Tap Talk Podcast: Season 4 Recap

With our work here on WaterOperator.org as well as our sister program PrivateWellClass.org, our team has a unique national role that weaves in and out of environmental health, water infrastructure, and public policy. While we use our science backgrounds to get the job done well, our purpose is fundamentally about communication. We want to connect people with information and each other.

Tap Talk: The Drinking Water in Rural America Podcast connects professionals across the drinking water community with ideas to extend and enhance our work

The fourth season was released throughout the spring of 2024 and featured the following 12 episodes:

TT037 – Partnership: The More You Give, The More You Get: Tap Talk hosts Steve and Jennifer Wilson look back on the beginnings of WaterOperator.org, discuss the evolution and expansion of our programs, and the value of our partnerships in helping those we serve.

TT038 – Operator Training: It Takes Skill: We chat with Ramzi Mahmood of the Office of Water Programs at California State University, Sacramento, about what he’s learned from his years of teaching and the future of operator training.

TT039 – RCAP at 50: Building Sustainable Rural Communities: A conversation with RCAP CEO Olga Morales-Pate about the challenges of ensuring the sustainability of rural communities, what it means to be a technical assistance provider, and why passion is the most important part of the job.

TT040 – Be the Champion: Building Knowledge with Informal Communities: Steve and Jennifer talk with Bob Dunlevy of U.S. EPA’s Region 7 about building an understanding of asset management in water utilities and how informal communities can be an essential tool for knowledge building.

TT041 – Data: The Key to Private Well Advocacy: A conversation with Amie Shei from the Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts about how data from sampling private wells has been essential to lobbying efforts related to implementing statewide regulations on private well water quality. 

TT042 – Local Solutions: A Key to Growing the Water Workforce (Part 1): We talk about efforts to combat the “silver tsunami” affecting the water workforce with Mike Sullivan, Executive Director of the Northampton Bucks County Municipal Authority; and Shannon Drosnock, Executive Director of the Montgomery Township Municipal Sewer Authority.

TT043 – Local Solutions: A Key to Growing the Water Workforce (Part 2): A continuation of our conversation with Utility Directors from suburban Philadelphia, Mike Sullivan and Shannon Drosnock. In this episode, they talk about the logistics of their internship program, how they appeal to potential participants, and how the model could be duplicated for other utilities across the country.

TT044 – Cybersecurity: Helpful Resources for Small Systems: Our guest Jennifer Lyn Walker, the Director of Infrastructure Cyber Defense for WaterISAC, discusses ways that small utilities can protect themselves from cyberattacks and the growing importance of cybersecurity.

TT045 – Lead Service Line Replacements: Lessons from Cleveland (Part 1): During this episode we talk with Cleveland Water’s Brenda Culler, Lead Program Manager, and Joshua Pecek, Lead Service Line Replacement Work Administrator. We learn about their successful program to replace lead service lines that has landed Cleveland and Cuyahoga County ahead of the LSLR curve.

TT046 – Lead Service Line Replacements: Lessons from Cleveland (Part 2): We continue our conversation with Brenda Culler and Joshua Pecek of Cleveland Water‘s LSLR team. Their program provides a model for other water systems to follow in the development of their own lead service line replacement efforts.

TT047 – Hands-On Training: How to Develop the Water Workforce: Jennifer and Steve talk with Matt Maas, the director of the Environmental Resources Training Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The ERTC is a one-of-a-kind facility with working pilot plants and laboratories that allow students to experience hands-on training throughout the entire certification program. 

TT048 – Solutions-Focused Journalism: Creating Water Stories: In this episode, we welcome Travis Loop, the founder of waterloop, to discuss how to use solutions-focused journalism and storytelling to address our various water problems.

You’re invited to discuss the episodes in our LinkedIn Group and if you choose to share on Twitter, please use the hashtag #TapTalkPodcast. Don’t forget to subscribe via Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app!

Tap Talk Podcast: Season 3 Recap

With our work here on WaterOperator.org as well as our sister program PrivateWellClass.org, our team has a unique national role that weaves in and out of environmental health, water infrastructure, and public policy. While we use our science backgrounds to get the job done well, our purpose is fundamentally about communication. We want to connect people with information and each other.

Tap Talk: The Drinking Water in Rural America Podcast connects professionals across the drinking water community with ideas to extend and enhance our work

The third season was released throughout 2022 & 2023 and featured the following 12 episodes:

TT025 – Understanding Drought and Drinking Water: learn more about drought issues across the U.S. and how water and health professionals can network with experts in this area.

TT026 – Focusing on the Customer: perspectives from a water well contractor and industry expert on customer knowledge, shifts in the industry and regulatory landscape, and the one thing that could make all the difference for public health.

TT027 – The Future of Operator Certification: learn about water and wastewater certification in a post-pandemic world.

