It's basically a section of pipe that happens to disinfect the water going through it. It's a single point of installation, a single point of service. There's no head loss, there's no pressure loss" - Ron Blutrich    Connect with Ron Blutrich Email: ron@clear.inc  Website: Clear - UV Treated Purified Water at Point of Entry  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-blutrich-50262b2a3/     Guest Resources Mentioned  ORIGINS OF ORDER: Self-Organization and Selection in Evolution by Stuart Kauffman  Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space by Carl Sagan  Clear Inc – Whole-Building UV Water Purification  Entamoeba histolytica Infection  CDC Household Water Treatment   EPA Guidance Manual: Filtration and Disinfection Requirements  WQA Guidance for Sanitizing Residential Treatment Systems  Application of Ultraviolet Light-Emitting Diodes (UV-LED) to Full-Scale Drinking-Water Disinfection  Wilderness Medical Society Clinical Practice Guidelines on Water Treatment for Wilderness, International Travel, and Austere Situations    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind   Water You Know with James Question: What is the interaction called when chemicals react on a mole-to-mole basis that could possibly be considered the opposite of the Threshold Effect?    Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE. 

01/12/2025 • 63:40

What happens when you build a company around one niche, listen obsessively to customers, and never stop improving? In this episode, host Trace Blackmore finally sits down for a full-length conversation with Frank Lecrone, Founder, President, and CEO of AquaPhoenix Scientific. What started in a small 60' x 60' space in Hanover, Pennsylvania, with three employees, maxed-out credit cards, and endless Staples runs has grown into a 300+-person organization serving industrial water professionals around the world.   Frank shares how AquaPhoenix became "the booth everyone wants to be next to" at AWT, why they built their entire business around industrial water treatment instead of trying to be everything to everyone, and how a simple continuous improvement system now generates hundreds of ideas a year from frontline team members. He also pulls back the curtain on acquisitions and private equity, explaining EBITDA in plain language, how to think about "add-backs," and what owners should understand long before they think about selling. Whether you're leading a growing company, running a route, or thinking about your own "second chapter," this conversation is a masterclass in culture, courage, and caring deeply about the people you serve. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps   02:20 - Trace Blackmore shares a recap from the recent 2025 AWT Conference, The Hang, and a Blood Donation Story   14:02 - Water You Know with James McDonald  15:20 - Upcoming Conference for Water Professionals  18:16 – Introduction of Frank Lecrone, CEO of AquaPhoenix Scientific (eight years in the making)  24:52 – Why Hanover?   26:59 – Supporting AWT  37:38 – Color-coded caps & QR Codes  42:30 – Learning from mistakes  45:31 – Core Values   48:26 – Acquisitions and Culture   1:03:32 – Valuations and EBITDA    Quotes  "We didn't grow by doing everything for everyone. We grew by doing exactly what one market needed and wanted—and then doing it better every year."  "The lack of information is almost always interpreted negatively. That's why you have to over-communicate, especially during acquisitions."  "EBITDA equals freedom. The more EBITDA you have, the less anybody can tell you what to do with your own company."  "We're not perfect. We screw things up like everyone else—but we fix it, and we fix it quickly, and we make doing business with us as easy as possible."  "I don't want to be the smartest person in the room. I want great people around me, giving ideas and pushing things forward, so I'm not the bottleneck."  "Business is like standing in a bathtub while the water rises. It feels fine until it reaches your mouth. The trick is noticing when it's at your knees and fixing the bottleneck then."  "We give a darn. We have 'GAS'—Give a #$%@—and if we can make it right and do it better, we absolutely will."    Connect with Frank Lecrone Email: frank@aquaphoenixsci.com   Website: Water Quality Testing Products | AquaPhoenix Scientific  LinkedIn:  Frank Lecrone | LinkedIn       Guest Resources Mentioned   AquaPhoenix Scientific   Aliquot – AquaPhoenix's Water Management Software  QR-coded Custom Test Kits (AquaPhoenix EndPoint® ID)    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind  American Red Cross    Water You Know with James McDonald  Question: What industrial water treatment word is derived from the Greek word meaning "claw?"    2025 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.   

21/11/2025 • 99:12

"The More You Know" - Robin Deal A million-gallon-a-day perspective, distilled into actionable steps. Robin Deal, AquaPure Product Manager at Hubbard-Hall unpacks how seasoned pros can squeeze more performance—and less sludge—out of industrial wastewater systems without compromising compliance or plant uptime.    From "clear water in a jar" to stable discharge in the field  Robin details a practical jar-testing workflow: start from upstream processes, target pH using hydroxide/sulfide solubility curves, choose the right coagulant (aluminum, iron, calcium, lanthanum, or organics), and validate against metals/COD/BOD/phosphorus before scaling. The test bench isn't the finish line; it's the feasibility gate when you're treating 150,000+ gpd.  Lean wastewater: cost center or controllable system?  Commodity choices (lime, alum, ferric) can generate 70–85% more sludge than optimized blends—driving hazardous waste hauling, clogging lines, and shortening pump life. Robin reframes the "penny-per-pound" price war into a total-system economics conversation: sludge recyclability, maintenance cycles, and realistic break-even targets.  PFAS: remove now, plan to destroy  For hex-chrome platers and other industrial dischargers, Robin shares near-term and emerging options: carbon filtration for immediate removal, evaporation/condensation where capital exists, and destruction pathways under evaluation—advanced oxidation, electrochemical oxidation, "thermobotic agglomeration," and ball milling—with an eye on evolving limits and cost realities.  One Water thinking for manufacturers  "Water is water." Robin introduces the One Water mindset for plant leaders: tighten internal loops, reduce community draw and discharge impact, and align non-contact, potable, and wastewater under one stewardship model. It's not a club—it's a decision framework that's already influencing global brands and drought-stressed regions.  Treat each round of testing as a hypothesis check, each chemical as a system lever, and each gallon as a shared resource. That's how leaders turn compliance into predictable results. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps  16:45 - Trace Blackmore shares insights on current industry events, an upcoming conference, the "magic button" idea for user-friendly wastewater control and announces The Hang to build community engagement 17:50 - Water You Know with James McDonald  23:04 - Interview begins: Robin Deal introduced as AquaPure Product Manager, origin story and family context   28:12 - First Jar Test Story   32:17 - Jar testing Workflow  42:34 - One Water concept  54:12 - Regulations   Quotes  "Just say yes to the job." "Lime is not a lean." "Best available technology does not mean best economic." "So just deep breath, stay calm and do the best that we can do and wait for those regulations to come out because they are coming" "Turn off the water in the polymer tank."    Connect with Robin Deal Email: robin.renee47@yahoo.com  LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/robin-deal    https://www.linkedin.com/company/hubbard-hall-inc./      Guest Resources Mentioned   The Wandering Inn: Book One in The Wandering Inn Series by pirateaba  Water Reuse Organization   American Water Works Association  Water Environment Federation    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind Start With Why Simon Sinek TedTalk  The 6 Types of Working Genius: A Better Way to Understand Your Gifts, Your Frustrations, and Your Team by Patrick M. Lencioni  James McDonald's Be Like Water Series  Drop by Drop: Articles on Industrial Water Treatment by James McDonald     Water You Know with James McDonald  Question: What is the device called that is installed on the effluent line of an ion exchange unit to prevent resin from ending up downstream where it doesn't belong?    2025 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.   

14/11/2025 • 71:57

Get stuck in – Michael Bourgeois, CWT How do standards get written in ways that working water treaters can actually meet? In this conversation, AWT Past President, current Related Trade Organization (RTO) Committee Chair, and Chemco Products Company Operations Manager, Michael Bourgeois CWT, explains how AWT's liaisons collaborate with peer organizations, so guidance reflects field reality—operations, risk, and achievable compliance.  From Field Bags to Board Rooms: Why RTOs Matter  Bourgeois outlines the purpose of AWT's RTO structure: volunteer liaisons track and influence work at groups whose missions overlap with industrial water—CTI, ABMA, ASHRAE, AWWA, ASHE, and others. The aim is simple and practical: make sure member voices are heard so guidance advances health outcomes (e.g., Legionella control) and day-to-day feasibility for service providers and suppliers.  Turning Reaction into Proaction  Historically, the industry learned about new rules after they landed. Bourgeois details how AWT is shifting to co-authoring cooling-water guidelines with CTI and re-engaging ABMA, so boiler-water limits and methods reflect current technologies and operations. The model: clarify shared goals, contribute content expertise, and formalize collaboration so members get usable documents at member pricing.  Concrete Moves: Boiler Water, Healthcare, and More  Examples include AWT's role on ABMA's Boiler Expo steering committee (with a focused water-treatment training block) and early conversations with ASHE on pathogen control in building and healthcare water systems. He describes how liaisons feed updates into a formal committee cadence, so the AWT Board and members see progress—not just headlines.  When working professionals help write the playbook, outcomes improve clients, operators, and public health—and members stop "reacting" to standards they had no hand in shaping.  Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below.   Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!     Timestamps   00:02:28 - Trace Blackmore shares his AWT excitement & community shout-outs  00:05:16 - Water You Know with James McDonald  00:06:44 - The magic of the Scaling Up buttons (why & how to use them)  00:20:25 - North Metal Quarterly Magazine (Grab physical copy by visiting Booth 212)  00:27:00 - Interview starts: Mike Bourgeois (Chemco; AWT Past President; RTO Chair)  00:33:58 - What is the RTO Committee and why it exists  00:36:31 - The 10 formal collaborators + 4–6 informal  00:36:43 - AWWA/ASDWA (Joe Hannigan); Premise plumbing link  00:38:19 - ASHE (healthcare engineering) early wins (Reid Hutchinson)  00:38:47 - ABMA (boilers) momentum (Steve Jobin) + Women of Boilers  00:40:28 - CTI (Mike); CDC (Patsy Root); WEF (Brian Liotta)  00:40:46 - AMPP (formerly NACE) (Jay Farmerie); WQA (Chuck Hamrick)  00:41:19 - ASHRAE (Bill Pearson) & the impact on Std 188  00:45:26 - Principle: Be proactive so standards are achievable for members  00:47:34 - Boiler Expo: half-day on water treatment (economics, pretreatment, failures, regs)  00:50:56 - Where to learn about RTO work  00:54:19 - Volunteers needed: attributes of great liaisons  00:58:48 - Breakthrough: ABMA boiler water guideline refresh (toward ASME alignment)  01:01:02 - Potential collaboration with ASHE on pathogen control guidance  01:01:39 - What Mike's most excited to see at the Broadmoor  01:02:22 - Mike's session: new OSHA walk-around rules  01:02:51 - Theme of the conversation: "Get stuck in" (join committees)    Quotes  "The button is magic—it breaks the ice for you and starts real conversations."  "Talk to every single booth. A year from now, you'll remember exactly who can help."   "RTO stands for Related Trade Organization—our way to shape the standards that shape us."   "Why write a standard no one can achieve? AWT's role is to make it achievable."   "If you want to help AWT, get stuck in. Volunteer. It pays back 10 to 100-fold."   "AWT's RTO liaisons keep members' interests represented before rules and guidelines are finalized—so they're practical and achievable."  "Look for committees aligned with your strengths."    Connect with Michael Bourgeois Email: mbourgeois@chemcoprod.com   Website: Home | Chemco Products Company  LinkedIn: Michael Bourgeois, CWT | LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/company/chemco-products-company/     Guest Resources Mentioned   ABMA's Boiler Water Quality Requirements and Associated Steam Quality for Industrial/Commercial and Institutional Boilers  Atlas Shrugged (Centennial Ed.) Hardcover – April 21, 2005 by Ayn Rand  AWT Committee  AWT Get Involved  Cancer Ward: A Novel (FSG Classics) Paperback – April 14, 2015 by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (Author)  Cooling Technology Institute (CTI)  Fossil Future: Why Global Human Flourishing Requires More Oil, Coal, and Natural Gas--Not Less Hardcover – by Alex Epstein   Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design Paperback – Illustrated, June 22, 2010 by Stephen C. Meyer  WTG-126: The Use of Non-Oxidizing Biocides in Cooling Water Systems    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  380 The WOW Effect: Women Leading Transformation in the Water Industry  447 Unlocking Team Potential with Culture Index with Randi Fargen  ASHE's "Water Management in Health Care Facilities: Complying with ASHRAE Standard 188"  ASPE's Engineering Methodologies to Reduce the Risk of Legionella in Premise Plumbing Systems  ASSE 12080 Training & Certification, Get certified to the ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI 12080 Standard: Professional Qualifications Standard for Legionella Water Safety and Management Personnel  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)   AWT's Legionella 2019: A Position Statement and Guidance Document  North Metal & Chemical Co Quarterly Magazine Issue 3 -page 8 for Trace Blackmore Story  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Start with Why Simon Sinek - TedTalk  Submit a Show Idea  The 6 Types of Working Genius  The Rising Tide Mastermind    Water You Know with James Questions: What do you call the physical property of matter that is defined as the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree?    2025 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.   

