Scaling UP! H2O

scalinguph2o.com

The podcast where we scale up on knowledge so we don't scale up our systems. Find out why working in Industrial Water Treatment is the best job in the world. Hear industry experts share their knowledge and stories. Learn about technologies, methods, and career journeys. Join podcast host Trace Blackmore, former AWT President, LEED, and CWT every Friday for a new episode.

  1. 3d ago

    505 The Blueprint of Water: Understanding the Why with Connor Hanrahan, Part 1

    Why does water behave the way it does, and how do you explain that clearly to someone else? Connor Hanrahan, Technical Director of Industrial Water Engineering and author of The Blueprint of Water, joins Trace Blackmore, CWT, to connect technical understanding with teaching, professional development, and the work of writing a book.  Become a student of your daily work  Trace opens by challenging familiar service and delivery routines: What are the numbers telling you, and could the process be safer or more efficient? Connor traces his own learning from graduate desalination research to a first steel-plant visit and his growing teaching role with AWT.    Teach the reasoning behind the procedure  Dosages and setpoints provide instructions, but Connor wants water treaters to understand the chemistry behind them. He describes simplifying technical ideas into basic building blocks, using a whiteboard when an explanation falls short, and drawing on his improv background to respond to the audience.  For trainers and technical managers, the emphasis is on helping people understand an idea well enough to explain it themselves.    Keep CWT knowledge active in the field  At IWE, monthly chemistry and equipment seminars help keep knowledge fresh, while a 12-week preparation process supports future CWT candidates. Connor emphasizes asking underlying questions and applying knowledge beyond familiar service-report routines.  Trace also shares his expectations for broader recognition of the credential. He presents future customer and regulatory recognition as an outlook, rather than an established requirement.    Turn purpose into accountable action  The conversation then moves to memento mori, bucket lists, and the value of treating time intentionally. Trace describes connecting three-year goals with shorter planning periods.  Connor credits his Rising Tide Mastermind peers with helping his book become real. Eric Dotson's question helped spark the project, while Dave Fitzgerald's invitation to contribute quarterly articles to The North Connection created deadlines, accountability, and experience publishing his ideas.    Understand the book and the work behind it  Connor explains how The Blueprint of Water connects the water molecule with heat, pH, scaling, corrosion, and microbiology. It includes problem sets and engineering notes for applying concepts; he explicitly distinguishes it from a CWT exam guide.  He also describes the demands of writing, including marathon sessions and setting aside writing time before inspiration arrives. Trace shares how defining an audience's starting knowledge and desired outcome helped him develop his own material.  The companion website extends the learning through questions, system calculators, and the water treatment game Route.  The thread throughout is professional responsibility: keep asking questions, explain your reasoning, and make learning a deliberate part of your work.  Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps  02:20 — Trace challenges listeners to become students of their daily work and question what familiar test results and routines reveal. 07:30 — He previews AWT Technical Training in Frisco, Texas, and the available learning paths for different experience levels. 14:30 — Connor traces his path from graduate desalination research to industrial water treatment and IWE. 19:00 — His expanding AWT teaching role highlights the value of sharing knowledge across the industry. 20:50 — Connor explains why dosages and setpoints need an underlying explanation that water treaters can understand. 24:00 — Whiteboards, basic building blocks, and improv help him adapt technical teaching to the audience. 25:30 — The CWT discussion revisits 12-week preparation and monthly training that keeps chemistry and equipment knowledge fresh. 29:30 — Connor explains why CWT candidates need to apply knowledge, and Trace considers broader future recognition of the credential. 35:10 — Memento mori introduces a discussion about limited time, meaningful work, and postponed goals. 39:40 — Trace and Connor connect bucket lists with three-year goals and 12-week planning periods. 45:00 — Mastermind support and quarterly magazine contributions help turn Connor's book idea into accountable work. 49:40 — Connor explains the book's conceptual approach to water, its engineering notes, and its intended audience. 53:20 — He describes the concentration, long writing sessions, and personal support involved in creating the manuscript. 58:20 — Trace shares how an audience-focused presentation outline helped him begin his own writing project.   Connect with Connor Hanrahan Email: chanrahan@industrialwater.net   Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/industrial-water-engineering-inc./    Industrial & Commercial Water Treatment Systems | IWE | Industrial Water Engineering  LinkedIn: Connor Hanrahan | LinkedIn    Guest Resources Mentioned   The Blueprint of Water - website    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  12 Week Year   Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind 308 The 12-Week Strategy For Taking the CWT Exam     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.    This episode made possible through our valued partners at

