waterloop

Travis Loop
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waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for sustainability and equity in water. Hosted by journalist Travis Loop, the podcast features stories from across the U.S. about water infrastructure, conservation, innovation, technology, policy, PFAS, climate resilience, and more.

  1. AUG 25

    Pittsburgh’s Playbook for Replacing All Lead Pipes

    Pittsburgh is writing a playbook on lead pipe replacement, aiming to eliminate all toxic lines by 2027. In this episode, Will Pickering, CEO of Pittsburgh Water, and Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis of Women for a Healthy Environment reveal the strategy behind this national model. With over $200 million in federal grants and low-interest loans, the city has replaced 13,000 lead service lines at no cost to residents. Digitized records and GIS mapping pinpoint pipes for efficient, low-disruption replacements using copper threading. Community trust, rebuilt through transparent outreach and an advisory committee, drives participation. Naccarati-Chapkis ’s workshops target vulnerable neighborhoods, prioritizing kids and low-income areas. This blend of tech, funding, and engagement offers a roadmap for clean water nationwide. waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability. This episode was supported by Blue Conduit, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the Environmental Policy Innovation Center.

  2. AUG 18

    Can Southern California Avoid A Day Zero Water Crisis?

    As Southern California wonders if water scarcity could ever spiral into a “Day Zero” crisis, the region stands at a crossroads for securing its water future. In this episode of In The Newsroom, Ian James, a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, dives into the critical decisions shaping the region’s water portfolio. With half its supply imported from vulnerable sources like the Colorado River, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and Sierra Nevada snowpack, Southern California faces growing risks from climate-driven aridification and reduced snowmelt. The region is evaluating massive wastewater recycling projects, like Pure Water Southern California, to bolster local supplies. The $20 billion Delta Conveyance Project, a proposed 45-mile tunnel, aims to secure water from the Sacramento River but sparks debate over environmental impacts on the Delta’s ecosystem. A hyper-focus on conservation and efficiency, backed by the Pacific Institute’s 2022 Untapped Potential report, highlights water-saving potential through native landscaping and upgraded appliances. Capturing stormwater in the LA River and other waterways offers another innovative solution to diversify and strengthen the region’s water resilience. These efforts to diversify water sources today should position Southern California to avoid running out of water in the future. waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

  3. AUG 11

    The Rebirth of Bayou City: Centering Water in Houston

    Houston is known as the energy capital—but it’s also the Bayou City, where water flows not just through the environment, but through culture, memory, justice, and resilience. In this episode from the Color of Water series, Ayanna Jolivet Mccloud, Executive Director of Bayou City Waterkeeper, shares how her background in art and advocacy fuels bold environmental leadership rooted in equity. She discusses the group’s efforts to protect wetlands, hold polluters accountable, and connect communities with their watersheds. From suing to stop illegal sewage dumping to mapping critical wetlands and advancing green infrastructure in underserved neighborhoods, Bayou City Waterkeeper takes an integrated, justice-first approach to water. Ayanna also highlights the power of narrative change and cultural strategies in reimagining water policy and restoring people’s relationships to place. The Color of Water series is a collaboration between waterloop and the Water Hub. waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

  4. JUL 25

    Texas Bets $20 Billion On Its Water Future

    Texas is tackling its booming population’s water demands with a bold $20 billion investment plan to secure sustainable supplies and infrastructure by 2050. In this episode of In The Newsroom, Todd Votteler, a veteran water expert and editor of the Texas Water Journal, joins the podcast to discuss the state’s dynamic water landscape. With Texas expecting about 40 million residents by mid-century, the state is addressing urgent needs through a recently signed bill that allocates $10 billion for new water supplies and $10 billion for infrastructure upgrades, pending voter approval on November 4, 2025. Votteler highlights the Edwards Aquifer Authority’s pioneering groundwater regulation, born from 1990s endangered species litigation, which protects iconic springs like Barton Springs while balancing growth pressures. Innovative projects, such as Corpus Christi’s seawater desalination plant and El Paso’s groundbreaking direct potable reuse facility, signal Texas’s push toward diverse water sources. However, challenges persist, including groundwater strain in areas like Jacob’s Well and ongoing Rio Grande water disputes with Mexico. The state’s proactive approach, including a surprise veto and special legislative session, underscores its commitment to water security amid rapid growth. waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet that explores solutions for water sustainability.