07/11/2025 • 76:49

Holidays don't usually line up with release day—but this year they did. In this Halloween special, Trace uses the horror-movie trope of the "scary boiler room" to deliver practical, field-tested reminders for safer sampling, clearer thinking, and better decisions in high-heat, low-light spaces.   Boiler Rooms, Myths, and Real Risks  From Nightmare on Elm Street to Tower of Terror, pop culture loves dim steam, tight corridors, and clangy pipe-labyrinths. Trace contrasts that imagery with what matters to pros: light, ventilation, a stable work surface, and time for observation. He urges listeners to advocate for basics—task lighting, a table, and smarter workflow—so test results are usable, repeatable, and defensible.  Sampling That Won't Scare Your Data  Sampling isn't the job—thinking is. Trace reviews essentials: collect safely (sample coolers when available), fill bottles with no headspace, cool samples to about "hand-holdable" (~100°F) before running tests, and remember temperature and prep sensitivities—especially sulfite tests that use starch. Poor cooling "cooks the potatoes," skewing readings. Tie every test to a hypothesis about system behavior; use results to prove or disprove what you think is happening.  Observation > Automation  Don't just grab a bottle and walk. Log pressures and temperatures (DA/FT), verify blowdown practices (including surface blow and any cooling devices), check the sample cooler, and review boiler logs. Pair disciplined observation with testing so numbers have context.  Stretch Past the "Butterfly Line"  Halloween also prompts a leadership challenge: if you haven't felt "butterflies" lately, are you still stretching? Trace revisits public-speaking growth, previews his AWT presentations (presenting craft, Start With Why, Working Genius, and processes), and encourages pros to reframe nerves as excitement on the way to competence.  Make the boiler room less cinematic and more professional. Better lighting, better setup, and hypothesis-driven testing produce better calls—and better outcomes for customers.  Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps 07:05 - Why Hollywood loves boiler rooms  10:10 — Disney's Tower of Terror queue through a "boiler room" and hidden Mickeys  13:31 – Don't just sample – Observe  15:02 - Safety first: sample coolers when available; protect yourself from burns  35:21 - Water You Know with James McDonald  47:05 – Halloween Throwback    Connect with Scaling UP! H2O  Website:  www.scalinguph2o.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/scalinguph2o/  YouTube: Scaling Up! H2O Podcast - YouTube    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies) Annual Convention and Exposition 2025  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea Start with Why Ted Talk  The Rising Tide Mastermind  The Hang Ep 166 The One Where We Celebrate Halloween  Ep 325 Rising Together: Conquering Challenges through Collective Support  Ep 427 July 4th! Entrepreneurship, Water Wells, and the Spirit of Liberty    Water You Know with James McDonald  Question: What is the pressure of a fluid called that's measured relative to "atmospheric" pressure?   2025 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.   

05/11/2025 • 58:22

 Hiring in industrial water is slow, specialized, and expensive to get wrong. In this conversation, executive advisor Randi Fargen explains how a two-question, 5–7 minute Culture Index survey becomes an ongoing management and coaching system—not just a hiring screen—so owners cut turnover risk, speed onboarding, and improve day-to-day communication.    From "assessment fatigue" to a usable language  Most teams dread long assessments. This survey takes minutes and measures four primary traits—autonomy, sociability, pace/patience, conformity—plus three sub-traits (logic, ingenuity, mental stamina). Leaders get a shared vocabulary for why projects stall, what information different people need, and where the team is over-weighted in "gas" (vision/growth) or "brake" (quality/process).    Objective data where interviews fail  Resumes can be embellished, references are curated, and interviews are where candidates most modify behavior. The survey provides objective, EEOC-compliant data to align role demands with how a person is wired—a first pass for "right person, right seat," followed by skills and experience checks. Trace shares a driver-hire example where data prevented a costly misfit and made the interview process smoother and more targeted.    Turnover, onboarding load, and the health check  Randi highlights research she cites with clients: 66% of employees have accepted roles they knew weren't a fit, and 50% of those left within six months—burning cash and team morale. The fix isn't one-and-done. Teams re-survey every 3–6 months to read dynamic "job behavior" shifts, diagnose disconnects early, and adjust coaching, workload, or process before problems harden.    Coaching at scale, not weaponization  Culture Index works best when deployed top-down and organization-wide (not just managers). Teams adopt simple practices—e.g., bringing pattern cards to meetings or adding patterns to email signatures—to reduce friction. A guardrail: never "weaponize the dots." Use the data to maximize strengths and support challenges; never to excuse behavior or limit someone's potential.    Industry relevance and next steps  Because industrial water roles are niche and ramp time is long, using objective behavioral data helps retain talent you've already invested in. Randi closes with a free team diagnostic offer for companies that want to "test drive" the approach and leave with actionable insights—regardless of whether they proceed further.  Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps    02:01 - Trace Blackmore shares a Legionella Awareness Month recap (most listened yet, high sharing), shout-outs to some guests, note that the CDC recognized Legionella Awareness Month, the origin story from 2020 lockdowns, a call to keep challenging what we "know"  07:52 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals   12:51 - Interview with Randi Fargen, Executive Advisor with Culture Index  13:27 - Randi's self-intro: role and how she helps businesses ("right people, right seats")  17:02 – Hiring Win; interviews get sharper when profiles guide questions  22:13 – Cost of Turnover  33:42 - What's measured: four primary traits (A/B/C/D) + three sub-traits (logic/ingenuity/stamina)  41:06 - Gas vs. brake; turning productive tension into quality control  52:51 - Guardrail: never "weaponize the dots"; use data to support, not to excuse or exclude  01:12:21 - Water You Know with James McDonald    Quotes  "Fully exploited strengths are a far greater value than marginally improved weaknesses."  "Statistically speaking, 98% of the population has less autonomy than you do."  "The second this is weaponized; the program is dead within your organization."  "This isn't something, it's not a magic wand, it's not a magic bullet… This is a marathon, not a sprint."    Connect with Randi Fargen Phone: 1(303) 242 0346  Email: rfargen@cultureindex.com   Website: www.cultureindex.com     LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randi-fargen/     Guest Resources Mentioned   Culture Index Program  Randi Fargen (Executive Advisor) Free Team Diagnostic   Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink   How Not to Age: The Scientific Approach to Getting Healthier as You Get Older by Michael Greger    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind  446 Leveraging the Culture Index for Business Success with Danielle Scimeca and Conor Parrish    Water You Know with James McDonald   Question: What is the molar mass of water?    2025 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.   

