The Water Zone

The Toro Company
  • 5.0 (2)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

The award-winning Water Zone podcast brings together various perspectives from industry experts, government leaders, authors, environmentalists and others to discuss today’s water challenges and explore opportunities for sustaining one of our most vital resources. Sponsored and supported by The Toro Company.

  1. 4D AGO

    Magnesium at Scale: Clean Technology Meets Critical Demand

    Alex Grant, CEO of Magrathea Metals, discusses a breakthrough approach to producing carbon‑neutral magnesium metal from seawater and brines. He outlines the major global challenges facing magnesium production, noting that Russia and China currently dominate supply, creating economic and national security risks for the United States. Grant shares how Magrathea Metals is partnering with the U.S. military and Tetra Technologies to rebuild a domestic magnesium supply through a new project launching in Arkansas. He also explains the company’s innovative chloride electrolyzer technology, which significantly lowers processing costs while enabling clean, scalable magnesium production for critical industries including automotive, aerospace, and defense. Podcast Recorded on February 5, 2026

    55 min

  2. 4D AGO

    From Waste to Resource: Unlocking Critical Minerals in Produced Water

    Mike Hightower, PhD, director of the New Mexico Produced Water Research Consortium, and Kyle Murray, PhD, principal scientist at GeoConsulting LLC, explore the growing opportunity to recover critical minerals from produced water in oil and gas operations. They explain how characterizing produced water allows researchers to identify valuable elements such as lithium, magnesium, iodine, bromide, and others that can create new revenue streams. The conversation highlights current projects focused on mineral recovery and outlines the pathway from water characterization to commercial-scale extraction. The episode also identifies U.S. oil and gas basins with the greatest potential for economically viable recovery of critical minerals from produced water. Podcast Recorded on January 29, 2026

    56 min

  3. JAN 26

    Transforming Scarcity: Doug Bennett on Reuse, Resilience & Regional Demand

    Doug Bennett, conservation manager for the Washington County Water Conservancy District in St. George, Utah, discusses the region’s most pressing conservation and sustainability challenges. He explains how the district is implementing buy‑back programming to improve drought resilience and stretch limited water supplies amid severe future availability forecasts. Doug highlights projections showing water demand may increase by up to 200% by 2060. To address these long‑term needs, the district is investing in a billion‑dollar water reuse system that will treat and reuse wastewater while adding new supporting infrastructure. Podcast Recorded on January 26, 2026

    55 min

  4. JAN 19

    Water, Equity, and Empowerment: The Surge for Water Story

    Shilpa Alva, CEO of Surge for Water, shares how her organization invests in underserved global communities by delivering safe water, hygiene, and menstrual health solutions to help break cycles of poverty. She highlights that Surge for Water is a women‑led movement rooted in equity, respect, and stewardship ensuring historically excluded groups are prioritized and that local wisdom guides every project. Alva explains how the organization partners with community‑based teams in Haiti and Uganda to ensure all solutions are locally owned and sustainable. She also describes a range of educational water projects, from solar‑powered wells to spring harvesting, well drilling, repair, and filtration. Ultimately, she emphasizes that safe water is foundational for thriving schools, health centers, and entire communities. Podcast Recorded on January 15, 2026

    55 min

  5. JAN 16

    Engineering the Future of Water with Peter Fiske

    Peter Fiske, Executive Director of the National Alliance for Water Innovation at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, explores the future of water production and reuse. He highlights major advancements in desalination, filtration, and resource recovery technologies that are reshaping how industries treat and repurpose water. Fiske also discusses emerging methods for extracting magnesium and rare earth elements from fracking brine, along with innovations like reactive plasma processing for high‑tech sectors. He explains how water movement directly impacts energy use and how new local regulations aim to increase the safe reuse of produced water. Podcast Recorded on January 8, 2026

    55 min

  6. JAN 5

    Guardians of the Coast: The Orange County Coast Keepers Story

    The Water Zone host Rob Starr provides and in depth discussion about the impactful work of Orange County Coast Keepers, a non-profit dedicated to protecting fresh and saltwater ecosystems. Rob shares the organization’s history and its connection to over 300 “Keeper” programs worldwide, each operating independently. He highlights Coast Keepers’ hands-on efforts in public outreach, education, marine restoration (including oyster regeneration), research, and water quality enforcement. Current projects include trash cleanups, corporate engagement, internships, and eco-friendly gardening. Rob also addresses their advocacy against offshore drilling and challenges to federal water protections in Southern California. Podcast Recorded on December 18, 2025

    55 min

  7. 12/15/2025

    From Courtrooms to Kitchens: The Real Impact of Water Issues

    Arizona homeowner John Bartlett, shares his concerns about pressing water issues impacting communities nationwide. The discussion covers the legal definition of water rights as interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court and explores whether the government can alter senior water rights, including current litigation trends. Bartlett and the hosts also examined the global PFAS crisis—known as “forever chemicals”—and debated the necessity and environmental impact of fracking, along with mining brine for rare earth minerals. The episode concluded with practical ideas on how individuals can contribute to long-term water sustainability. Podcast Recorded on December 11, 2025

    55 min

  8. 12/09/2025

    Harvesting Water from Thin Air: Innovation for a Thirsty World

    Moses West, President of AWG Contracting and the Moses West Foundation, shares his journey into Atmospheric Water Generation (AWG). Drawing on his military experience and engineering background, Moses developed a groundbreaking water harvesting system to provide clean, abundant water for troops in the field—a prototype that earned military approval and orders. Today, his company delivers scalable solutions from small units to large systems producing up to 1.5 million gallons per day, supporting disaster relief, community resilience, and sustainable infrastructure. Moses highlights installations like the one in Jackson, Mississippi, and explains how his solar-powered technology can even generate water in desert conditions. Podcast Recorded on December 4, 2025

    55 min
See All (100)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The award-winning Water Zone podcast brings together various perspectives from industry experts, government leaders, authors, environmentalists and others to discuss today’s water challenges and explore opportunities for sustaining one of our most vital resources. Sponsored and supported by The Toro Company.

Information

  • Creator
    The Toro Company
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    The Water Zone