TT028 – Data and Details from an Effective Program: insights on running a successful outreach program from a public health perspective, a Minnesota private well forum, and the shift towards policy that the outreach program has taken.

TT029 – The Power of Persistence: stories of persistence and resilience when it comes to protecting public health in rural Alaska.

TT030 – Improving Safe Water Access for the Cherokee Nation: perspectives from a licensed water operator and registered sanitarian who works for the Cherokee Nation. This conversation highlights the innovative solutions the Tribe is using to address water access as well as obstacles that still remain.
 
TT031 – Funding Your Water Infrastructure Project: insights on the importance of communication and outreach in gaining support for a project. This episode talks about the true cost of not updating a Saco, Maine wastewater plant and the steps local government officials took to secure the needed funding. 

TT032 – Research for Water Equity (Part 1): exploring some of the challenges of improving access to safe water, particularly for private well users. This episode highlights how both social understanding and real data are needed to design equitable solutions.

TT033 – Research for Water Equity (Part 2): a discussion of alternate perspectives on real private well problems. The conversation reiterates the need for personalized solutions, raises various research questions, and shares opinions on the needed direction for public outreach.

TT034 – Leveraging Passion to Protect Public Health: learn about the Montgomery County private well program in Pennsylvania where there is no statewide well construction code or other private well regulations. Despite this, Montgomery County is leading the way to greater public health protection in the state.

TT035 – The State of Drinking Water: learn more about the most pressing challenges facing public water systems and state regulators, efforts to increase compliance, and sustainability for the most disadvantaged communities as we approach 50 years of the Safe Drinking Water Act.

TT036 – Busting Myths about Regionalization: a conversation on the fundamentals of regionalization and why these conversations are so important to the sustainability of small and rural water systems.

You’re invited to discuss the episodes in our LinkedIn Group and if you choose to share on Twitter, please use the hashtag #TapTalkPodcast. Don’t forget to subscribe via Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app!

The Best Podcasts for Water and Wastewater Professionals

More than one-third of Americans listen to podcasts regularly and the numbers are increasing every year. Audio content builds trust and connection with the audience in an easily-accessible format. Professional podcasts in particular have found a home as "background music" during quiet parts of the work day.

Below you can find a list of podcasts that may be of interest to water and wastewater industry professionals. You can find all of these shows in Apple Podcasts and typically in your favorite alternate podcast app as well.

Water-Focused Podcasts, Recording New Episodes

Tap Talk: The Drinking Water in Rural America Podcast from WaterOperator.org

"Everyone has a role to play in protecting public health. Tap Talk connects professionals across the drinking water community with ideas to extend and enhance our work."

Talking Under Water from One Water Media

"The preeminent podcast for the water industry, including municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control."

waterloop from Travis Loop

This show "features conversations about water in our lives and communities with a focus on solutions for sustainable future."

Words on Water from WEF

"Words On Water features conversations with people who work on water issues and discussions about the opportunities and challenges facing one of Earth’s most precious resources."

The Water Values Podcast from Bluefield Research

"This podcast series explores water issues from a variety of perspectives with the goal of uncovering the true value of water."

Water-Focused Podcasts, Not Currently Recording

Audacious Water from John Sabo

"The podcast that seeks opportunities to create global water abundance and equity for everyone."

Water in Real Life from Rogue Water

"Water in Real Life was created for water professionals who believe that if you desire to build the right relationships with your community then your ability to connect with them through storytelling is essential."

Related Podcasts

The Brookings Cafeteria from The Brookings Institution [Not Currently Recording]

From 2013–2022, the Brookings Cafeteria podcast presented experts, ideas, and solutions across a range of policy topics.

• See also: 17 Rooms, a podcast about actions, insights, and community for the Sustainable Development Goals and the people driving them.

Power Source from Citizens Utility Board [Not Currently Recording]

"Are you really saving money by unplugging your appliances? How do you make the switch to solar? Is your refrigerator running (efficiently?) Power Source answers your burning utility questions, all in 15 minutes or less."

Pumps & Systems Podcast from Pumps & Systems Magazine

"Pumps & Systems is the voice of the international pump and rotating equipment industry. As the leading media brand for pump users worldwide since 1993, it delivers relevant industry news and powerful technical information."

SDG Talks from Kevin Sofen and James Armour

"SDG Talks Podcast highlights Change Makers and their work around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)."

Tap Talk Podcast: Season 2 Recap

Launched in spring of 2022, the second season of Tap Talk discussed a wide range of water issues that coalesce at the community level. Our conversations with experts from across the industry focused on the importance of human-centered and practical decision-making as the foundation of real, sustainable progress.