    505 The Blueprint of Water: Understanding the Why with Connor Hanrahan, Part 1

  2. Oct 23

    Intelligent Water Management: Catching Leaks Before the Next Bill with David Benaiges

    Intelligent water management starts with a question a utility bill cannot answer: what is happening inside the building right now? David Benaiges, Vice President of Intelligent Water Solutions at Watts Water Technologies, joins Trace Blackmore, CWT, to explain how flow, leak, temperature, and pressure data can help teams investigate abnormal usage and prioritize their response.   Look Beyond the Monthly Bill  A higher bill can signal a problem without identifying its cause. David explains why ongoing flow monitoring provides a more useful view of changing water-use patterns, including underground leaks that may remain out of sight.  Trace supplies a practical example: a failed cooling tower makeup valve caused an overflow at a client's site. Because the controller was monitoring the system, his team caught the problem the same day.  Match the Monitoring to the Risk  David describes an approach that can expand from the main meter to individual building areas and specific equipment. Main-meter flow data establishes a broad usage profile; additional meters and leak sensors provide more detail near kitchens, washing machines, ice makers, or other areas of concern.  The appropriate combination depends on the building's risk and the value of exposed equipment. He also explains how automatic shutoff or a manually activated remote valve can add another layer of protection when someone cannot reach the site quickly.  Turn Sensor Data into Priorities  AI can help distinguish unusual consumption from recurring patterns, such as a regular event that increases demand. However, David emphasizes the continuing role of people who understand water systems in interpreting anomalies and helping facilities teams decide where to investigate.  Temperature readings across domestic hot water systems and pressure measurements extend that visibility beyond consumption. These measurements can help teams assess whether systems are operating as designed and investigate issues such as incorrect mixing.  Evaluate Security and Insurance Alongside Performance  For connected systems, David describes Nexa's network architecture and access controls for functions such as changing a mixing-station setpoint. His explanation gives building teams specific questions to raise about monitoring, control, and system access.  Insurance outcomes require a separate conversation with the insurer. David shares a customer example involving a premium discount, while explaining that results depend on the insurer, the building's history, and the protection deployed.  Looking ahead, David presents his "2030 divide" as an expectation that proactive water management will become a competitive advantage. His closing invitation to water treaters is practical: connect treatment expertise with building water management to improve outcomes for the building and its users.  Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!   Timestamps  01:20 — Trace introduces David Benaiges and his role in bringing building water systems into the digital era.  02:40 — David defines intelligent water through visibility into water use, damage risk, and system performance.  04:20 — Utility bills reveal symptoms, while more frequent measurements help teams investigate the underlying causes.  05:40 — Flow monitoring and submetering provide a clearer picture of usage patterns and potential hidden leaks.  07:30 — David explains how main-meter monitoring, downstream measurements, leak sensors, and shutoff capabilities can build layers of protection.  09:40 — Temperature and pressure readings help teams assess hot water performance and investigate incorrect mixing.  11:40 — AI supports anomaly detection, while water-system expertise helps translate alerts into practical priorities.  13:50 — Network architecture and access controls become key considerations when water equipment connects to digital systems.  17:10 — David discusses insurers' interest in leak protection and explains why building teams may need more than isolated leak sensors.  20:20 — Automatic and manually activated remote shutoff offer different response options, followed by a discussion of backflow-preventer monitoring.  22:40 — A leaking toilet illustrates how changes in low-use baselines can expose water losses that otherwise go unnoticed.  24:10 — David explains his "2030 divide" outlook and why he expects proactive water management to affect building competitiveness.  29:20 — Water treatment and building water management become a shared opportunity for collaboration around the same system.  34:20 — David names Joseph Watts as an inspiration for thinking about future water-system standards and innovation.    Quotes "Flow tells us a lot of things that are going on in that building."  "If you start coding that manually, you would be there all day, right?"  "We have a lot of customers that really don't want the automated portion, but they do want the ability to do it remotely."  "There is a lot to be gained from managing water better."    Connect with David Benaiges Email: David.Benaiges@wattswater.com   Website: Watts Water Technologies   LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/showcase/nexaplatform www.linkedin.com/in/david-benaiges     Guest Resources Mentioned   Blood, Sweat, and Pixels: The Triumphant, Turbulent Stories Behind How Video Games Are Made ― A National Bestselling Exposé of Development Hell by Jason Schreier (Author) La península de las casas vacías / The Peninsula of Vacant Houses (Spanish Edition) by David Uclés (Author)  Nexa Customer Success Stories FM | FM Approvals Watts History Nexa Hardware  Nexa Data Security & Privacy Works with Nexa EPA WaterSense at Work, Section 2.1: Metering and Submetering EPA WaterSense at Work, Section 2.2: Leak Detection and Repair EPA WaterSense at Work: Best Management Practices   Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  Industrial Water Week   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.    This episode made possible through our valued partners at