24/10/2025 • 76:00

How do you make "right person, right seat" a repeatable system—not a hope?  Fact Water Co's Danielle Scimeca (President) and returning guest Conor Parrish (Chief Growth Officer) share how the Culture Index became a decisive tool for coaching, hiring, and a company-wide restructure. If you lead field service, customer service, or operations in industrial water, this conversation offers practical patterns you can apply the next time a role feels misaligned or a 1:1 stall on surface-level updates. From intuition to instrumentation  Trace opens with the origin story and quickly moves to why Danielle and Conor adopted the Culture Index. Conor outlines the survey's core traits (A, B, C, D), EU (energy units), logic, and ingenuity—and how those readings map to daily work. The team now enters 1:1s with data, not guesswork, and uses pattern shifts (e.g., crossing the bell-curve center line) as objective prompts to discuss burnout risk, disengagement, or role fit. Coaching that respects how people actually work Quarterly surveys provide a shared language for conflict and pace. Danielle and Conor show how "high-D vs. low-D" disagreements de-escalate when both sides name the pattern and adjust the level of detail or speed. The same framework helps leaders spot "quiet quitting" signals (e.g., EU changes) early, address them with empathy, and—when necessary—make seat changes with clarity. Hiring with a C-Job—and holding the line For open roles, they build a "C-job" (ideal pattern) and filter applicants by percentage match before reading résumés. That slows the front end but saves cycles by preventing mis-fit first interviews, reduces turnover, and improves team performance. The hardest lesson? When they ignored the pattern and hired outside the profile, they regretted it. Restructure at scale—faster, with fewer re-hires Armed with data, Fact Water accelerated a difficult restructure (significant field and customer-service turnover) and refilled seats against the right patterns. Outcomes included better alignment, happier team members, and fewer escalations. The same insights even improved communication at home—proof the temperament model applies beyond work. Tools don't lead—leaders do. The Culture Index gave Danielle and Conor the transparency and conviction to act sooner and coach smarter.  Listen to the full conversation above. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps  02:24 - Trace Blackmore shares Industrial Water Week recap & #IWW25 highlights   13:37 - Water You Know with James McDonald  14:53 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals   21:22 – Interview starts: Danielle Scimeca & Conor Parrish of Fact Water Co  24:46 – Why Culture Index  26:16 - Culture Index Overview   36:11 – Coaching Use: Data-Drive 1:1s and pattern shifts  44:36 – Hiring Use: C-Job Profiles  47:49 – Slower Hiring vs. Lower Turnover: lessons learned  53:46 – Real Example: High- D vs. Low-D communication conflict   Quotes  Conor Parrish: "High level culture index is a tool that we use. It starts with the culture index survey." Danielle Scimeca: "The program forces you to make tough decisions… you deserve to be in a job that you find fulfilling." Conor Parrish: "HR isn't doing first interviews with 30 people—they're doing first interviews with three to five." Conor Parrish: "There's so much more to it the more you go… I'm learning something new every day"  Danielle Scimeca: "If you're not ready to make changes, it might not be the right time to do it."    Connect with Conor Parrish Email: cparrish@factwaterco.com   Website: https://www.factwaterco.com/   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conor-parrish-cwt-15208251/     Connect with Danielle Scimeca  Email: dscimeca@fctwater.com  Website: https://www.factwaterco.com/   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-scimeca-esq-519604279/     Guest Resources Mentioned   Randi Fargen (Executive Advisor)  Culture Index Program    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  AWT 2025 Convention and Exposition   AWT 2025 Business Owners Meeting  AWT 2025 Golf Tournament  008 The One with Conor Parrish  186 The One where Conor Parrish Interviews Me, Part 1  187 The One where Conor Parrish Interviews Me, Part 2  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind  The Hang (November 20, 2025 - 6 PM Eastern Time)    Water You Know with James McDonald  Question: What do we call the liquid formed after steam does its work and has cooled below its dew point?    2025 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.   

17/10/2025 • 72:43

 Industrial Water Week 2025: Careers Friday brings the celebration back to first principles—mentors, disciplined training, and field diagnostics that go beyond the screen. Trace reflects on the people who invested in his craft, recognizes guest contributors across the week, and issues a practical challenge to invest in one new professional before the day ends.   Foundations that Compound A candid mentorship story anchors today's episode. Trace recalls how early-career intimidation turned into decades of teaching fundamentals and math at AWT—proof that asking better questions grows better practitioners. Careers Friday becomes a prompt to text the person who built your foundation—and to be that person for someone else.  Fieldcraft Over Flash: A Detective H2O Lesson  The Detective H2O case distills high-value diagnostics for cooling systems: TTPC biocide can mask PTSA and fool controllers into overfeeding inhibitor; missing blowdown lockout during biocide feed wastes product; and stabilized bromine can become over-stabilized in long-HTI systems—driving ORP spikes, corrosion risk, and poor microbial control. Technology is essential, but interpretation is the craft.  Community Voices and a Career Pledge  Careers Friday features greetings from industry professionals and closes with Water You Know, a reminder that water often carries purchased energy (heat, cooling, pressure, flow, pre-treatment) that leaders must account for. The day ends with a clear ask: celebrate your mentors, share your origin story with #IWW25 and #ScalingUpH2O, and pledge to help one newcomer discover industrial water treatment.  Durable careers are built on shared knowledge, thoughtful diagnostics, and intentional mentorship. Use today to do all three.  Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!  Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps  02:20 — Opening: Industrial Water Week recap (Pretreatment, Boiler, Cooling, Wastewater) leading into Careers Friday. 03:15 — Community recognition: Scaling Up Nation "20,000+ members" and daily celebration via #IWW25 and #ScalingUpH2O. 05:20 — Careers Friday actions: take photos with equipment, mentors, or customers; share to celebrate the craft. 05:29 — Team traditions: the Industrial Water Week cake (including the infamous "water cake" anecdote). 09:16 — Mentorship story: meeting Bruce Ketrick Sr. and Jay Farmery; intimidation becomes investment. 13:12 — Writing the Fundamentals program with Mark Lewis to build durable entry-level foundations. 14:18 — Personal note: when Trace's father passed, how Bruce showed up—mentorship beyond the classroom. 16:15 — Careers greetings begin (Lee Bainbrigge, SMS Environmental): be open-minded, keep learning, focus on customer assurance. 18:07 — Episode reference: Lee's prior appearance (Ep. 370) for Legionella perspectives. 18:21 — Careers greeting (Kalpna Solanki): environmental operator roles as purposeful, global, and essential. 21:39 — Detective H2O — The Case of Knowing It All begins. 38:21 — CWT pathway: free prep resource and 100-question practice exam walkthrough . 42:46 — Water You Know with James McDonald 44:38 — Gratitude for James McDonald's ongoing community impact. 45:04 — Careers Friday challenge: thank your mentors; post your origin story with #IWW25 and #ScalingUpH2O. 46:15 — Final pledge: help one person discover industrial water treatment this week.    Connect with Mike Taraszki  Phone: 510.368.4549  Email: michael.taraszki@wsp.com  Website: www.wsp.com  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michaeltaraszki/  linkedin.com/company/wsp/    Connect with Kalpna Solanki  Phone: 778.688.9196  Email: kalpnasolanki1980@gmail.com Water Environment Federation (WEF)  LinkedIn: in/kalpnasolanki    Connect with Lee Bainbrigge  Email: l.bainbrigge@sms-environmental.co.uk  Website: https://sms-environmental.co.uk/  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lbainbrigge/  linkedin.com/company/sms-environmental-ltd/    Connect with James Courtney Phone: +1 443 878 2407 Email: james@csctech2o.com Website: https://www.csctech2o.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-courtney-cwt-leed-ap-379a6877/    Connect with Laith Charles   Phone: 941-301-1309   Email: laith@ewatermark.net   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMuigehZdcquaY14QtGm    Connect with Mark Lewis  Phone: 704.322.5406 Email: MLewis@SELaboratories.com Website: https://www.selaboratories.com/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mark-lewis-01a3b56    Connect with James McDonald   Email: james51471@gmail.com Website: chemaqua.com Industrialwaterweek.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-mcdonald-pe/     Links Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind  Industrial Water Week  Water Cake Recipe  031 The One with Mark Lewis  034 The Other One With Mark Lewis, CWT  062 The One with the Pulsafeeder Guy  112 The One Where Trace Is Interviewed By Mark Lewis  141 The One About Neglected Accounts  149 The One About Some of the Lesser-Used Technologies  224 The One About The Internet Of Things (IoT) Augmented Industrial Water Treatment  355 Backflow Prevention: Safeguarding Water Quality  362 Navigating 97-005: Insights and Impacts on Potable Water  370 Unlocking Legionella Solutions: Perspectives on Regulations and Best Practices  394 Visibility and Value: Enhancing Sustainability in Water Treatment  404 Eight Tips for Business Management: Part 1 – Essential Strategies  406 Eight Tips for Business Management: Part 2 – Essential Strategies    Water You Know with James McDonald   Question: What forms of purchased energy may be present in water?       

10/10/2025 • 48:23

Wastewater isn't an endpoint—it's a decision point. On Wastewater Thursday, host Trace Blackmore, CWT sharpens the operator's toolkit with field-tested lessons: dose by mechanism, verify by sampling discipline, and use wastewater's fast feedback to protect quality, cost, and permits. Sampling discipline protects credibility Trace recounts an early-career moment when an inspector sampled the wrong location, triggering alarms. Immediate, methodical resampling—guided by logs and a clear process map—proved the system was in spec. The leadership takeaway: embed verification before escalation. Clear sampling points, time-stamped logs, and a rapid "reproduce the reading" drill turn uncertainty into clarity.  Mechanism over myth: coagulant control  In a new Detective H2O case, James McDonald explains why overfeeding coagulant collapses floc. When particles swing past neutral, like charges repel again and settling stalls. The fix is not "more chemistry," but right-sizing dose to production and confirming with jar tests at the correct take-off point.  From discharge to resource  Greetings from past guests reinforce the shift under way. Arnaud Valleteau de Moulliac (Veolia Water Technology) frames wastewater as a local, decarbonized resource—with energy-positive plants and reuse as standard practice. Steve Russell (Kiewit) notes supply pressure will push even deeper recycling. Mark Lewis, CWT (Southeastern Laboratories) underscores wastewater's advantage: "If you treat it, you see it."  Make wastewater a reliable, fast-feedback control loop—rooted in charge balance, sampling rigor, and reuse thinking.  Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps:  02:17 — Welcome to Wastewater Thursday and the IWW25 theme: "From foundations to futures." 03:03 — Why wastewater is "the restart": cleaning for reuse and sustainability. 04:24 — "Every drop counts from influent to effluent" — defining the professional mandate. 05:12 — Field story setup: jar testing with Trace's father; early lessons. 06:05 — Crisis call: bad regulatory number traced to wrong sampling location. 08:54 — Guest greeting: Arnaud Valleteau de Moulliac (Veolia) on energy-positive, reuse-driven futures. 10:25 — Guest greeting: Steve Russell (Kiewit) on permits, mass balances, and supply-driven recycling. 12:09 — Guest greeting: Mark Lewis, CWT (Southeastern Laboratories) on jar tests and product selection. 14:40 — Detective H2O: The case of too much of a good thing 20:17 — Mechanism lesson: charge neutralization window; like-charge repulsion returns when overdosed. 21:36 — Action: reduce dose; account for residence time; restore performance. 24:29 — IWW25 community prompt: post a safety-approved photo with wastewater equipment; use tags.   Connect with Mark Lewis   Phone: 704.322.5406   Email: MLewis@SELaboratories.com    Website: https://www.selaboratories.com/    LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mark-lewis-01a3b56    Connect with Steve Russell   Phone: 913.689.4533  Email: steve.russell@kiewit.com  Website: https://www.kiewit.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-russell-2b0a7960/    Connect with Arnaud Valleteau de Moulliac   Email: arnaud.valleteau@veolia.com Website: www.veoliawatertechnologies.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/arnaud-valleteau-de-moulliac-9b85353a/   www.linkedin.com/company/veolia-water-technologies/    Links Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind  031 The One with Mark Lewis  034 The Other One With Mark Lewis, CWT  112 The One Where Trace Is Interviewed By Mark Lewis  141 The One About Neglected Accounts  149 The One About Some of the Lesser-Used Technologies  382 Leading with Safety: How Veolia Embeds Health into Global Culture  396 Navigating Carbon Capture: Water Demands and Wastewater Solutions with Steve Russell  404 Eight Tips for Business Management: Part 1 – Essential Strategies  406 Eight Tips for Business Management: Part 2 – Essential Strategies 