1. TT013 – Water is an Economic Development Problem
2. TT014 – Building Civic Engagement in Rural Water Issues
3. TT015 – Selecting Appropriate Water Treatment and Ethical Providers
4. TT016 – Listening to People and Data
5. TT017 – Creative Collaborations in Water (Part 1)
6. TT018 – Creative Collaborations in Water (Part 2)
7. TT019 – Water and Children’s Health
8. TT020 – Community-centered Infrastructure Planning
9. TT021 – Education and Funding Options for Well Owners
10. TT022 – Best Practices in Webinar Training
11. TT023 – Environmental Justice, Water, and Public Health
12. TT024 – Thinking Differently about Infrastructure

You’re invited to discuss the episode in our LinkedIn Group. If you decide to share on Twitter, please use the hashtag #TapTalkPodcast. And, of course, make sure to subscribe in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

Tap Talk Podcast: Season 1 Recap

With our work here on WaterOperator.org and on our sister program PrivateWellClass.org, our team has a unique national role that weaves in and out of environmental health, water infrastructure, and public policy. While we use our science backgrounds to get the job done well, our purpose is fundamentally about communication. We want to connect people with information and each other.

Tap Talk: The Drinking Water in Rural America Podcast was born from noticing and facilitating these connections over the past decade. The first season was released in Fall 2021 and featured twelve episodes:

1. TT001 – The Drinking Water in Rural America Podcast
2. TT002 – Private Wells vs. Public Water Systems
3. TT003 – Mastering Well Owner Education
4. TT004 – The Problem with Springs
5. TT005 – Controlling Nitrification in Chloraminated Systems
6. TT006 – Protecting Well Users in North Carolina
7. TT007 – Helping the Smallest Water Systems
8. TT008 – Asset Management for Rural America (Part 1)
9. TT009 – Asset Management for Rural America (Part 2)
10. TT010 – Understanding Groundwater Quantity and Quality
11. TT011 – Risk Communication and Perception
12. TT012 – Water Supplies and Renter’s Rights

Outstanding Webinars: Plan, Promote, and Present

The pandemic changed the game for online learning, with webinars becoming a staple for many organizations. At the end of 2020 we shared a webinar on best practices for planning, presenting, and promoting your webinar event. If you are a seasoned trainer, you might glean something new from this presentation. 

For informational purposes only. We are unable to offer certificates for watching a video recording.

How to Find Free Webinars on WaterOperator.org

Our staff at WaterOperator.org work hard to make sure operators can easily find all potential training opportunities for their water or wastewater operator certification using our national training calendar. This calendar currently links to over 11,000 events each year, all of which are pre-approved for operator continuing education credits and many which are free. Whether it’s a training hosted by your primacy agency, the Rural Community Assistance Partnership, a subsection of the American Water Works Association, or another local training provider, we strive to list them all.

Given the increased demand for virtual training opportunities, we’ve recently created a tutorial to help you optimize your search for live, online training. We hope that this video will help you to more easily meet the training requirements under your certification.

Please note, that these opportunities all have a time and date associated with their registration. We do not list on-demand training in our calendar. If you require assistance searching for pre-approved, on-demand training opportunities, please email us at info@wateroperator.org.

Advanced Social Media Tips and Tricks for Public Water Systems

In 2020, we partnered with the Illinois Section AWWA to deliver two social media webinars. Both were recorded. (See the 101-level webinar.) The advanced-level webinar helps public water systems take their online presence to the next level, enhancing visibility and trust of your organization. Topics will include content planning, scheduling tools, customer service SOPs, proactive strategies, local collaborations, and more! The value of “personal-professional” social media profiles will also be discussed.

The recording is available for free with registration and is pre-approved in Illinois for 1 training credit hour for operators and engineers.

Social Media 101 for Public Water Systems

In 2020, we partnered with the Illinois Section AWWA to deliver two social media webinars. Both were recorded. (See the advanced-level webinar.) The 101 webinar debunks some of the top social media myths and help public water systems understand the importance of maintaining an active presence. The most popular platforms will be introduced, along with content examples, etiquette and expectations, and best practices for starting (or expanding) your social media activity.

The recording is available for free with registration and is pre-approved in Illinois for 1 training credit hour for operators and engineers.

AWWA & RCAP Release AWIA Small Systems E-Training

The America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) was signed into law in October 2018, requiring drinking water systems serving more than 3,300 people to develop or update risk and resilience assessments (RRA) and emergency response plans (ERP) within the deadlines determined by system size. With this Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed guidance documents to help systems comply with these new requirements. These resources include a qualitative RRA Checklist specifically designed for small systems as well as an ERP template. The purpose of these materials is to help systems achieve the minimum compliance under AWIA Section 2013.