    Intelligent Water Management: Catching Leaks Before the Next Bill with David Benaiges

  3. Oct 16

    Pinks and Blues: Beyond Industrial Water Week 2026

    Industrial Water Week 2026 has ended, and Trace Blackmore, CWT, challenges listeners to carry its focus on learning and mentorship into the rest of the year. This Pinks and Blues episode combines reflections on IWW26 and the AWT convention with listener questions about AI and professional development.  Give continued learning a place on your calendar  Trace proposes a specific challenge: choose one of Industrial Water Week's five focus areas and schedule 30 minutes to improve your understanding. Those areas are pretreatment, boilers, cooling, wastewater, and careers.  He suggests reading an article, watching a training video, revisiting an earlier podcast, or walking an account with fresh eyes. He also encourages listeners to consider someone they could mentor, a question to ask a mentor, or a process to improve.  Build on the relationships behind the industry  Looking back at the AWT convention in Oklahoma City, Trace recounts listeners saying the podcast motivated them to pursue the Certified Water Technologist designation or reconsider leaving the industry. He describes the Scaling UP! H2O magic button as a way to start conversations with other attendees.  He also recalls Mark Lewis sharing the spotlight during his award recognition. That gesture allowed Tom Brandvold to present Trace's earlier award to him in person.  Use AI while continuing to develop your expertise  Answering questions prompted by Episode 492, Trace recommends AI for routine data gathering and study aids built from information the user knows is correct. His experiences with incorrect blending instructions reinforce his recommendation to verify technical answers.  For service reports, he suggests using AI to improve the wording of factual notes about completed work, including probe calibration, cleaning, and pump priming. Each report should still describe that particular visit.  For employers, Trace recommends deciding which platforms to use, reviewing settings, training employees, and documenting acceptable use. He also suggests seeking knowledgeable help when developing an AI policy.  Choose a learning path that fits your next step  Trace shares his educational journey, including earning his GED and MBA and currently pursuing a doctorate in business administration. He explains why the flexibility of online learning suited him.  He also previews AWT technical training announced for November 11–14, 2026, in Frisco, Texas. He describes concurrent options including fundamentals and applications, program design and operations, water treatment and advanced water treatment, ASSE 12080, and wastewater.  Choose one skill to strengthen and give that commitment a specific place in your working week.  Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps  All times are approximate. Chapter markers are rounded to the nearest 10 seconds. 02:20 — Trace connects Industrial Water Week 2026 with the continuing education and mentorship the industry needs throughout the year. 08:40 — A 30-minute learning challenge turns the celebration into a specific commitment to professional development. 09:20 — Reflections on the AWT convention show how professional conversations can reinforce career motivation and mentorship. 15:10 — The Scaling UP! H2O magic button offers convention attendees a simple way to start conversations and build relationships. 19:40 — Trace contrasts manual tank measurements with a Pyxis radar device to illustrate how tools can simplify routine work. 21:50 — The origin of Pinks and Blues leads into a discussion of career impact, mentoring, and measuring customer water savings. 24:00 — James McDonald's inspiration for Detective H2O explains how storytelling became a vehicle for water treatment education. 28:40 — Listener questions examine how new water treaters can use AI while continuing to learn the fundamentals. 30:20 — Trace's chemical-blending examples illustrate why AI-generated instructions require technical verification. 31:30 — Flashcards, practice tests, and vocabulary exercises offer ways to study using information you already trust. 32:10 — AI can improve service-report wording when the input accurately describes work completed during that visit. 34:40 — Trace explains why water treaters should establish how an AI answer was verified before acting on it. 35:50 — Trace shares why he believes AI will support water treaters while practical expertise remains essential. 37:10 — Platform selection, data controls, employee training, and written policy establish expectations for workplace AI use. 40:40 — Trace's educational journey encourages professionals whose learning paths have followed a less conventional route. 46:40 — A preview of AWT's November technical training helps listeners consider their next opportunity for structured learning. 48:40 — Trace compares concurrent training tracks by experience level and professional goals to help attendees choose a course. 51:40 — The closing challenge encourages continued learning and support for the technicians who will shape the industry's future.   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 The Rising Tide Mastermind AWT Technical Training Seminars 492 AI for Water Treaters: A Thought Partner, Not a Replacement with Trace Blackmore  496 Growing Through Change in Water Treatment with Mark Lewis, Part 2  493 Preparing for AWT 2026: Leadership, Change, and CWT Growth with Matt Coffindaffer, Part 1  494 Preparing for AWT 2026: Leadership, Change, and CWT Growth with Matt Coffindaffer, Part 2  498 Industrial Water Week 2026: Pretreatment Monday  499 Industrial Water Week 2026: Boiler Tuesday  500 Industrial Water Week 2026: Cooling Wednesday  501 Industrial Water Week 2026: Wastewater Thursday  502 Industrial Water Week 2026: Careers Friday    This episode made possible through our valued partners at

