Make Water Work Podcast

Megan Glover & Isaac Pellerin
  • 5.0 (3)
  • TECHNOLOGY

Make Water Work is a podcast dedicated to the people shaping the future of our most precious resource.

  1. Glenn Barnes: Unlocking Water Infrastructure Funding | Make Water Work 029

    1D AGO

    Glenn Barnes: Unlocking Water Infrastructure Funding | Make Water Work 029

    In this episode of Make Water Work, Isaac Pellerin and Megan Glover sit down with Glenn Barnes to unpack one of the biggest challenges facing the water industry today: affordability. Glenn brings deep expertise from his work helping utilities navigate funding, rates, and long-term infrastructure planning. This conversation goes beyond the headlines to explain why water rates are rising, why small communities face outsized challenges, and what needs to change to build resilient systems for the future. What you’ll learn: • Why water utilities are not funded by taxes and how the “enterprise fund” model works • The hidden history of federal grants that kept rates artificially low for decades • Why small and rural communities face the toughest financial challenges • The real reason water rates are rising faster than other utilities • How programs like SRF and USDA loans actually work (and where they fall short) • The growing infrastructure funding gap and what it means for public health • Why asset management, regionalization, and consolidation are becoming critical

    42 min
  2. Chris Miller: Chemistry, Compliance, and Scale | Make Water Work 028

    APR 2

    Chris Miller: Chemistry, Compliance, and Scale | Make Water Work 028

    In this episode of Make Water Work, Isaac Pellerin and Megan Glover sit down with Chris Miller, Vice President of Digital Services at USALCO and founder of Fontus Blue, to unpack the journey from academic research to startup success and acquisition.   Chris shares how a job in a university water lab led to a PhD, a company, and ultimately a platform helping utilities navigate one of the toughest challenges in water: balancing compliance, chemistry, and operational complexity.   In this episode, we cover:   • The origin story of Fontus Blue and why it matters • How water utilities balance disinfection and harmful byproducts • Why “optimization” really means managing trade-offs • Lessons learned from building and scaling a water tech startup • What founders need to know about partnerships and acquisition timing • The growing complexity of water regulations and what comes next • Why supporting operators is critical to the future of water   Whether you're a water professional, entrepreneur, or simply curious about how safe drinking water actually gets delivered, this episode breaks down the science, strategy, and human side of the industry.

    36 min
  3. Lia Clark: Engineers With Empathy: Rethinking Water Leadership and Finance | Make Water Work 027

    MAR 26

    Lia Clark: Engineers With Empathy: Rethinking Water Leadership and Finance | Make Water Work 027

    In this episode of Make Water Work, Isaac Pellerin and Megan Glover sit down with Lia Clark, Community Support Director at Water Finance Exchange and founder of Engineer With Empathy. Lia shares her journey into water, from an orphanage service trip in China to working on some of the toughest water infrastructure challenges in underserved communities across Texas. This conversation dives into: • Why most small water systems struggle to access funding • The reality behind state and federal infrastructure dollars • Why water utilities must operate more like businesses • The hidden barrier: trust, not just pipes and funding • How “Engineer With Empathy” is reshaping how engineers work with communities Key Takeaways: • Most U.S. water systems serve fewer than 10,000 people and lack resources • Funding exists, but access and complexity are major barriers • Empathy and trust-building are critical to successful projects • Sustainable water systems require financial literacy and long-term planning #WaterInfrastructure #WaterFinance #Engineering #Empathy #Utilities #MakeWaterWork #WaterLeadership

    35 min
  4. Shellie Chard: Building Better Water Policy | Make Water Work 026

    MAR 19

    Shellie Chard: Building Better Water Policy | Make Water Work 026

    In this episode of Make Water Work, we sit down with Shellie Chard, former Water Quality Division Director at the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, to explore how policy, leadership, and long-term thinking shape the future of water. With a 34-year career in environmental regulation, Shellie shares hard-earned insights on how water policy actually gets made, why trust in water systems is declining, and what it will take to manage our most critical resource moving forward. From navigating complex regulations to balancing public perception with scientific reality, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone working in or curious about the water sector. In this episode, we cover: • How water found Shellie and shaped her career • The evolution of water policy over the past three decades • Why trust in water systems is eroding and how to rebuild it • The real challenges regulators face behind the scenes • How policy, politics, and public perception intersect • Why water management is the defining challenge of our future • The importance of education and long-term thinking in solving water issues