To complement these small system resources, the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) have partnered to build a free e-learning program with funding from the U.S. EPA. The on-demand training condenses ANSI/AWWA standards for security, risk management, and resilience as well as the AWWA’s Risk and Resilience Certification Program to help systems comply with AWIA. This new AWIA Small Systems Certificate Program contains four courses:

• Introduction to Resiliency and America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (EL272)
• Operational Measures for Resiliency (EL273)
• How to Develop a Risk and Resilience Assessment (EL274)
• How to Develop a Small System Emergency Response Plan (EL275)
• Bonus: Cybersecurity (Available late 2020)

Each course (See preview 1/2) features a series of video presentations with regular knowledge checks, a course evaluation, and a final assessment. The modules within the course (See preview 2 /2) are easy to follow and offer an excellent overview of AWIA knowledge requirements. At the end of the training, participants will receive a certificate of completion. CEU approval is available depending on your operator certification agency. See AWWA's credit policy.

The training also includes a separate AWWA/RCAP worksheet that can be used in the field to conduct an RRA. While housed under the AWWA’s resources for small systems, free registration is available to both members and non-members of the AWWA. To access the course participants are required to create or use a (free) AWWA account. We’ve highlighted the steps to create an account as well as how to access the courses. Any of the following screenshots can be enlarged by simply clicking on them to open the image in a new tab.

Creating a Free Account:

1. At the top right-hand corner of the AWWA website is a link that says Login. Click this link to create a free account.
2. Turn your attention toward the 'Create New Account' section of the new webpage. Read the Privacy Policy and select ‘I Agree – Create Account’.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Enter your email address in the next page.
   Note: During this step the AWWA will check to see if you’ve already created an existing account with this email. If your account already exists and you’ve forgotten your password, you can perform a password reset.
4. To continue creating a new account you will want to fill out each field to the best of your abilities. For the address type, you can select Home, Delivery, or Office/USmail.
   If you choose to use your utility address, keep the address type as office/USmail. Enter every field and select ‘Find Company’.
   1. If your utility is already in the database, select the utility name and then Continue.
   2. If your utility is not listed in the results, you will have to manually enter your address by selecting ‘None of the Above’ and Continue.
5. More fields will appear after entering the address. Entering a phone number is optional, but you will have to choose a secure password. Be sure it is something you will remember or keep it written in a safe place.
6. Check the agreement box to agree to the Consent Capture statement. This statement grants AWWA permission to collect and store your personal information to maintain your account. Your page should now look close to this:
   
   
   
   
   
7. Select Next.
8. Now your account is active! You can tell that you’re logged in because your name will appear at the very top, right-hand corner of any AWWA webpage.

Accessing the Courses:

1. Information about the AWIA Small Systems Certificate e-training can be found at the Small Systems webpage. To find this page using the AWWA navigation bar, hover over ‘Professional Development’ and select ‘Small Systems’. Lots of great small system training and resources can be found here!
   
   
   
   
   
2. From this page, scroll down to ‘Safe Drinking Water Act Compliance Training’ heading. Select the tab ‘AWIA Small Systems Certificate Program’. This tab includes the redemption code ‘SMSYS20’ that will be required in the following steps to provide account access to the courses.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Now make sure you’re logged into the AWWA site and select your name in the top, right-hand corner of the webpage. If your name does not appear in the top navigation then you are not logged in.
4. A page called ‘My Account’ should be loaded. Now select ‘My Courses’ in the left-hand menu. This will bring you to the AWWA eLearning platform. You might want to bookmark this link for easy course access in the future!
   
   
   
   
   
5. In this page under 'Small System Course Access', enter the code ‘SMSYS20’ and select Redeem.
6. Now all free courses available to small systems will be placed in your enrollments. A temporary menu will pop up where you can look through these courses.
   If you close this menu you will be returned to the eLearning home page. By scrolling down you can find the same small system enrollments. These enrollments include the individual courses that make up each small system certificate program. Since this list is not sorted by certificate program, you’ll want to search for each course by the names listed at the beginning of this blog. Start with EL272 and work toward EL275.
   
   
   
   
   

Returning to the Course:

1. Sign in to the AWWA site with your existing account by selecting ‘Login’ in the top, right-hand corner of any AWWA webpage. The username is your email.
2. Once logged in, select your name in the top, right-hand corner of the page where it used to say Login.
3. A webpage called ‘My Account’ should be loaded. Now select ‘My Courses’ in the left-hand menu. This will bring you to the AWWA eLearning platform. You might want to bookmark this link for quicker access next time.
4. Scroll down on the e-learning homepage to access your courses.

We recommend systems check out both the EPA tools as well as the new e-training to decide what worksheets and strategies are best for your utility. Remember that RCAP’s technical assistance providers are available throughout the country to help you achieve AWIA compliance, work through these courses, and even facilitate tabletop exercises for emergency preparedness. For a deeper understanding of AWIA compliance and these small system resources, operators can view the June 10, 2020 webinar recording: Small Systems Guidance for America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018.