09/10/2025 • 26:00

 Cooling Wednesday is about performance, protection, and proof. Trace Blackmore invites the Nation to get hands-on with cooling equipment and share field photos while offering a practical reminder: learn to navigate the chiller's user interface—because it's your fastest route to actionable diagnostics, documentation, and energy impact. Reading the Chiller UI—From Intimidation to Insight Modern microprocessor interfaces reveal real-time and historical data that matter to heat transfer: temperatures, loading, and power trends. If you've avoided the panel out of fear of "shutting something down," ask a chiller tech to walk you through the specific unit on site. Once comfortable, log key parameters on every visit and use the trend history to spot changes before they become outages. Proving Value with Clean Heat Transfer and Measured Energy For new or troubled accounts, record energy use during dirty conditions, then maintain the same measurements as the system is cleaned and stabilized. Month-over-month comparisons at similar loads become hard proof that treatment quality translates to lower operating costs—and that contract value aligns with measurable savings. Cooling Wisdom from the Field Guest greetings highlight real-world lessons: avoid shipping sample bottles in flimsy packaging (they're heavier full than empty), respect the complexity of cooling treatment by breaking it into critical actions, and remember that underfeeding biocides invites biofilm—and problems like foaming—while proper dosing and verification (e.g., dip slides) restores stability. Celebrate—and Document Share your favorite cooling tower or chiller photo with #IWW25 and #ScalingUPH2O. Then, turn celebration into discipline: capture UI data, maintain trend logs, and use the numbers to defend decisions, budgets, and results. Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!   Timestamps   02:01 — Kicking off Cooling Wednesday and the #IWW25 photo invite (show your cooling towers/chillers). Why it matters: community learning and pride in craft. 03:22 — Why cooling matters: performance, protection, livability. Why it matters: framing the operational stakes of heat transfer. 03:46 — Willis Carrier's 1902 humidity control origin story. Why it matters: cooling began as a manufacturing quality solution. 09:54 — Guest greeting: Juan Menezes (Nalco Water, an Ecolab company) on a low-pH excursion and recovery. Why it matters: pH control and response discipline. 11:13 — Guest greeting: Michael Lowenstein (QLabs) PSA on shipping Legionella samples securely. Why it matters: sample integrity = valid data. 12:22 — Guest greeting: Mike Standish (Radical Polymers/MFG) on complexity, simplifying actions, and predictive AI. Why it matters: clarity first; analytics next. 17: 11 – Detective H2O: The Case of Unwanted Foam Party 29:20 — Wrap: keep celebrating; post your cooling equipment; Wastewater Thursday is next. Why it matters: momentum through the week.   Connect with Juan Meneses   Phone: 337.309.9619  Email: jmeneses@ecolab.com  Website: Reinventing the Way Water is Managed | Nalco Water LinkedIn: Juan A. Meneses | LinkedIn    Connect with Michael Loewenstein  Phone: +1 513 207 4943  Email: MLoewenstein@qlaboratories.com  Website: Scientific Consulting for Q Labs LLC  LinkedIn: Michael Loewenstein | LinkedIn    Connect with Mike Standish  Phone: 423.316.9877  Email: mike.standish@radicalpolymers.com  Website: www.radicalpolymers.com  mfgchemical.com   LinkedIn: in/mike-standish-7890627    Links Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind  014 The One with Mike Standish  176 The One About Tagged Polymer Technologies  350 Polymer Perspectives: Understanding Copolymer Innovations in Water Treatment  377 Future of Legionella Monitoring: Strategies for Employing qPCR in a WMP  405 Cooling Water Innovation: Harnessing Wastewater for Sustainability  418 Maleic Acid-Based Corrosion Inhibitors: Expanding the Water Treatment Toolbox with Mike Standish       

08/10/2025 • 30:31

 Boiler rooms reward clarity: how many BTUs from the flame actually arrive in steam—and stay there to do useful work? For Boiler Tuesday, Trace Blackmore, CWT, treats boiler care as heat-transfer management across the full train, from feedwater and deaeration to distribution and condensate return, with dry steam as the operational benchmark. Heat Transfer Is a Leadership Metric Dry steam isn't a detail; it's throughput. Steam on its worst day carries ~1,150 BTUs while hot water on its best day carries ~180 BTUs. When carryover creates wet steam, production loses energy at the point of use. Treating "BTUs-in-steam" as a shared KPI aligns maintenance, operations, and finance around the same outcome: efficient work.  The Steam Train: Protect the Interfaces  Trace maps the sequence—pretreatment → feedwater/DA → boiler → steam lines → condensate return—and explains where heat transfer is taxed when fouling or poor practices creep in. Recover condensate BTUs, verify deaerator performance, keep tube interfaces clean, and protect dryness at end users. Each interface preserved is energy returned to work.  Field Perspectives & Safety  Concise greetings from global practitioners reinforce fundamentals and vigilance. Barry Higgins underscores soft, high-quality water for "fluffy steam." Ivan Morales contrasts OTSGs with conventional boilers and the implications for steam quality. Ben Frieders offers a memorable safety reminder: disciplined restarts and gasket integrity are non-negotiable in steam environments.  Boiler Tuesday is a call to manage heat-transfer efficiency, not just chemistry. Protect interfaces, speak in BTUs, and make dryness measurable where the work happens.  Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps   02:20 — Welcome and IWW25 context; Boiler Tuesday focus (why: frame the professional lens for the week).  03:46 — "Heat transfer efficiency managers": defining the water treater's job (why: reframes role beyond chemistry)  08:13 — Technology parity; execution and knowledge as differentiators (why: invest in people and practice).  09:59 — The train: feedwater/DA, boiler, lines, condensate return (why: systems thinking prevents local optimization)  12:52 — Guest greetings begin: international and cross-industry viewpoints (why: broaden operating context).  14:04 — Barry Higgins: soft water for "fluffy steam" (why: pretreatment quality → steam quality).  16:18 — Ivan Morales: OTSG vs conventional cycles and steam quality differences (why: choose tech with eyes open).  17:36 — Ben Frieders: post-inspection restart incident and safety lesson (why: operational discipline in steam).  20:19 — Detective H2O: The Case of Having The Blues 25:07 — Boiler Tuesday call to action: share photos, use IWW25 hashtag (why: community and practice sharing).    Connect with Barry Higgins  Phone: +353 87 987 8606  Email: bhiggins@aquachem.ie  Website: www.aquachem.ie   LinkedIn: in/barry-higgins-bagrsc-59030225    Connect with Ivan Morales  Website: www.ecolab.com/nalco-water/  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ivan-morales-mba-06793b5/  linkedin.com/company/nalco/    Connect with Ben Frieders   Phone: (317) 719-1452   Email: bfrieders@zinkan.com   Website: https://www.getchemready.com/    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminfrieders/    https://www.linkedin.com/company/getchemready/        Links Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind  Industrial Water Week  Industrial Water Week Scaling UP H2O Resource Page 353 Steam Boilers: Essential Checks, Part 1  354 Steam Boilers: Essential Checks, Part 2  366 Produced Water: Expert Perspectives and Practical Tips  420 Tapping Into Tech: How Ben Frieders Uses AI to Elevate Water Treatment Marketing 

07/10/2025 • 26:38

 Industrial Water Week is here—and Day 1 is Pretreatment Monday. This special episode sets the tone for the week with specific ways to celebrate as a team, sharpen field practices, and share what you do with the people who matter most. Celebrate with purpose Host Trace Blackmore outlines simple, high-signal actions: take a field photo with your pretreatment gear, tag it #IWW25, #IndustrialWaterWeek, and #ScalingUPH2O, and post it today! Inside your company chat (Slack, group text, etc.), mark each day's theme so momentum builds across Boiler Tuesday, Cooling Wednesday, Wastewater Thursday, and Careers Friday.  Foundations to futures  This year's theme—Water's Industrial Journey: From Foundations to Futures—is a prompt to audit your own growth. Trace describes the shift from "knowing" to "understanding" when fundamentals interlock, and challenges veterans and newcomers to keep learning in an ever-changing field.  You'll hear a Pretreatment Monday greeting from Tessa Nge of HOH Water Technology, plus the debut of a new Detective H2O case, The Case of the Singing Canary. Follow along on LinkedIn and guess the guest voices—Trace reveals them on Friday.   Whether you bake a cake for your crew or host a brief daily stand-up, make the week visible. The work you do improves reliability, energy use, and water stewardship—worth celebrating and worth doing well.  Want to learn more about Industrial Water Week? Visit the free Resources dropdown at www.ScalingUpH2O.com to explore all things Pretreatment, Boilers, Cooling, Wastewater, and Careers in water.    Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps    01:53 - Trace Blackmore welcome everyone to the Industrial Water Week: Scaling UP H2O as official place to celebrate  05:55 – Field Photo Prompt: Post Pretreatment Equipment Shots; tag #IWW25, #IndustrialWaterWeek, and #ScalingUPH2O  19:29 – Guest Greeting: Tessa Nge (HOH Water Technology)   25:33 – Detective H2O: The Case of the Singing Canary    Connect with Tessa Nge  Phone: +1 224-545-7870  Email: tnge@hohwatertechnology.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessaskilton/      Links Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind  Industrial Water Week  Water Cake Recipe   Chloride Elution Study Procedure and Data Interpretation  Industrial Water Week Resources Page Ep 392 Breaking Barriers: How Diversity and Confidence Drive Growth in Water Treatment  

