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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: [email protected]   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

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

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: [email protected]    Website: Water Treatment Chemicals – Baltimore, MD | USALCO   LinkedIn: Brian Liotta | LinkedIn    Connect with Jemma Tennant  Phone: 447828315336   Email: [email protected]    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jemma-tennant-mwmsoc-2636985b/    Connect with Dr. David Krause  Phone: 850-766-1938    Email: [email protected]    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

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: [email protected]    Website: Home – Waterloop Solutions   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vzhiteneva/       Connect with Kalpna Solanki   Email: [email protected]   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

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: [email protected]   Website: Inline & Handheld Analytical Tools for Water Treatment | Pyxis Lab®  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobddeak/     Connect with Christine McHugh Phone: +19179409383  Email: [email protected]  Website: White Strand Development  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-a-mchugh/     Connect with Matt Freije  Email: [email protected] 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

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: [email protected]   Website: Water Quality Testing Products | AquaPhoenix Scientific  LinkedIn:  Frank Lecrone | LinkedIn     Connect with Eric Johnson Email: [email protected]  Website: Boilearn I The Foundation of Boiler Training  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericjohnson2020/   Boilearn: Overview | LinkedIn     Connect with Jake Elliott, PhD  Email: [email protected]   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: [email protected] 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 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!

A controller and a handheld meter give you different readings. Before you adjust blowdown or chemical feed, how do you determine which result deserves your confidence? Reliable water treatment testing starts with understanding the sample, the system, and the equipment behind the number.  In Episode 497, "Pinks and Blues: From Sample to Solution," Trace Blackmore, CWT, answers listener questions that build on Episodes 397 and 408. He connects testing with repeatable procedures so technicians can interpret results, make informed adjustments, and explain their decisions to customers.  Collect water that represents the system  A correctly performed test cannot compensate for the wrong sample. Trace explains how stagnant water in long sample lines can misrepresent the system you intend to evaluate. Instead of assuming a quick rinse is enough, verify flushing at the sample station against water collected at the source. Record the sample location, collection time, source, and operating conditions so the next technician can understand what you tested.  Define normal and examine the trend  A baseline includes more than a conductivity target. Makeup water quality, equipment, treatment feed, control ranges, water usage, operating changes, and historical problems all help establish what a healthy account looks like. Then compare today's result with previous readings. Ask whether the pattern is stable, improving, or worsening, and what operational change could explain it.  Verify instruments before changing the program  Clean glassware, properly stored reagents, maintained probes, and calibration checks support confidence in your results. Trace describes using a known standard to investigate disagreement between a handheld meter and a controller. He also challenges a universal calibration schedule: verify how your own meter performs. Once a result is confirmed, examine related tests and system conditions before deciding on an adjustment.  Explain the findings and the next steps  A useful service report records observations, data, interpretation, actions, verification, and ownership. Explain what needs attention, who will address it, and how the correction will be checked. Where appropriate, show the cost of leaving a problem unresolved. These records also give customer reviews a clear account of the work completed and recommendations still awaiting action.  Trace brings these practices together in the SAMPLE method:  Use this framework to connect each test result with the system's condition and a clear next step.  Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps  02:20 — Trace reflects on listener feedback from AWT and how shared experiences can encourage professional growth  05:50 — Mark Lewis's award acceptance illustrates the value of lasting friendships within water treatment  08:30 — The Hang offers a way to continue industry conversations, share challenges, and learn from colleagues  10:40 — Trace outlines AWT technical training options to help professionals choose relevant continuing education  18:00 — Listener questions from Episodes 397 and 408 connect testing practices with documented procedures  19:30 — Conflicting conductivity readings introduce the need to verify results before making changes that affect water use and chemical feed  24:00 — Representative sampling matters because even a correctly performed test can answer the wrong question  25:50 — Trace explains how to check flushing at a sample station against water collected at the system's sampling source  28:10 — Recording sample time, location, source, and operating conditions gives future troubleshooting essential context  31:00 — An account baseline establishes what healthy operation looks like before technicians investigate an abnormal result  34:30 — Comparing readings over time helps distinguish a single result from a meaningful operating trend  36:30 — Test kit condition, reagent handling, and instrument maintenance determine whether results deserve confidence  39:00 — Known standards help verify meters and investigate disagreement with controller readings  41:00 — Trace examines related measurements, so an abnormal conductivity result does not become an isolated adjustment  44:20 — A structured service report explains observations, collected data, interpretation, actions, and verification  46:40 — Documenting the cost of inaction and assigning ownership makes recommendations easier for customers to act on  50:10 — The SAMPLE method combines sampling, baselines, trends, instrument verification, broader testing, and documentation  53:10 — Industrial Water Week invites professionals to celebrate their work, share equipment photos, and thank people who have helped their careers    Quotes  "And our real goal is to collect the right information in a consistent way so we can make better decisions with that information."  "So, a perfectly performed test on the wrong sample gives you a perfectly wrong answer."  "One data point can be a clue, but a trend is evidence and that's what we're going for."  "If we don't write it down, it didn't happen."   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   Episode 397 Pinks and Blues: How to look at your tests   Episode 408 Pinks and Blues: The Power of Processes   AWT Technical Training Seminars     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 is made possible through our valued partners at

