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In this episode we're chatting with Heather Himmelberger, a professional engineer and director of the Southwest Environmental Finance Center. Our conversation features the role of the EFC network, why water systems shouldn't be intimidated by asset management, and her mixed feelings about infrastructure spending. Visit drinkingwaterpodcast.org to learn more and find the full show notes for this episode!

In this episode we're chatting with Dr. Jackie MacDonald Gibson about her work at the intersection of environmental health and public policy. We focus on the disparities that private well users in disadvantaged communities face, even when there is a public water system in close proximity. Visit drinkingwaterpodcast.org to learn more and find the full show notes for this episode!

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

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

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

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

Local efforts are part of a much bigger story. In this episode we continue our conversation with our friends and colleagues at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst. The conversation features challenges facing the water sector, in the US and around the world, and how this team's work is creating solutions. Visit drinkingwaterpodcast.org to learn more and find the full show notes for this episode!

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

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

How can professionals better assist homeowners with treatment decisions? In this episode we're chatting with Eric Yeggy of the Water Quality Association about the organization's code of ethics, considerations when selecting a provider, and the first thing every homeowner needs to do. Visit drinkingwaterpodcast.org to learn more and find the full show notes for this episode!

Jerry Tinoco is passionate about his work in California for the Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC). In this episode we chat about the value of public service, connecting with community members to build trust, and the multiple hats technical assistance providers wear. Visit drinkingwaterpodcast.org to learn more and find the full show notes for this episode!

One of our goals with this podcast is breaking down the silos of our work in water. In this episode, which kicks off Season 2, Nathan Ohle reflects on his experience leading RCAP, the Rural Community Assistance Partnership, for the past five years and the deeper water sector context he'll bring to his new position at the International Economic Development Council. Visit drinkingwaterpodcast.org to learn more and find the full show notes for this episode!

Renters of homes with private wells are among the populations most vulnerable to unsafe water supplies. In this episode we're chatting with Mark Johnson of RCAP Solutions about his own experience as renter in Vermont, challenges in reaching both renters and landlords, and advice for those who want to ensure their water is safe. Visit drinkingwaterpodcast.org to learn more and find the full show notes for this episode!

How do you motivate the public to change their behavior? In this episode we're chatting with PhD student Simon Mooney, who has explored important questions about environmental health communication efforts and risk perception in his research. Visit drinkingwaterpodcast.org to learn more and find the full show notes for this episode!

How do we better understand how groundwater becomes contaminated and the future of our water supplies? Basic and applied research is where it begins. In this episode we're chatting with groundwater geochemist Walt Kelly about our organization, the Illinois State Water Survey, risk communication in groundwater supply planning, and approaches to studying some of today's biggest water quality issues, such as microplastics and lead. Visit drinkingwaterpodcast.org to learn more and find the full show notes for this episode!

How will asset management drive decision-making and funding for water infrastructure? This episode continues our conversation from the previous episode with Art Astarita, a retired technical assistance provider. We touch not only on the future of data acquisition and sharing, but also how this big picture thinking applies to private wells. Visit drinkingwaterpodcast.org to learn more and find the full show notes for this episode!

How do we get to small system sustainability? In this episode we're chatting with Art Astarita about asset management with a small systems lens, focusing on the importance of full cost accounting, funding depreciation, engaging board members with water system planning, and integration of asset management with broader community infrastructure planning. Visit drinkingwaterpodcast.org to learn more and find the full show notes for this episode!

Those who rely on a single well as their source of drinking water have much in common, even as some are regulated and others are not. In this episode we're chatting with Jim Siriano of the American Water Works Association about his diverse career experiences working on small system drinking water issues, including the similarities between private wells and transient non-community systems and the differences between water issues in the east and the west. Visit drinkingwaterpodcast.org to learn more and find the full show notes for this episode!

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

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