06/10/2025 • 34:36

The best leaders are the ones that can hold space for both—care personally and challenge directly. Work never happens in a vacuum. Field calls, customer pressure, travel, and deadlines compound the very real mental load carried by water professionals. In this conversation, Dr. Andy Melton, a professional counselor and executive coach at  www.andymelton.com—shares clear, practical ways leaders and teams can recognize mental health warning signs, set the right boundaries, and respond with care without stepping outside their role.  Care Personally, Challenge Directly—Inside Clear Boundaries Managers aren't neutral parties, and that matters. Andy explains the built-in conflict of interest when a supervisor probes too deeply into an employee's personal struggles. You still need to check in—but do it in role: use open-ended, performance-anchored questions ("What's been challenging for you lately?"), document observations, and offer resources instead of diagnoses. He also highlights Kim Scott's "Radical Candor" frame—care personally and challenge directly—as a durable leadership posture for tough conversations.   Spotting Decline Early—Behavioral, Cognitive, Physical  Before missed KPIs and callbacks spike, there are tells: sudden drops in productivity, withdrawal, irritability, rising absence/tardiness, markedly negative self-talk, and physical complaints (fatigue, headaches, stomach issues). Andy shares a simple "dashboard" self-check—sleep and eating patterns—plus trackable 1–10 scales for stress, energy, engagement, and mood stability to catch trends early.  When It's Serious—Safe Paths and Resources  Anonymous surveys can surface urgent risks—including suicidality. Andy outlines responsible next steps: widen communication, invite follow-ups, and immediately involve a mental health professional or crisis resources. Know the number 988 and your local mobile crisis team information; publish those options prominently so help is never far away.  Grounding Under Load—3 Techniques You Can Use Anywhere  For anxiety (mind racing ahead) and depression (mind stuck in the past), uniting mind and body in the present increases bandwidth. Andy teaches three job-friendly tools: the four-second "box" breath, a five-senses "sensory scan," and a head-to-toe "progressive muscle relaxation." Each can be done discreetly at a desk, in a service truck, or before a customer meeting.  Strong operations require strong people. Build a culture that normalizes check-ins, provides resources, and keeps performance expectations clear. That's how teams protect each other and maintain reliability in the field.  Listen to the full conversation above. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps    02:20 - Trace welcome Industrial Water Week is next week and why it's our "Super Bowl" 11:38 — Water You Know with James McDonald 13: 11 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals    15:14 - Introduction for Dr. Andy Melton 15:35 - Andy's background 19:06 - Why mental health is hard to discuss at work; stigma and judgment 21:40 - Cognitive/physical signs: negative self-talk, fatigue, headaches, stomach issues 23:33 — Why self-awareness is hard; "mirror" idea of counseling/coaching 24:21 — Self "dashboard": sleep and eating as early indicators 26:22 — Employer question: caring without crossing the line 31:44 — Impact on teammates and operations; why the talk still must happen 32:06 — Culture: build trust so care is believed 36:12 — Psychological safety: education via outside counselors/coaches; offer EAPs 42:07 — 988 explained; local mobile crisis teams and how they respond 45:06 — Awareness first: listen to body; define "stress" simply 48:27 — Grounding overview: techniques to reunite mind and body   Quotes  Struggles in mental health still have stigma… but I do think there are ways to handle this sensitive subject in the workplace. It is really challenging as an employer to be a neutral sort of resource in someone's life.      Connect with Dr. Andy Melton Phone: 615-669-4105  Email: andy@meltoncounseling.com   Website: www.andymelton.com   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andymeltonphd     Guest Resources Mentioned   The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth by Amy C. Edmondson  Crucial Conversations (Third Edition): Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Joseph Grenny (Author, Narrator), Kerry Patterson (Author), Ron McMillan (Author), Al Switzler (Author), Emily Gregory (Author, Narrator), McGraw Hill-Ascent Audio (Publisher)  Crucial Conversations Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler Downloadable materials for workplace mental health presentations  Radical Candor: Fully Revised & Updated Edition: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity by Kim Scott   Radical Candor | Feedback Training, Coaching & Consulting  Mental Health America (MHA)  Melton Counseling  988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind The Analyst (Summer 2025) - Ways to Improve Mental Health in Workplace by R Trace Blackmore, CWT, LEED AP Water Cake Recipe  Industrial Water Week   Water You Know with James   Question: What do you call the waste stream coming out of a reverse osmosis unit?    2025 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE. 

03/10/2025 • 67:17

What happens when cities become "networked"—and water systems start telling us what they need in real time? In this episode, Trace Blackmore speaks with Christine McHugh (CEO, White Strand Development) about practical smart-city strategies for water: real-time monitoring, digital twins, and IoT/AI approaches that turn Legionella control from periodic testing into continuous risk management. Christine frames smart water not as gadgets, but as a disciplined, data-driven process that improves human health, operational efficiency, and insurability. Building the "Networked" City: A Practical Definition   Christine defines a smart city as a networked one—linking health, energy, waste, and water through technology that measures and correlates across systems. The aim isn't novelty; it's safer drinking water and safer water environments via better data and faster decisions. Digital twins, decentralized treatment, and AI-enabled pattern recognition help teams move from "single point-in-time readings" to persistent trends they can act on. Legionella Risk, Reframed as Strategy   Most water programs still sample periodically, waiting days for results. Christine argues the future is pattern-based, proactive control: track temperature, stagnation/flow, and disinfectant continuously; intervene when pattern thresholds indicate elevated risk. This lens aligns water quality, human wellness, and insurance risk reduction, encouraging property insurers and building owners to incentivize water science as part of smart-building operations.  From Sensors to Sense-Making: Hierarchy, Data Lakes, and Reporting  Adding devices isn't enough. Christine stresses a hierarchy of sensors and data governance so operations, engineering, and ESG teams aren't running conflicting reports from siloed sources (BMS vs. cloud dashboards). Her model: create a data lake with agreed-upon sources of truth and standardized outputs so every stakeholder "sees the same movie."  Case Studies & What "Good" Looks Like  Christine highlights programs that combined water management plans, continuous disinfectant monitoring, and campus-scale digital twins—reducing manual tests, achieving compliance, and cutting consumption. European hospitals using IoT on hot-water systems report faster compliance and fewer manual interventions. The pattern: real-time insight + trained people + maintenance and reporting contracts = measurable risk reduction.  Cybersecurity: Close the Back Doors  Smart water raises legitimate cyber concerns. Christine's guidance: encrypt all sensor communications, hire experts to penetration-test your own systems, and watch for unexpected bridges (e.g., HVAC or even "non-critical" devices) into critical networks. OT/IT segmentation, alert transparency, and a culture of continuous testing matter as much as the sensors themselves.  Public–Private Partnerships (with Academia)  The fastest path to adoption pairs public oversight and access to infrastructure with private-sector technology and capital—and an academic partner for research and validation. Clear performance metrics and maintained as-builts keep pilots honest and scalable.  Resilience: Droughts, Floods, and Stormwater  Smart networks matter beyond Legionella. Real-time consumption, leak detection, and pressure management minimize waste during droughts; stormwater and wastewater sensors prevent overflows that contaminate receiving waters during floods. Long-running sensor programs abroad show how a single resort area eliminated contamination events by instrumenting the system and responding to alerts.  Emerging Tech to Watch  From self-healing pipes and biosensors to drone inspections and AI-orchestrated networks, Christine sees water systems becoming more like natural ecosystems—self-regulating, adaptive, and resilient—while humans supervise exceptions and validate performance.  For industrial water professionals, the takeaway is clear: treat smart water as an integrated risk-management system, not a pile of devices. Invest in sensor hierarchy, unified data, and team training, and align the work with safety and insurance outcomes. That's how you protect people, performance, and the balance sheet. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps  02:37 - Trace Blackmore kicks off the episode by reminiscing about the TV show Leave It to Beaver and how families used to watch together in the 1950s.  08:40 - Water You Know with James McDonald  09:48 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals   12:20 - Interview with Christine McHugh, CEO of White Strand Development  13:03 -  What Is a Smart City?   15:13 - Risk Reduction as Strategy   16:23 – Real-Time Monitoring: Core Controls  17:06 - Smart Fixtures & "Only When Needed" Flushing  19:28 — Duplication, BMS vs Cloud, Data Governance  25:03 — Case Studies: VT & Copenhagen University Hospital  31:59— Cybersecurity: Water Systems at Risk  40:21— City Resilience: Drought & Flooding  41:59 — Emerging Tech to Watch    Quotes  "Technology will give us real-time patterns, and… by just having that pattern recognition, we have power to be more proactive."   "We really should be trying to break into our own system or hiring people to break into our own system… the bad guys will find it as well."   "Creating a water system that's more like a natural ecosystem… self-regulating, adaptive, and maximizes both efficiency and resiliency."    Connect with Christine McHugh Phone: 9179409383  Email: christine.mchugh@whitestrand.com  Website: White Strand Development  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-a-mchugh/     Guest Resources Mentioned   Practitioners' Perspective on the Prevalent Water Quality Management Practices for Legionella Control in Large Buildings in the United States  Tenets of a holistic approach to drinking water-associated pathogen research, management, and communication   Smart Cities, Copenhagen and the Power of Data   Chlorine Disinfection of Legionella spp., L. pneumophila, and Acanthamoeba under Warm Water Premise Plumbing Conditions  NLM's Water heater temperature set point and water use patterns influence Legionella pneumophila and associated microorganisms at the tap    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind  Industrial Water Week     Water You Know with James McDonald  Question: What type of resin is primarily used in a sodium zeolite water softener?    2025 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.   