    Pinks and Blues: Beyond Industrial Water Week 2026

  4. Oct 9

    Industrial Water Week 2026: Careers Friday

    Experienced water treaters carry knowledge that the next generation needs. For Careers Friday, Trace Blackmore, CWT asks them to pass it on. The Industrial Water Week 2026 finale connects industrial water treatment careers with mentorship, practical training, and curiosity. Pass on the reasoning behind the work Trace describes a mentor as someone you can call when a system presents a problem you cannot explain. Learning from another professional's challenges, mistakes, and experience helped him solve problems and later mentor others. He also addresses professionals preparing to retire. Their water treatment legacy can continue through a colleague who learns from their experience. Three routes into a water career Brian Liotta of USALCO recounts a career that began in water treatment chemical manufacturing and expanded into commercial work and distribution. Jemma Tennant, chair of the Water Management Society and an SMS Environmental employee, shares how effluent-plant work and a conversation with Sir David Attenborough inspired her career. Meanwhile, Dr. David Krause of HC3 describes entering the field through public health responses to waterborne disease. His message includes industrial hygiene resources and training in health and safety, confined-space entry, and combustible dust. Detective H2O: The Case of Adolescent Curiosity Detective H2O introduces two high school students to pretreatment, boiler water, data center cooling, and batch wastewater treatment. James McDonald brings the series to listeners, while Trace credits Mark Lewis with writing today's case. The tour connects ion exchange and softener regeneration with boiler protection, then explains deaeration, sulfite, and neutralizing amines. At the data center, corrosion coupons, bacteria dipslides, conductivity, operating trends, and chiller approach support a complete testing program. The wastewater stop adds jar testing, coagulant and flocculant selection, clarification, and filter-press dewatering. The lesson links discharge requirements with the cost of hauling wet sludge. Guest voices, peer support, and a next step Trace thanks Pyxis Lab, the official sponsor of Industrial Water Week 2026, and reveals the guest voices behind all five Detective H2O cases. He also describes the Rising Tide Mastermind as a place for regular peer support, accountability, and shared knowledge. His closing request gives listeners a practical next step: thank someone who helped build their knowledge, seek a mentor, or mentor another water professional. Keep that exchange active so the industry's experience continues to reach the next generation. Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!   Timestamp 01:10 — Trace opens Careers Friday and thanks Pyxis Lab for supporting Industrial Water Week 2026. 04:40 — Trace recognizes the community's photos, stories, and mystery-voice guesses as ways to celebrate the profession. 07:40 — Trace connects career development with mentors who share experience and help newcomers understand unfamiliar systems. 10:00 — Trace asks professionals nearing retirement to mentor someone so their water treatment knowledge continues. 11:00 — Brian Liotta shares his route from chemical manufacturing into commercial work and distribution, illustrating the industry's career range. 12:10 — Jemma Tennant describes her effluent-plant beginnings and encourages women to consider careers in water. 13:00 — Dr. David Krause connects public health work with water treatment and emphasizes training that helps professionals work safely. 16:10 — The Case of Adolescent Curiosity begins a student tour designed to make industrial water treatment visible as a career. 21:10 — The pretreatment stop explains ion exchange, hardness removal, and the importance of softener regeneration and monitoring. 23:30 — The boiler-room visit connects dissolved oxygen, deaeration, sulfite, and condensate treatment with corrosion control. 25:00 — The data center visit links cooling-water performance with heat transfer, reliability, and a complete testing program. 27:00 — The wastewater stop explains batch testing, chemical selection, clarification, and dewatering to manage discharge and disposal costs. 31:20 — Trace reveals the guest voices behind the week's five Detective H2O cases and recalls their previous podcast appearances. 38:50 — Trace urges listeners to thank their mentors and keep sharing knowledge, then introduces the Rising Tide Mastermind's peer support. 42:00 — Trace identifies October 4–8, 2027 as the next Industrial Water Week and invites final IWW26 celebration posts.   Connect with Brian Liotta   Phone: 15102747326   Email: bliotta@usalco.com    Website: Water Treatment Chemicals – Baltimore, MD | USALCO   LinkedIn: Brian Liotta | LinkedIn    Connect with Jemma Tennant  Phone: 447828315336   Email: j.tennant@sms-environmental.co.uk    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jemma-tennant-mwmsoc-2636985b/    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/      Links Mentioned Water Cake Recipe     430 PFAS Regulations and Technologies with Brian Liotta   436 Raising the Bar: Legionella Management & Industry Standards  433 Legionella Investigations and LIDO Technology  001 A New Podcast for Water Treaters 252 The One About the Operations Manager Turned Sales Manager 308 The 12-Week Strategy For Taking the CWT Exam 323 How to Troubleshoot a Massive Leak 380 The WOW Effect: Women Leading Transformation in the Water Industry 392 Breaking Barriers: How Diversity and Confidence Drive Growth in Water Treatment 394 Visibility and Value: Enhancing Sustainability in Water Treatment 404 Eight Tips for Business Management: Part 1 – Essential Strategies 429 The Life and Career of Jim Lukanich 444 Industrial Water Week 2025: Wastewater Thursday 445 Industrial Water Week 2025: Careers Friday 500 Industrial Water Week 2026: Cooling Wednesday   This episode made possible through our valued partners at