    42 min
  5. Greg Wukasch: Leading with Humanity | Make Water Work 025

    MAR 12

    Greg Wukasch: Leading with Humanity | Make Water Work 025

    What does real leadership in water look like? In this episode of Make Water Work, Isaac Pellerin and Megan Glover sit down with Greg Wukasch to talk about leadership, community trust, communication, and the future of the water industry. Greg shares how water found him, why utilities need to stop being afraid of public engagement, and what it takes to lead with curiosity, empathy, and humanity. From his early days at the San Antonio Water System to helping build the Catalyst community, Greg reflects on how experienced leaders can pour into the next generation, why trust is a utility’s true license to operate, and how water can be a powerful unifier in divided times. This conversation is for water professionals, utility leaders, communicators, young professionals, and anyone interested in the future of infrastructure, public trust, and community-centered leadership. In this episode, we cover: • Greg Wukasch’s journey into the water industry • Leadership lessons from nearly 30 years in water • Why communication and public engagement matter in utilities • How Catalyst is building a movement for water communicators • The importance of trust, empathy, and human-centered leadership • Greg’s take on AI, innovation, and the next generation of water professionals • Why the future of water leadership must better reflect the communities we serve

    47 min
  6. Peter Yolles & Clara Drysdale: Data Center Innovation & Cooling the Future | Make Water Work 024

    MAR 5

    Peter Yolles & Clara Drysdale: Data Center Innovation & Cooling the Future | Make Water Work 024

    AI runs on water. But how much? And what does that mean for the future? In this episode of the Make Water Work Podcast, Isaac Pellerin and Megan Glover sit down with Peter Yolles (Echo River Capital) and Clara Drysdale (Stanford University) to break down the findings from the new Data Center Innovation Report. As artificial intelligence and cloud computing explode, data centers are becoming one of the fastest-growing drivers of water and energy demand in the world. Cooling the chips that power AI requires enormous amounts of water — and the industry is racing to find more sustainable solutions. This conversation explores: • Why AI and data centers are creating a massive new demand for water • The technologies being developed to cool data centers more efficiently • The surprising connection between energy, water, and AI infrastructure • Innovations like atmospheric water capture, advanced membranes, and closed-loop cooling • Why communities are raising concerns about data center water use • How better measurement, transparency, and policy could shape the future Peter and Clara also share insights into where the next generation of water technology startups will emerge as AI infrastructure continues to scale globally.

    40 min
  7. Melissa Meeker: Accelerating Water Innovation and Workforce Development | Make Water Work 023

    FEB 26

    Melissa Meeker: Accelerating Water Innovation and Workforce Development | Make Water Work 023

    In this episode of Make Water Work, hosts Isaac Pellerin and Megan Glover sit down with Melissa Meeker, CEO of The Water Tower, to talk about the biggest issue facing the water industry that no one is talking about enough: workforce. While the industry focuses on PFAS, AI, lead service lines and climate resilience, Melissa is focused on something even more fundamental...people. 💧 How do we attract the next generation into water careers? 💧 How do we train operators differently? 💧 How do we create opportunity for nontraditional and underserved communities? 💧 And how do we scale workforce innovation from 5 states to all 50? The Water Tower in Gwinnett County, Georgia is redefining what water innovation looks like. Not just through technology, but through hands-on workforce training, operator certification programs, and ecosystem building that connects utilities, engineers and entrepreneurs. If you care about the future of water, this conversation is a must-watch.

    34 min
  8. Anthony DeRosa: Demystifying Drinking Water Regulation | Make Water Work 022

    FEB 19

    Anthony DeRosa: Demystifying Drinking Water Regulation | Make Water Work 022

    Summary In this episode of the Make Water Work podcast, Isaac Pellerin and Megan Glover welcome Anthony DeRosa, the executive director of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASWDA). They discuss Anthony's journey in the water management sector, the challenges and innovations in modernizing water management, the importance of data management, and the impact of regulatory changes on water utilities. The conversation also touches on workforce challenges, future trends in water management, and the role of data centers in water use. Anthony emphasizes the need for leveraging technology and data to improve water management practices and shares insights on the future initiatives of ASWDA.   Takeaways • Modernizing water management is crucial for efficiency. • Data management practices in the water sector are still immature. • Regulatory uncertainty is a significant concern for state regulators. • The Safe Drinking Water Act may need to be revisited. • Workforce challenges persist in attracting young talent to the water sector. • Data centers have a growing impact on water use and management. • ASDWA is focused on making data more accessible for its members.

    47 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Make Water Work is a podcast dedicated to the people shaping the future of our most precious resource.

Information

  • Creator
    Megan Glover & Isaac Pellerin
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Make Water Work Podcast

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