26/09/2025 • 53:07

Can a carbon-negative, bio-based molecule replace legacy phosphonates and help you use less azole—without sacrificing corrosion performance? In this episode, host Trace Blackmore, CWT, welcomes Matheus Paschoalino, PhD Senior Business Development Manager and Microbial Control SME of Solugen, to unpack polyhydroxycarboxylic acids (PHCs) and how they're changing cooling-water programs from the field up. We cover HEDP replacement in light-duty systems, azole enhancement in copper-challenged waters, a second-generation cut for heavy-duty heat flux, and PHC behavior with oxidizers and non-oxidizer biocides.  From Bioforge to Basin: How PHCs Are Made and Why It Matters  Paschoalino explains Solugen's chemo-enzymatic "Bioforge" approach that oxidizes sugars (corn-syrup feedstock) into PHCs with very high yield and no practical byproducts—a pathway validated as carbon-negative. He outlines how different "cuts" (monoacid-rich vs. diacid-rich) map to different use cases, and notes current manufacturing capacity and adoption across hundreds of towers.  Replacing HEDP in Light-Duty Programs  For hospitals, HVAC, and other light-duty systems, PHCs have fully replaced HEDP as the anodic corrosion inhibitor while keeping PBTC for scale, enabling lower total phosphorus formulations with equal or better performance compared to status-quo organics.  Azole Enhancement, Free Copper, and Real-World Cost  Field work showed PHCs chelate metals quickly, protecting azole demand when free copper is present (e.g., after oxidizer flushing) and reducing expensive azole overdosing. One university case dropped an adjunct 8-ppm azole feed by pairing the base 3–4 ppm azole with PHC, yielding both corrosion control and lower discharge costs.  Second-Generation PHCs for Heavy-Duty Heat Flux (Toward "Neutral Phosphorus")  At higher heat flux and stabilized-phosphate conditions, a diacid-rich second-generation PHC proved more stable, enabling orthophosphate reduction and opening a path toward "neutral phosphorus" programs that leverage background phosphate in municipal make-up. Bench data also show synergy with trace metals (e.g., zinc).  Biocide Potentiation and Where It Works Best PHCs remain stable with oxidizers like chlorine dioxide and bleach. Their most compelling synergy shows up with non-oxidizers and peracetic acid (PAA): as a biocide potentiator, PHCs can reduce the need to overdose actives such as THPS, glutaraldehyde, quats, and DBNPA by first complexing interfering metals (e.g., Fe/FeS), letting the biocide perform as intended.  Not "Bug Food": Pilot Cooling Towers and Oxidizer Demand  To address the industry's biggest concern with bio-based chemistries, Solugen ran side-by-side outdoor pilot cooling towers under identical bleach control. Result: comparable oxidizer usage and consistently low counts versus HEDP—evidence that PHCs don't fuel biofilm.  Chelation Mechanics, Polymer Savings, and White Rust  PHCs chelate beyond acid-group stoichiometry thanks to multiple hydroxyls and conformational effects—critical for controlling dissolved metals and protecting films. In stressed heat-flux/chlorine conditions, PHCs reduced calcium-phosphate fouling versus HEDP, often allowing polymer dosage cuts. Early data also show promise for white-rust mitigation on galvanized systems, with the diacid-rich cut delivering the strongest reductions.  For practitioners, the message is pragmatic: PHCs aren't "lab curiosities." They're fielded at scale, enabling lower-phosphorus programs, protecting costly azole inventories, widening the operational window under oxidizer stress, and potentiating select biocides—while staying compatible with common metals. If you manage cooling assets under cost, compliance, and performance pressure, this episode gives you a clear technical playbook to evaluate.  Listen now, review the papers in the show notes, and test a pilot where it counts—on your heat exchangers.  Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps  02:15 - Trace Blackmore shares a quick personal open: spotting the Goodyear Blimp (100th anniversary), using memories as fuel rather than limits, and a mindset reset around the word "can't."  06:42 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals   09:23 - Water You Know with James McDonald  11:41 - Interview with Matheus Paschoalino, Senior Business Development Manager and Microbial Control SME of Solugen  12:02 - HEDP replacement in light-duty programs; lower total phosphorus without losing performance  19:13 - Heavy-duty heat flux: second-generation (diacid-rich) PHCs and reducing orthophosphate  20:39 - "Neutral phosphorus" approach  27:42 - Biocide potentiation: synergy with PAA; strongest effects with non-oxidizers (e.g., THPS)  33:03 - "Bug food?" Pilot side-by-side cooling towers (Houston)  37:39 - HEDP systems fouled with calcium phosphate while PHC system showed only minor patching (CTI paper)  41:44 - Early evidence: white-rust mitigation on galvanized systems (seeking field partners)    Quotes  "Use your past as history, not as a limiter." - Trace Blackmore  "Plan where you'll be; you never know what you'll learn or who you'll meet." - Trace Blackmore   "First-gen PHCs let us replace HEDP in light-duty programs and keep performance with lower total phosphorus." - Matheus Paschoalino  "Non-oxidizing biocides work best with PHCs—we target the metals first so you stop over-dosing the biocide." - Matheus Paschoalino  "We like to be very conservative… we start with the laboratory; we start with light duty. Now we are going to heavy duty."    Connect with Matheus Paschoalino, PhD   Phone: 14847193979  Email: matheus.paschoalino@solugen.com  Website: Home - New - Solugen | Solugen  LinkedIn: Matheus P. Paschoalino, PhD | LinkedIn  Solugen: Overview | LinkedIn     Guest Resources Mentioned   I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys   Blog entitled "Achieving Phosphorus-Neutral Cooling Treatment Using Carbon-Negative Additives" by Solugen Verza360® Enables Cost Savings with Effective Biocide Potentiation in Produced Water - Oil & Gas Solutions Case Study by Solugen  2025 Winter Issue of CTI Journal paper TP24-16, "Toward Phosphorus-Neutral Cooling Tower Treatment Using Carbon-Negative Environmentally Friendly Additive"  Presentation at AMPP entitled "Novel Biobased Carbon-Negative Corrosion Inhibitors Enabling Environmentally Friendliness"    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind   Water You Know with James McDonald  Question: Back in the day, what was the treatment used for corrosion inhibition in cooling water systems that was banned around 1985 in the United States from widespread use due to its toxicological impact?    2025 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.   

19/09/2025 • 57:17

What if HR wasn't the department you dreaded — but the partner that helped your team thrive?  In this episode of Scaling UP! H2O, host Trace Blackmore welcomes Tia Amundson, HR Director at HOH Water Technology, to explore how human resources can be a strategic driver of talent, culture, and profitability in the water treatment industry.  Redefining HR's Role  Tia shares her journey into water treatment and how she built HOH's HR department from the ground up. Instead of treating HR as a compliance function, she reframed it as a leadership partner—focused on employee connections, transparent communication, and culture building. From structured check-ins at 30, 60, and 90 days to coaching managers and bridging communication gaps, her approach ensures employees feel supported, heard, and connected.  Culture as Competitive Advantage  HOH's success story demonstrates how culture directly shapes business outcomes. Tia explains how open-book management, employee engagement surveys, and intentional recognition programs have increased retention, profitability, and trust across the organization. By aligning HR strategies with EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System), HOH has cultivated an environment where employees thrive and deliver exceptional service.  Talent, Retention, and the Future of HR  Finding and retaining the right people remains one of the industry's biggest challenges. Tia outlines the importance of a clear employee value proposition, authentic recruiting practices, and a commitment to work-life balance. She also discusses how HR will evolve over the next decade, balancing automation with the irreplaceable human element of caring for people.  Dream Management and Employee Growth  As a Certified Dream Manager, Tia integrates personal growth with professional development. By helping employees pursue their own dreams, HOH has fostered deeper engagement, loyalty, and breakthroughs that extend far beyond the workplace.  Conclusion  For leaders in the water treatment industry, this episode challenges you to view HR not as a cost center, but as a powerful lever for long-term success. Strategic HR practices can reduce turnover, build culture, and give your organization a competitive edge.  Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps  02:28 - Trace Blackmore welcomes listeners, shares personal "sharpen the saw" growth theme  04:53 - Sharpen-the-saw story  08:10 - Water You Know with James McDonald  10:05 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals   13:15 - Interview with a friend and Rising Tide Mastermind member Tia Amundson, HR Director, HOH Water Technology   13:30 - HR as employee connection + leadership alignment, not a "principal's office"  16:32 - From hiring to long-term care  19:14 - Coaching managers  23:49 - Turnover → P&L  33:12 – Recruitment Realities   44:03 – Dream Manager Program  48:11 – Overcoming Skepticism   50:02 – The Future of HR  51:13 – Start/Stop for HR  52:50 – Foundational operating system (EOS) first    Quotes  "HR isn't about punishment—it's about building trust, culture, and strategic advantage."  "Pour into your employees, and they will pour into their work. That discretionary effort is what differentiates great companies."  "Open communication and transparency aren't soft skills—they're the foundation of an intentional culture."  "We started this interview saying we'd shatter how people think about HR—and I think we've shattered about a dozen things already."   "When you engage employees in their personal dreams, you directly impact workplace engagement."    Connect with Tia Amundson Phone: +12247721377  Email: tamundson@hohwatertechnology.com   Website: www.hohwatertechnology.com   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tia-amundson-shrm-cp/     Guest Resources Mentioned   HOH Water Technology   EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System)   Gallup Q12 Engagement Survey   The Dream Manager by Matthew Kelly  How to Be a Great Boss: Gino Wickman, René Boer  Traction by Gino Wickman  Three Signs of a Miserable Job by Patrick Lencioni   Wellbeing at Work: How to Build Resilient and Thriving Teams by Jim Clifton (Author) & Jim Harter   People: Dare to Build an Intentional Culture (The EOS Mastery Series) by Mark O'Donnell (Author), Kelly Knight (Author), CJ DuBe' (Author)   Beyond High Performance by Jason Jaggard    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Industrial Water Week  Scaling UP! H2O's Industrial Water Week Resources Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind   Water You Know with James McDonald  Question: What are some reasons for softener resin beads to crack?    2025 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.     

12/09/2025 • 66:48

With those words, Jemma Tennant highlights one of the most profound differences between Legionella management in Europe and the United States. In this episode of Scaling UP! H2O, host Trace Blackmore welcomes Jemma Tennant, Chair of the Water Management Society (WMSoc), to explore how legislation, enforcement, and professional training shape the fight against Legionella.   Proactive Regulation and Duty of Care  The UK treats Legionella as a foreseeable and preventable risk. Jemma explains how laws like the Health and Safety at Work Act and COSHH Regulations require mandatory Legionella risk assessments, temperature monitoring, and written control schemes—even when no cases have occurred. This contrasts with the U.S., where ASHRAE 188 serves as guidance rather than enforceable law, often triggering enforcement only after outbreaks.  Jemma shares a case study where a housing association was fined £1.2 million despite no recorded illness, underscoring the UK's proactive stance on protecting public health. Hospitals, Design, and Emerging Challenges  From hospital plumbing layouts to new "waterless" intensive care units, Jemma details how design choices can either mitigate or magnify waterborne risk. Scotland's model of involving water safety groups at the design stage provides a proactive example for healthcare worldwide. She also outlines how climate change, net-zero initiatives, and rising ambient temperatures are complicating control strategies across Europe.  Raising Standards Through Collaboration  As Chair of WMSoc, Jemma is leading efforts to raise industry standards and reverse what she calls a "race to the bottom." She describes partnerships with AWT in the U.S. and LMAG in Australia to share expertise across borders. The episode also explores her pursuit of the Certified Water Technologist (CWT) credential and her vision for adapting the certification for UK professionals.  Conclusion  This conversation is a call to action for water treatment professionals everywhere: regulations, standards, and collaboration matter. Whether in cooling towers, hospitals, or housing estates, Legionella management requires vigilance, shared knowledge, and a commitment to raising the bar. Listen to the full episode and discover how global collaboration can shape safer water management practices.  Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps 01:55 - Trace Blackmore introduces the final installment of Legionella Awareness Month 2025  05:30 - Water You Know with James McDonald   07:30 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals     14:50 - Interview with Jemma Tennant, SMS Environmental, Chair of the Water Management Society (WMSoc)  15:24 - Jemma's background: growing up in the U.S. and UK, science upbringing, rotifers, and wastewater treatment career.  32:25 - The Water Management Society: structure, training, collaboration with AWT and LMAG  43:00 - Raising industry standards: combating the "race to the bottom" in UK water treatment.    Quotes "In the UK, we're prosecuted for the potential for harm, not just actual harm. Legionella is treated as a foreseeable and preventable risk."  "It's the transition between just doing the task to understanding the why behind the task."  "We're seeing a serious drop in industry standards—a race to the bottom—and that's why raising the bar is so important."  "At the end of it, the CWT covers everything. You end up being a complete water treater."  "Always be honest when you don't know the answer, then go and learn. That's how you grow."   Connect with Jemma Tennant Phone: 447828315336  Email: j.tennant@sms-environmental.co.uk   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jemma-tennant-mwmsoc-2636985b/    Guest Resources Mentioned  Water Management Society (WMSoc)  LMAG - Legionella Management Advisory Group - LMAG  The Women by Kristin Hannah (Author)  HTM 04-01 – UK healthcare water safety standards  The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH Regulations 2002)  Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974  UKAS Accreditation  ANAB (US Laboratory Accreditation)    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 188-2021 for Legionnaires' Disease Risk Management  ASHRAE Standard-188-2021, Building Water Management Plans – Summary  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind Ep 101 The One with Colin Frayne, CWT  Ep 203 The One With Our Across The Pond Legionella Expert, John Sandford  Ep 370 Unlocking Legionella Solutions: Perspectives on Regulations and Best Practices    Water You Know with James McDonald Question: Does Hydroxide Alkalinity in a steam boiler water ALWAYS equal 2P-M?   2025 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.     