    Industrial Water Week 2026: Careers Friday

  5. Oct 8

    Industrial Water Week 2026: Wastewater Thursday

    A wastewater inspection appeared to expose a failed treatment program—until Trace checked where the sample had been collected. For Industrial Water Week 2026: Wastewater Thursday, Trace Blackmore, CWT, connects correct sampling, water reuse, and careful troubleshooting with the decisions water treaters make every day.  Check the sample location before drawing conclusions  In an early-career account, a plant operator faced a threatened shutdown after an inspector's sample produced out-of-spec results. Trace reviewed logs, spoke with the engineer, and tested two locations. The inspector had sampled before treatment rather than at the correct downstream location.  Trace then showed the customer both results and asked the inspector where he had sampled. That curious, factual approach corrected the misunderstanding without blame. The customer also recognized the need to escort unfamiliar inspectors so they could collect samples from the right place.    Recover water, nutrients, and energy  Returning guest Dr. Veronika Zhiteneva of Waterloop Solutions describes wastewater plants as future resource recovery plants, reclaiming water, nutrients, and energy. Kalpna Solanki, president and CEO of GAMECHANGERS Inc., shares reuse examples from British Columbia: treated effluent for snowmaking, biosolids composted with sawdust, and reclaimed water for toilet flushing and rooftop irrigation at the Vancouver Convention Center West.  Together, their greetings shift attention toward what treatment can recover and where reclaimed water can serve another purpose.    Investigate the disappearing hardness  In the fictional Detective H2O story, The Case of the Disappearing Act, an operator measures 2–3 ppm total hardness leaving a softener, yet the feedwater tests soft. After checking condensate return, repeating the analyses, and walking the process, the detective finds that the feedwater sample point sits downstream of EDTA injection.  The case explains how chelant can complex calcium and magnesium before the hardness test, leaving a blue indication even when hardness has passed the softener. The resolution is to investigate the softener's leakage and turn the operator's observations into training and procedures.    Share the work behind Wastewater Thursday  Trace invites listeners to photograph their favorite wastewater equipment safely, wear appropriate PPE, and share the photo with #IWW26. He also recommends Episode 444 for last year's Wastewater Thursday Detective H2O story and invites mystery-voice guesses on LinkedIn before Careers Friday's reveal.  Check the sample location, verify the data, and understand the process before drawing conclusions. Those habits support clearer decisions and more useful conversations with customers and colleagues.  Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps 02:20 — Trace explains how wastewater treatment gives used water another life through treatment and reuse. 03:50 — A threatened plant shutdown introduces a sampling story that shows why an out-of-spec result needs investigation. 06:10 — Trace discovers that the inspector sampled before treatment, changing the interpretation of the reported results. 08:50 — Trace explains how curiosity and questions helped resolve the dispute and build trust with the inspector. 09:50 — Veronika Zhiteneva describes recovering water, nutrients, and energy rather than using new resources for the same purposes. 10:30 — Kalpna Solanki reframes wastewater as a resource and shares examples of treated-effluent and biosolids reuse. 11:40 — Kalpna describes reclaimed water at the Vancouver Convention Center West and discusses the future of water reclamation. 13:00 — Trace introduces the fictional Detective H2O case, The Case of the Disappearing Act, involving a water softener. 23:50 — Trace invites mystery-voice guesses on LinkedIn and recommends Episode 444 for another Wastewater Thursday story. 24:40 — Trace asks listeners to share a wastewater-equipment photo with #IWW26 while wearing PPE and working safely. 27:40 — Trace previews Careers Friday celebrations and mentions a water cake recipe for teams interested in trying it.   Connect with Dr. Veronika Zhiteneva  Email: vzhiteneva@gowaterloop.com    Website: Home – Waterloop Solutions   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vzhiteneva/       Connect with Kalpna Solanki   Email: ksolanki@gamechangerssolutions.com   Website: GAMECHANGERS Inc. | Strategy Development And Implementation   LinkedIn: Kalpna Solanki MBA | LinkedIn   GAMECHANGERS Inc.: Overview | LinkedIn      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 Water Cake Recipe     459 — From Wastewater to Resource: Water Reuse with Dr. Veronika Zhiteneva 355 — Backflow Prevention: Safeguarding Water Quality 481 — From Waterfalls to SOPs: Building Better Utilities with Kalpna Solanki 389 — Industrial Water Week 2024: Careers Friday 445 — Industrial Water Week 2025: Careers Friday   This episode made possible through our valued partners at