  5. JUL 16

    Ways AI Is Reshaping Environmental Communications

    AI isn’t coming—it’s already here, and it’s reshaping how communications and marketing get done. In this episode, Shama Hyder, a leading voice in digital transformation, explains why this moment demands strategic urgency and how organizations must adapt or risk falling behind. She shares how AI is disrupting knowledge work, changing workflows, and redefining what entry-level even means. Shama lays out practical ways communicators can integrate AI tools right now—from automating meeting follow-ups to customizing reports for different audiences. She emphasizes that the path forward isn’t fear or passivity, but immersion, experimentation, and ownership. Her advice for individuals and teams: stop waiting for permission, start solving problems, and use AI to scale human impact. waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

  6. JUL 10

    How WWF Restores Rivers For Resilience

    Healthy rivers are essential for thriving communities, and smart, nature-based solutions are proving crucial to turning things around in a changing climate. In this episode, Derek Vollmer, Director of Waterscapes for the World Wildlife Fund, shares how their program uses innovative, place-based strategies to restore rivers and build resilience worldwide. From the US-Mexico border, solutions for the Rio Grande include removing invasive trees and optimizing dam operations to restore flow and support wildlife. In Pakistan, the groundbreaking Recharge Pakistan project uses ecosystem restoration, like forests and wetlands, to reduce both flood and drought risks. Further, lessons from the Netherlands' Room for the River program show how giving rivers space to ebb and flow can protect communities from climate impacts, providing powerful insights for the U.S. This is a conversation from the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C. waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet.

  7. JUL 2

    In The Newsroom With Camille Von Kaenel: California's Delta Tunnel Decision

    California's water future could be shaped by a $20 billion gamble with the controversial Delta Tunnel. This episode dives deep into the high-stakes project with Camille von Kaenel, California Environment Reporter for Politico. She unravels the complex plan to transport water from Northern to Southern California, detailing its immense cost, the decades-long permitting battles, and the stark divide between its proponents and opponents, , including Governor Gavin Newsom who champions it as a climate resiliency project as his term heads to an end. With Southern California utilities facing budget holes from successful conservation and a dwindling Colorado River supply, the conversation explores the decisions ahead and whether to invest in the massive tunnel infrastructure or prioritize ambitious local water recycling projects. Learn why this debate isn't just about water, but about politics, endangered species, and the very identity of California's communities. waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for sustainability in water.

  8. JUN 20

    How Science Saved Houston From Sinking

    Decades of overpumping groundwater around Houston caused the land to sink by as much as 15 feet, forcing neighborhoods to flood and entire communities to relocate. This episode explores how land subsidence developed, and how science, regulation, and infrastructure are now stopping the ground from sinking. Chrissy Butcher of Baytown Nature Center and Jason Ramage of the U.S. Geological Survey explain how groundwater extraction triggered massive subsidence and how the problem was first discovered through local surveys and monitoring data. Mike Turco of the Harris Galveston Subsidence District details how regulations now limit groundwater pumping, driving a shift to surface water and helping subsidence rates drop to near zero in key areas. Chris Canonico of Ardurra Group explains the construction of massive surface water infrastructure that supplies millions of people and supports Houston’s rapid growth. Tina Peterson of the Harris County Flood Control District discusses the added flood risks from subsidence and how flood detention, buyouts, and channel improvements are reducing flood damage. John Ellis of INTERA describes how advanced science tools like extensometers, InSAR, and groundwater models inform long-term management decisions. Houston’s experience now serves as a model for other regions facing subsidence challenges, including California’s Central Valley. waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

    38 min
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About

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for sustainability and equity in water. Hosted by journalist Travis Loop, the podcast features stories from across the U.S. about water infrastructure, conservation, innovation, technology, policy, PFAS, climate resilience, and more.

Information

  • Creator
    Travis Loop
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2025
  • Episodes
    280
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2019 waterloop
  • Show Website
    waterloop

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