05/09/2025 • 51:12

Legionella remains one of the most complex challenges for water professionals worldwide. How do we balance effective monitoring with realistic costs—and which strategies deliver true public health impact? In this episode, Trace Blackmore welcomes Dr. Vincenzo Romano Spica,  Head Public Health University of Rome "Foro Italico to explore new insights from his comparative research on Legionella control. Reframing Legionella Risk  Dr. Spica explains why public health data increasingly points to Legionella pneumophila—not all Legionella species—as the primary concern for human health. He shares how pan-European data modeling and peer-reviewed studies demonstrate that broad-spectrum monitoring may overburden systems without delivering proportional safety gains.  Cost-Benefit Models and Sustainability  Water professionals know that testing and compliance require resources. Dr. Spica discusses cost-benefit analysis frameworks that help decision-makers evaluate where investments deliver the greatest reduction in risk. He also highlights the sustainability implications of over-testing, from lab resources to environmental waste streams.  European Regulations and Legal Liability  The conversation also explores the European Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, national approaches to Legionella, and how liability shifts when contamination is detected. Dr. Spica's insights illuminate what building owners, operators, and regulators must weigh as they update management plans.  Conclusion  For engineers, operators, and technical managers, this episode provides a clear framework for thinking about Legionella beyond routine testing. It's about focusing on the pathogen that truly drives disease outcomes, aligning regulatory strategy with science, and applying resources where they matter most.  Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps    02:24 - Trace opens the episode, welcoming listeners to Legionella Awareness Month and framing the call to action  05:37 - Water You Know with James McDonald  10:04 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals   14:06 - Trace introduces Dr. Vincenzo Romano Spica, Head of Public Health at the University of Rome Foro Italico   17:22 - Dr. Spica outlines why Legionella pneumophila is the main pathogen of concern in Europe 35:04 - Dr. Spica explains Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) as a measure of public health burden  44:08 - Monitoring strategies and how different culture methods affect outcomes  46:16 - The role of water temperature in Legionella proliferation    Quotes  "Not all Legionella are equal—public health data shows us it's Legionella pneumophila that drives the real risk."  "Testing everything may look safer on paper, but in practice, it diverts resources from where they can have the greatest impact."  "Risk management should not be a checklist; it should be a strategic allocation of resources aligned with outcomes."  "European data models show that a targeted approach can deliver both better safety and greater sustainability."    Connect with Dr. Vincenzo Romano Spica   Phone: +39.06.36733247 Email: vincenzo.romanospica@uniroma4.it  LinkedIn: vincenzo romano spica | LinkedIn        Guest Resources Mentioned   Legionnaires' Disease Surveillance and Public Health Policies in Italy: A Mathematical Model for Assessing Prevention Strategies by Dr. Spica et. al  Alessando Cassini's Burden of Infectious Diseases in Europe methodological challenges and opportunities for public health policy  NLM's Impact of infectious diseases on population health using incidence-based disability-adjusted life years (DALYs): results from the Burden of Communicable Diseases in Europe study, European Union and European Economic Area countries, 2009 to 2013  Supplemental information: Impact of UAT Diagnostic Methods on Estimates of Legionnaires' disease Caused by non-pneumophila Legionella    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  Scaling UP! H2O's Legionella Resources Library  434 Encore Interview with Patsy Root    Water You Know with James McDonald  Question: What is it called when a valve is closed at the end of a pipeline system causing a pressure wave to propagate in the pipe and a loud banging sound?    2025 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.     

29/08/2025 • 72:32

"Rules written in a panic rarely stand the test of time."   In this encore episode, Trace Blackmore welcomes back Patsy Root, Senior Manager of Government Affairs at IDEXX Water and active member of the AWT Legislative and Regulatory Committee. Patsy brings global data, case studies, and clear recommendations for smarter Legionella regulation — and why a targeted focus on Legionella pneumophila can save both lives and resources.   From Outbreaks to Proactive Policies  Patsy unpacks a central truth: most regulations emerge reactively, often after a high-profile outbreak. Drawing on her research from the U.S., Canada, and Europe, she compares different jurisdictions' approaches — from Quebec's targeted testing mandate to New York City's broader species-based rule — and reveals why some frameworks reduce cases far more effectively than others.  The Case for Targeted Testing  Legionella encompasses around 60 species, but not all carry equal risk. Patsy explains why L. pneumophila — the species most responsible for Legionnaires' disease — demands priority in monitoring and control. Through examples from France, Germany, the UK, and beyond, she demonstrates how focusing on the pathogen itself, rather than all species, leads to measurable public health gains and cost savings.  Educating Lawmakers and Industry  Beyond technical data, Patsy emphasizes the importance of water professionals engaging with legislators. She outlines how clear communication, evidence-based recommendations, and standards like ASHRAE 188 can guide practical, enforceable rules. Her advice balances science with real-world feasibility, helping both regulators and facility managers protect health without unnecessary expense.  This conversation is more than a policy discussion — it's a blueprint for better public health protection through smart, focused water management. Whether you work in compliance, operations, or advocacy, Patsy's insights will equip you to engage in the legislative process with clarity and authority. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps 01:52 - Trace opens with Legionella Awareness Month reflections and the importance of challenging industry assumptions   05:38 - Water You Know with James McDonald  07:13 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals  09:47 - Introduction to guest Patsy Root, Senior Manager of Government Affairs at IDEXX Water and member of AWT's Legislative & Regulatory Committee.  17:31 - Global comparison of Legionella-related laws and guidelines  27:03 - Understanding Legionella species vs. L. pneumophila  44:42 - Legislative engagement tips for water professionals    Quotes  "The worst time to write a rule is when you're in the middle of a panic."  "Finding Legionella species is not the same risk level as finding L. pneumophila — and the data prove it."  "Keep the hot water hot, keep the cold water cold, keep the water moving, and keep a decent disinfectant."  "Biology fascinates me — the fact that bacteria can signal each other to come join a good spot is both creepy and amazing."  "When lawmakers understand how preventable this disease is, they can become champions for real change."    Connect with Patsy Root Phone: 207-523-0835  Email: Patsy-root@IDEXX.COM   Website: https://www.idexx.com/en/water/    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/idexx-laboratories/    Guest Resources Mentioned   CDC Toolkit: Developing a Legionella Water Management Program  IDEXX Legiolert® Testing Method  IDEXX's Why test for Legionella pneumophila to prevent Legionnaires' disease?  Data and Case Study of Effective Legionella Regulations by Patsy Root   NASEM's Management of Legionella in Water Systems (2019)   MD 15161 – 2013 Control of Legionella in Mechanical Systems  Assessment of monitoring approaches to control Legionella pneumophila within a complex cooling tower system by Michele Prevost et al   The Legionella collagen-like protein employs a distinct binding mechanism for the recognition of host glycosaminoglycans by Garnett et al   The 5 bacterial indicators used by WHO were published in 2013 by Dufour et al   The 5 bacterial indicators used by WHO covered by KWR Publication starting on Page 54 – Section 7.4.4.  Canada Legionella bacteria control in federal buildings  Leveraging regulatory monitoring data for quantitative microbial risk assessment of Legionella pneumophila in cooling towers  NYC Data Catalog about Cooling Tower Registrations  NYC Health's Cooling Tower Registration and Maintenance    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned AWT (Association of Water Technologies)   AWT's Legislative/Regulatory Committee   Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind  403 Navigating the New Frontier: Patsy Root on Legionella Legislation   Scaling UP! H2O's Legionella Resources Library  ASHRAE Standard-188-2021, Building Water Management Plans – Summary    Water You Know with James   Question: What is the mass balance around a cooling tower?    2025 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.   