    Industrial Water Week 2026: Wastewater Thursday

  6. Oct 7

    Industrial Water Week 2026: Cooling Wednesday

    Cooling Wednesday brings a practical reminder: correcting a treatment problem requires understanding what caused it. For Industrial Water Week 2026, Trace Blackmore, CWT, celebrates Episode 500 with lessons on cooling tower foam, biocide feed verification, Legionella risk, and unexplained chilled water loss.   Start with the feed history  When a cooling tower produces enough foam to spread across the property and trigger low water shutdowns, Trace begins with the biocide feed logs. He compares the chemical remaining in the tank with calculated consumption and finds evidence of earlier underfeeding, even though the pump operates correctly during his inspection.  Trace connects the foaming to accumulated biofilm and explains why a biological treatment program needs a clean system to maintain. The case highlights the value of checking historical chemical delivery alongside current equipment operation.    Find what interrupted treatment  After the tower is cleaned and the biocide program is restored, the problem returns. A plant engineer discovers that a contractor has unplugged the biocide pump from the controller output and connected a power tool instead.  The team labels both the pump plug and its connection at the controller, then adds a notice identifying the connection as something other than a general outlet. Their response addresses the cause and gives other people working around the equipment a clearer instruction.    Connect cooling data with risk management  Returning guests Jake (Jacob) Deak, Christine McHugh, and Matt Freije share Cooling Wednesday greetings. Jake discusses tracer monitoring technology, while Christine describes using water temperature, circulation, pH, makeup water, and environmental data to inform Legionella risk reduction.  Matt recalls a cooling tower worker's experience with Legionnaires' disease and emphasizes water management, maintenance, treatment, and testing. Their contributions connect cooling performance with the people working around these systems.    Investigate where the water is going  In the fictional Detective H2O: The Case of the Blues, a hospital's chilled water loop loses pressure and requires increasing makeup water, yet inspections reveal no visible leak. The investigation finds an ice machine connected to the chilled water loop instead of domestic cold water.  The story emphasizes verifying actual piping connections rather than relying only on labels or drawings. Trace also reflects on learning since his first recording in 2017 and invites listeners to share cooling equipment photos with #IWW26.  For water treatment professionals, both cases reinforce the same responsibility: follow the evidence, identify the cause, and take steps to prevent recurrence.  Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps 01:00 — Trace opens Cooling Wednesday and recognizes the industrial water treatment community's work. 02:00 — The Episode 500 milestone becomes a lesson in starting, learning, and improving through practice. 06:10 — Trace thanks Pyxis Lab and describes a tank measurement tool developed in response to field needs. 08:00 — Cooling towers, chillers, and heat exchangers illustrate the water treater's role in maintaining heat transfer. 09:30 — Willis Carrier's humidity problem provides an example of solving an operational challenge by thinking differently. 11:50 — Severe cooling tower foam introduces a case involving water loss and disrupted operation. 12:40 — Feed logs and chemical inventory reveal earlier biocide underfeeding despite correct pump operation during the visit. 14:10 — Trace connects accumulated biofilm with foaming and emphasizes establishing a clean system before maintaining it. 15:50 — Jake Deak shares a tracer technology greeting and a memorable PTSA spill in the field. 16:20 — Christine McHugh connects cooling tower data with Legionella risk reduction, training, and maintenance discussions. 17:20 — Matt Freije highlights the human consequences of Legionnaires' disease and the importance of cooling tower water management. 19:00 — Detective H2O opens "The Case of the Blues," a fictional hospital investigation into unexplained chilled water loss. 22:10 — Verified pressure and makeup readings direct the investigation beyond visible leaks. 27:50 — Blue ice provides the clue that leads to an ice machine connected to the chilled water loop. 31:20 — The story outlines correcting the piping connection and monitoring makeup water and pressure afterward. 34:30 — Trace invites LinkedIn voice guesses and announces that Friday's episode will reveal the mystery voices. 36:10 — A contractor's use of the biocide controller connection explains why treatment delivery was interrupted. 38:50 — Trace emphasizes preventing recurrence, then closes with appreciation for the community and the Cooling Wednesday photo invitation.   Connect with Jake Deak Phone: +15704197057  Email: jacob.deak@pyxis-lab.com   Website: Inline & Handheld Analytical Tools for Water Treatment | Pyxis Lab®  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobddeak/     Connect with Christine McHugh Phone: +19179409383  Email: christine.mchugh@whitestrand.com  Website: White Strand Development  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-a-mchugh/     Connect with Matt Freije  Email: mfreije@hcinfo.com Website: Legionella Water Management Plans  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattfreije    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 001 A New Podcast for Water Treaters 443 Industrial Water Week 2025: Cooling Wednesday 423 Pushing the Boundaries: Jacob Deak on Innovating Water Treatment Systems  439 Innovating Water for Smart Cities: Christine McHugh's Vision 083 The One About Water Management Plans 432 Water Management Plans: Evolving Standards and Best Practices with Matt Freije   This episode made possible through our valued partners at

    Industrial Water Week 2026: Cooling Wednesday

  7. Oct 6

    Industrial Water Week 2026: Boiler Tuesday

    Boiler Tuesday is a reminder that industrial water treatment exists to protect heat transfer efficiency. For day two of Industrial Water Week 2026, Trace Blackmore, CWT, connects feedwater preparation, condensate quality, and treatment distribution to the everyday decisions that keep steam systems working.    Feedwater quality sets the stage  Trace starts with a practical measure of boiler performance: how much heat from the flame reaches the steam? Feedwater conditions directly affect that work.  He links inadequate feedwater heating with higher chemical demand, increased conductivity, and additional blowdown. For deaerators, he also emphasizes pressure. Together, these points reinforce the need to review feedwater conditions when evaluating treatment performance.    Follow contamination through the condensate system  Jake Elliott of HydroFlow recalls declining boiler alkalinity that eventually led to a plant room full of foam. A failed valve had allowed process material into the condensate return and feedwater tank, consuming alkalinity and forming soap.  Meanwhile, Trace shares a separate case involving oil contamination, boiler surging, priming, and deteriorating steam quality. The investigation traced the oil to a leak in a process condensate line. Recovery required isolating the affected return, cleaning the boiler, and withholding contaminated condensate while the plant corrected the equipment and process problem.  Both stories show why troubleshooting must include the process equipment connected to the condensate system.    Confirm that amine protection reaches distant equipment  James McDonald's scripted Detective H2O story, The Case of Not Going the Distance, examines a different condensate problem. Readings near the boiler house look acceptable, while distant sections show lower pH and corrosion.  The case explains amine distribution ratio as the relationship between amine in the vapor phase and amine in the liquid phase. It compares how morpholine, diethylaminoethanol, and cyclohexylamine travel through the system.  The detective reviews the blend and identifies satellite feed locations near long steam branches. Then he checks condensate pH at the same sampling locations after the changes. Early coupon observations support continued monitoring through a full exposure cycle.    Strengthen the fundamentals and celebrate the work  Frank Lecrone of AquaPhoenix Scientific shares a hardness testing mixup that reinforces the value of checking test instructions and using the correct titrant. Eric Johnson of Boilearn emphasizes learning boiler fundamentals and considers how future AI tools could help professionals interpret system data.  James Courtney of CSC Technologies closes the guest greetings with a story about returning to a familiar brewery boiler. To join the Boiler Tuesday celebration, share a photo with your boiler, deaerator, or feedwater tank using #IWW26. You can also guess the mystery guest voice on LinkedIn before Friday's reveal.  Sound boiler decisions depend on reliable testing, attention to connected processes, and evidence that treatment reaches the equipment it needs to protect.  Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps 01:10 — Trace welcomes the Scaling UP! Nation to Boiler Tuesday and invites professionals to share their boiler work during IWW26. 02:50 — Trace defines the water treater's role as a heat transfer efficiency manager and connects treatment work to steam production. 03:40 — The discussion moves from softened water and returned condensate to feedwater quality, establishing the starting point for boiler performance. 04:00 — Trace links inadequate feedwater heating to chemical demand and blowdown, then emphasizes deaerator temperature and pressure. 05:30 — Frank Lecrone shares a hardness testing error that shows why the correct titrant and test instructions matter. 06:30 — Eric Johnson explains how boiler fundamentals help professionals understand system behavior and troubleshoot customer problems. 07:50 — Eric considers future AI tools for interpreting boiler, steam, and hydronic system data to inform operating decisions. 09:10 — Jake Elliott describes declining alkalinity and foaming caused by process contamination entering the condensate system. 09:50 — Trace begins a field story about boiler surging, priming, and lost steam quality that disrupted production. 11:20 — The investigation identifies oil entering the condensate return through a process line leak, revealing the source of the boiler upset. 12:30 — Trace describes isolating the affected return, cleaning the boiler, and withholding contaminated condensate during recovery. 15:00 — Detective H2O begins The Case of Not Going the Distance, a scripted investigation into corrosion in distant condensate lines. 29:50 — James Courtney shares the personal significance of returning to a brewery boiler connected to his family business. 30:30 — Trace invites boiler room photos with #IWW26 and encourages listeners to prepare their Cooling Wednesday photos.   Connect with Frank Lecrone Email: frank@aquaphoenixsci.com   Website: Water Quality Testing Products | AquaPhoenix Scientific  LinkedIn:  Frank Lecrone | LinkedIn     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     Connect with Jake Elliott, PhD  Email: jakeelliott91@hotmail.com   Website: https://hydroflow.com.au/   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hydro-flow/   Jake Elliott | LinkedIn   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/   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 460 Building Boiler Talent: Fundamentals, Online Training, and Better Partnerships with Eric Johnson 451 Building a Culture of Innovation and Customer Service with Frank Lecrone 467 From PhD to Pump Rooms: Jake Elliott on Wastewater, Efficiency, and Saying "Yes" Wisely 325 Rising Together: Conquering Challenges through Collective Support 394 Visibility and Value: Enhancing Sustainability in Water Treatment 445 Industrial Water Week 2025: Careers Friday   This episode is made possible through our valued partners at