22/08/2025 • 56:00

What if preventing Legionella outbreaks wasn't about adding more chemicals, but removing what the bacteria needs to survive? In this episode of Scaling UP! H2O, host Trace Blackmore talks with Dr. David Krause, Certified Industrial Hygienist, toxicologist, and founder of HC3, about his groundbreaking approach — LIDO (Legionella Inhibition by Deoxygenation). Legionella on the Rise  Dr. Krause has investigated high-profile Legionella outbreaks and seen firsthand how current prevention strategies often fall short. Despite ASHRAE 188 standards, CMS requirements, and increasing water management plan adoption, Legionella cases continue to climb — often due to infrastructure issues, insufficient monitoring, and a lack of evidence-based guidance.  Inside an Outbreak Investigation  From the first call at 4:30 on a Friday to the coordination between local health departments, state agencies, and the CDC, Krause explains the rigorous (and sometimes chaotic) process of pinpointing outbreak sources. He also reveals why public communication can make or break an outbreak response.  Introducing LIDO Technology  Rather than relying solely on chemical disinfection, LIDO uses gas transfer membrane contactors to remove dissolved oxygen from hot water systems. Legionella can't thrive below 0.3 ppm DO — meaning systems treated with LIDO create an inhospitable environment for growth. Krause shares lab results, pilot project findings, and how this approach could extend system life while reducing corrosion and byproducts. The Bigger Picture  This episode goes beyond technology — it's about rethinking water management, building better outbreak communication, and challenging industry norms. Whether you're a facility manager, water treater, or public health professional, Krause's insights will shift the way you think about Legionella control.   Prevention starts with awareness — and action. Dr. Krause's work shows there's more than one path to safer water systems, and innovation comes from asking better questions.  Listen now to discover how Legionella investigations unfold and how LIDO technology could reshape prevention. Download the free discussion guide located at Connect with the Guest section, and start the conversation with your team.  Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps   02:24 - Trace Blackmore shares an Introduction to Legionella Awareness Month and the value of ANSI/ASHRAE 188, ASSE 12080 certification  08:17 - Water You Know with James McDonald  11:52 - Interview with Dr. David Krause and his background in public health, toxicology, and Legionella Investigations   16:36 - Why cases are rising despite standards, plans, and certifications  21:39 - The significance of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 vs. other species  26:38 - Media influence on outbreak perception and the need for accurate communication  31:15 - Business risks of not having a water management plan  41:48 - How LIDO works: removing dissolved oxygen to prevent Legionella growth  48:41 - Current pilot projects and operational considerations    Quotes  "Legionella is an obligate aerobe – without dissolved oxygen, it simply can't grow." "An ounce of prevention is worth ten pounds of cure when it comes to water management plans." "Once an outbreak starts, testing becomes your life." "We have so much information on waterborne pathogens – the challenge is making a habit of learning the next thing."   Connect with Dr. David Krause Phone: 850-766-1938   Email: dkrause@HC3FL.com   Website: http://www.hc3fl.com/   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidkrause/     Guest Resources Mentioned   AIHA – Recognition, Evaluation, and Control of Legionella in Building Water Systems (2nd Edition, 2022)   ACGIH – Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control (Red Book, Updated Edition)   IDSA's 'Increasing Incidence of Legionellosis in the United States, 1990–2005: Changing Epidemiologic Trends'   Legionella and the Role of Dissolved Oxygen in Its Growth and Inhibition: A Review by J. David Krause   Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene Controlling Legionella pneumophila growth in hot water systems by reducing dissolved oxygen levels by J. David Krause   CSTE – National Legionellosis Case Definitions (2020)  LIDO: A Revolutionary Approach to Legionella Management    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  Scaling UP! H2O's Legionella Resources Library   ASHRAE Standard 188 (Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems)  ASHRAE-188-2021-Summary-Technical-Bulletin_01.pdf    Water You Know with James Question: Despite all the training, engineering controls, policies, regulations, laws, and direction, at the end of the day, who is most responsible for your personal safety?    2025 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.     

15/08/2025 • 65:06

"Just because you have a water management plan doesn't mean it's working."  That's the hard truth Matt Freije, founder and CEO of HC Info, delivers in this episode of Scaling UP! H2O. As the architect behind LAMPS — a leading cloud-based platform for water management programs — Matt joins Trace Blackmore to explore the critical evolution of water safety, compliance standards, and real-world implementation challenges facing facilities in 2025.   Beyond the Binder: Water Management Plans That Actually Work  In an era of heightened awareness and shifting regulations, simply checking the compliance box is no longer enough. Matt walks us through the CDC data and ASHRAE findings that make a strong case for active, ongoing water management — not just documentation. Drawing from recent outbreak investigations, he explains why implementation, not content, is often the root failure.  Trace and Matt discuss the widespread misconception that water management plans guarantee zero Legionella. They also address the real barriers preventing facilities from taking action — from budget limitations to internal roadblocks — and what water professionals can do to influence smarter, risk-based decisions. Regulatory Pressure, AI Integration, and What's Coming Next  With ASHRAE 514, AAMI ST108, and ASSE 12080 gaining ground, the water industry is seeing increased scrutiny, especially in healthcare and hospitality facilities. Matt outlines how these evolving standards are transforming expectations and forcing a shift in accountability.  The conversation takes a forward-looking turn as they explore the power of AI and aggregated analytics to optimize pathogen control. With 10,000 buildings in the LAMPS system, HC Info is preparing to offer data that could shape public health outcomes nationwide — a move that could redefine how we benchmark performance and interpret Legionella test data at scale. Culture, Purpose, and Long-Term Vision  As a mechanical engineer with an epidemiology background, Matt also reflects on the human side of leadership — from building a values-driven team to embracing his faith as a cornerstone of decision-making. His message for water treaters is clear: "Either do it well or don't do it."  For facilities leaders, his advice is to stop fearing complexity and start leveraging the tools available — because water management done right can improve not just compliance, but health outcomes, asset longevity, and operational resilience. Conclusion  This episode is a masterclass in how to future-proof your water safety strategy. With actionable insights, emerging technologies, and a clear call to accountability, Matt Freije reminds us that smart water management is both a technical responsibility and a moral imperative.  Listen to the full conversation to understand how new standards, digital tools, and intentional leadership are shaping the future of water safety. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps   04:50 – Trace reflects on feedback from listeners who learned the origins of Legionella and how re-telling important stories is essential in water treatment education  06:49 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals 12:44 – Water You Know with James McDonald  14:14 – Introduction with Matt Freije returning guest   15:46 – Biggest Challenges in Water Management Plans Today  19:47 – Regulatory Evolution: ASHRAE 514, ASC 12080, and Joint Commission Inspections  44:14 – The Document is Not the Plan: Why Systems Must Be Implemented  48:08 – Impact and Adoption: Why Water Management Plans Truly Matter    Quotes  "Either do it well, or don't do it. A half-hearted water management plan can do more harm than good."   "Most facilities still don't have a water management plan — and many don't even know what one is."  "Just because you had the conversation once doesn't mean it stuck. With Legionella, repeating the important things is critical."  "Analytics should make the problem obvious — you shouldn't need a PhD to interpret what your water data is telling you."    Connect with Matt Freije  Email: mfreije@hcinfo.com Website: Legionella Water Management Plans  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattfreije    Guest Resources Mentioned   HC Info  ASHRAE Standard 188 (Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems)   ASSE 12080 Certification: Professional Qualifications for Legionella Water Safety and Management Personnel  Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health by Casey Means  The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown   John Adams by David McCullough (Audiobook)   John Adams by David McCullough (Paperback)    Keep Your Love On: Connection Communication and Boundaries by Danny Silk (Paperback)  The Bible (KJV)     Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind   Legionella Resources Library  ANSI/AAMI ST108:2023 Water for the Processing of Medical Services   ASSE 12080 Training & Certification, Get certified to the ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI 12080 Standard: Professional Qualifications Standard for Legionella Water Safety and Management Personnel  CDC's  Key Findings: Outbreaks and Water Management Gaps (2015–2019 review of Legionnaires' disease investigations   083 The One About Water Management Plans   431 Legionella Awareness Month Kickoff!    Water You Know with James McDonald  Question: What do we call the formation and subsequent collapse of vapor-filled bubbles in water due to rapid pressure changes?    2025 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.       

08/08/2025 • 58:46

Are You Ready to Talk About Legionella?  Every August, we dedicate an entire month to a topic that touches public health, liability, and the core of what water treaters do — yet it's still misunderstood by many: Legionella.  In this episode, Trace Blackmore kicks off Legionella Awareness Month by returning to the basics. Where did Legionella get its name? What makes it dangerous? And why is there still confusion between a water treatment program and a water management plan?  Tracing It Back: History, Misconceptions, and Missed Conversations  Trace opens with the 1976 American Legion outbreak in Philadelphia — the moment the medical and water treatment worlds collided. He explains how the bacteria was identified, how the term Legionella pneumophila came to be, and how Pontiac Fever and Legionnaires' Disease represent two ends of the same pathogenic spectrum.  But more importantly, he challenges us to think critically about the language we use. Saying "Legionella" casually — without understanding whether we're referring to the bacteria, the illness, or the implications of a test result — can lead to major breakdowns in communication between service providers and facility managers.  A Water Treatment Program Is Not a Legionella Plan  Many professionals know how to deliver great chemical treatment. But too often, when a Legionella test comes back positive, the customer assumes the water treater is responsible. This episode explains how that misunderstanding happens—and how to prevent it through proactive, well-framed conversations.  Trace walks through why seasonal testing is the bare minimum, what makes a good water management team, and why documentation and pre-approved action plans are essential for clarity and peace of mind when results come in.  He also introduces tools like the CDC Legionella Toolkit, ASHRAE 188, and ASSE 12080—resources every industrial water professional should know and use.  The Systems at Risk — And Why It's Not Just Cooling Towers  Trace breaks down the environments where Legionella thrives cooling towers, stagnant pipes, dead legs, hot water systems with low temperatures, decorative fountains, humidifiers, and spas. He highlights why biofilm protection matters, why heat isn't always enough, and how mixing valves and plumbing design can support both safety and scald prevention.  You'll hear how real-world scenarios unfold—and how one positive test, without the right planning, can lead to panic, blame, and liability risk for everyone involved.  Legionella isn't just a technical issue — it's a human one. Whether you're in the field, managing accounts, or advising clients, this episode offers practical tools and powerful reminders for having the conversations that count.  The professionals who lead these conversations are the ones building trust, avoiding risk, and elevating the industry.   Listen to the full episode and explore the Legionella Resource Library at Legionella Resources. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps    02: 12 – Trace opens the episode with an overview of Legionella Awareness Month  08:47 – Legionella vs. Legionellosis  15:51 – The Miscommunication That Hurts Trust  27:13 – Where Legionella Hides  28:14 – Key Resources  33:22 – Water You Know with James McDonald  34:47– Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals    Quotes  "Cooling towers are guilty until proven innocent — and that's how the industry sees them."  "Legionella is not your responsibility unless you've set the right expectations in writing."  "Don't wait until a test is positive to have the conversation. By then, emotions are already high."  "ASHRAE 188 doesn't prescribe. It describes it. It's up to us to translate it for each system."  "Education isn't just about reading guidelines. It's about knowing how to guide your clients."    Connect with Scaling UP! H2O  Submit a show idea: Submit a Show Idea  LinkedIn: in/traceblackmore/  YouTube: @ScalingUpH2O    Click HERE to Download Episode's Discussion Guide    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  CDC's "Toolkits"  CDC's "Toolkit: Developing a Legionella Water Management Program"  CDC's "Toolkit: Controlling Legionella in Common Sources of Exposure"  ASHRAE 188-2021 "Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems"  CMS Mandates Water Management Programs in Healthcare Facilities  CMS QSO 17 – 30 Memorandum   ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI/CAN Series 12000-2024 (Download)  ASSE's Infection Control and Water Quality  ANSI/AAMI ST108:2023 Water for the Processing of Medical Services    CDC's Routine Legionella Testing Figure 1: A multifactorial approach to performance indicator interpretation  World Health Organization (WHO) 'Legionellosis'     Water You Know with James McDonald  Question: Why is barium chloride used in the standard Hydroxide Alkalinity test?    2025 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.   

01/08/2025 • 39:05