    Industrial Water Week 2026: Boiler Tuesday

  8. Oct 4

    Industrial Water Week 2026: Pretreatment Monday

    Industrial Water Week is here—and Day 1 is Pretreatment Monday. In Episode 498, Trace Blackmore, CWT, opens the 2026 celebration with troubleshooting stories, returning guest greetings, and a new Detective H2O case that brings pretreatment performance into focus. Celebrate with purpose Take a photo with your favorite pretreatment equipment—a softener, RO, or filter housing—and post it with #IWW26. Then search the hashtag to connect with others doing the same work. Trace's invitation makes the week visible and recognizes the people who keep downstream systems operating. Start with the pretreatment train At a food processing plant, rising RO product-water conductivity had already prompted a membrane replacement. Trace found the cause in the softener: channeling allowed hardness to pass through and scale the RO. Rebedding and reprogramming the softener resolved the problem without further work on the RO. You'll also hear greetings from Conor Parrish of Fact Water Co, Ron Blutrich, and Dr. Kelle Zeiher. Their stories cover proper isolation before opening resin bottles, UV pretreatment and microbiological risk, and unexpected newspaper debris inside an RO—three reminders to keep questioning assumptions. Follow the evidence with Detective H2O James McDonald returns with The Case of Something Fading Fast, investigating boiler alkalinity that will not hold. A softener may test soft just after regeneration yet leak hardness later in its service run. The case connects that missed leakage with treatment consumption and falling alkalinity. Detective H2O proposes an end-of-run grab sample or a 24-hour screening composite, supported by logs of the active tank, makeup demand, production load, and alkalinity timing. The composite helps screen performance across the service cycle; it does not replace targeted grab samples. Follow along on LinkedIn to guess the mystery guest voices. Trace reveals them on Careers Friday, October 9. With Boiler Tuesday, Cooling Wednesday, and Wastewater Thursday still ahead, there are more opportunities to celebrate the work you do. Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!

    Industrial Water Week 2026: Pretreatment Monday
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About

The podcast where we scale up on knowledge so we don't scale up our systems. Find out why working in Industrial Water Treatment is the best job in the world. Hear industry experts share their knowledge and stories. Learn about technologies, methods, and career journeys. Join podcast host Trace Blackmore, former AWT President, LEED, and CWT every Friday for a new episode.

Information

  • Creator
    scalinguph2o.com
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    520
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2018 All Rights Reserved, Blackmore Enterprises, Inc.
  • Show Website
    Scaling UP! H2O

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