When a water treater can run a test but cannot yet diagnose a failing system, the next training decision matters. In Growing Through Change with Mark Lewis, Part 2, Mark Lewis of CRB Water joins Trace Blackmore, CWT, to connect training choices with work in the field.   Match Training to Experience Mark sees the space between AWT's March and November training sessions as a chance to revise material instead of repeating the same presentation. He explains how Fundamentals and Applications, Program Designs and Operations, and Technical Training serve different levels of readiness. His informal progression from "water tester" to "water technologist" gives managers a way to judge skills by the work someone can handle, not simply years in the industry. He also urges professionals to stay within their expertise when a system is unfamiliar. Managers can help people advance by pairing technical instruction with recognition and constructive feedback.   Give neglected accounts the attention they need Returning to the neglected accounts discussed in Episode 141, Mark describes how responsibility can sit with the water treater or the customer. A monthly visit may leave too much time for a broken valve, feed issue, or empty chemical drum to go unnoticed. First, learn how much time the customer can give the program. Then agree on practical checks for pumps, controller lights, and chemical inventory. If the account needs more attention, Mark suggests offering additional visits or equipment maintenance at a clearly priced service fee.   Use technology - and check what it tells you  Mark traces his shift from basic timers to remotely monitored controllers, PTSA probes, ORP control, and tank level sensors. For him, the advantage is seeing program behavior between visits and planning before a problem becomes a customer call. Yet he still checks level sensor readings against what is in the tank. That judgment carries over to AI. Mark and Trace discuss how a tidy report can mislead when it compares only the first and last conductivity readings while missing the fluctuations between them. The underlying data still need a professional's review.   Keep Learning Mark recommends the AWT Technical Reference and Training Manual and experienced mentors. He also asks listeners to consider where they want to be in five or ten years and begin taking steps toward it now. Better training, closer attention to account needs, and honest interpretation of data help water professionals decide where they are ready to lead and where they still need to learn.   Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!   Timestamps 05:00 — Trace and Mark consider the revised technical training schedule and how time between sessions can improve course material. 07:50 — Mark explains how to choose training by a person's current knowledge and responsibilities, rather than tenure alone. 09:30 — Mark urges water treaters to recognize the limits of their experience before taking on an unfamiliar system. 11:30 — Technical instruction, recognition, and constructive feedback all play a part in developing a colleague. 14:00 — Mark recommends the AWT Technical Reference and Training Manual as a resource to study and understand. 19:00 — Trace revisits Episode 141 and its lessons about neglected accounts for new water treaters. 20:00 — Mark distinguishes problems a vendor has overlooked from equipment issues a customer has left unresolved. 22:30 — Simple checks between visits can help customers notice problems with controllers, pumps, and chemical inventory. 23:40 — Mark explains why the value of added service should be considered alongside its fee. 26:40 — Remote monitoring gives Mark information he can use to plan service before a customer calls about a problem. 27:30 — Mark describes how PTSA probes and other controls have changed the way he manages a program. 32:20 — Mark explains why protecting test kits from moisture matters for field instruments. 33:10 — Mark cautions water treaters to verify a level sensor's reading against the tank. 34:50 — Mark raises the need to check the information behind an AI response. 37:40 — A report based on two conductivity readings can miss the fluctuations between them. 39:40 — Mark names a temperature gun as a useful test kit tool because temperature affects how water behaves. 40:50 — Mark asks listeners to choose a five- or ten-year goal and begin working toward it now. 43:40 — Trace invites listeners to take part in Industrial Water Week, October 5–9.   Quotes "you can't change the beginning, but you can change the end." "Today I realize that I have limitations and it's okay to say no."   Connect with Mark T Lewis Phone: 7043225406  Email: [email protected]  Website: CRB Water  LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mark-lewis-01a3b56     Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea   141 The One About Neglected Accounts   This episode is made possible through our valued partners at:

Change is unavoidable, but uncertainty does not have to control how water treatment professionals respond to it. Mark Lewis returns to share what he learned when Southeastern Laboratories was acquired by CRB Water—and how employees can remain valuable, informed, and open to opportunity during a business transition.    Navigating an Acquisition from the Employee's Perspective  Southeastern Laboratories began exploring a buyer because its owners wanted to protect the company and approximately 30 employees. When CRB Water entered the picture, employees naturally wondered what would change and how those decisions would affect their careers.  Mark explains how CRB Water's "do no harm" approach helped employees navigate the transition. Although changes to compensation, insurance, expenses, and operating practices required adjustment, the acquisition also brought additional resources and access to larger corporate accounts that may not have been available through a smaller organization.  His practical advice is direct: ask questions, understand the business, examine the available data, and keep an open mind. A change in ownership can create discomfort, but it may also expand what employees and their territories can accomplish.    Becoming an Asset Before Change Arrives  Professionals cannot always control when a company is sold, but they can control the value they bring to the organization. Mark encourages water treaters to strengthen their technical knowledge, return from training with something useful, understand how the business operates, and close gaps in their performance.  That mindset makes an employee valuable to both the current organization and any future owner. It also replaces fear with preparation. Instead of waiting for uncertainty to pass, professionals can become better account managers, technical resources, and business contributors.    Leadership Through Service and Preparation  Mark also reflects on his years of service with the Association of Water Technologies, including committee leadership, board service, and his term as AWT president. Effective association leadership, he explains, requires preparation, sound judgment, and a willingness to do the work behind every meeting and decision.  His receipt of the Ray Baum Memorial Water Technologist of the Year Award reinforces another leadership lesson: professional success is rarely built alone. Mark credits the people who taught, challenged, and trusted him throughout his career.  The conversation closes with lessons from rebuilding AWT's Fundamentals and Applications training. Strong instruction begins with a sound foundation, a clear explanation of why, and the confidence to speak from experience rather than simply read from a slide.  Growing through change requires curiosity, preparation, and trust in the value you continue building. Whether facing an acquisition, serving an association, or teaching the next generation, professionals move forward by staying open, asking better questions, and investing in others.  Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps  02:20 — Trace reflects on the AWT Convention and how simple conversation starters helped water professionals expand their networks.  04:00 — The Hang on October 1 offers a free opportunity to reconnect with convention contacts and continue building industry relationships.  05:00 — Trace challenges water treaters to break out of routine by changing how they observe, test, and approach customer systems.  07:30 — The AWT Technical Training Seminar, scheduled for November 11–14 in Frisco, Texas, gives professionals another opportunity to strengthen their technical foundation.  09:30 — Industrial Water Week runs October 5–9 with daily themes and opportunities to celebrate the profession with teams and customers.  12:10 — Returning guest Mark Lewis explains that Southeastern Laboratories was acquired by CRB Water, beginning a new professional chapter.  13:10 — Trace and Mark revisit the AWT connection that developed into more than 20 years of friendship and professional collaboration.  17:30 — Mark outlines why Southeastern Laboratories' owners began researching a buyer and how employees initially responded to the uncertainty.  18:50 — CRB Water's "do no harm" approach helped employees understand that the acquisition was intended to support people and grow the business.  20:10 — Mark describes how the larger organization opened access to corporate accounts and resources unavailable to a smaller company.  22:30 — Mark explains why an acquiring company values the customer base and the representatives who maintain those relationships.  25:40 — Trace and Mark discuss how employees can prepare for ownership changes even when leadership has not shared the full plan.  28:00 — Mark reflects on his previous AWT roles and explains why trust, service, and a willingness to contribute led to greater responsibility.  31:30 — Board service requires a serious time commitment, preparation, and a willingness to make decisions affecting AWT's future.  35:20 — Mark encourages professionals to begin serving AWT through committee involvement and grow their understanding of the association.  37:00 — Mark reflects on receiving the Ray Baum Memorial Water Technologist of the Year Award after first setting that goal in 1998.  41:00 — Trace and Mark revisit the rebuilding of AWT's Fundamentals and Applications class and the importance of teaching from a strong foundation.  45:00 — Mark explains why presenters create stronger connections when they speak from knowledge and experience instead of reading their slides.    Quotes  "Ask questions and understand that at the end of the day, if the company is successful and you're part of that success, you're going to be successful." "Don't be scared of change. Don't be scared of doing things a little different ways."  "To be the best Mark that I can be will make me valuable to my current company as well as the next company that I work for." "Take everything life has to offer and have fun with it." "Always ask the why. If someone tells you something, ask them why."   Connect with Mark T Lewis Phone: 7043225406  Email: [email protected]  Website: CRB Water  LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mark-lewis-01a3b56     Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind 031 The One with Mark Lewis  034 The Other One With Mark Lewis, CWT   112 The One Where Trace Is Interviewed By Mark Lewis  136 The One About The Mastermind Group  141 The One About Neglected Accounts  149 The One About Some of the Lesser-Used Technologies  404 Eight Tips for Business Management: Part 1 – Essential Strategies  406 Eight Tips for Business Management: Part 2 – Essential Strategies     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

A strong convention outcome starts before the first session and continues long after the exhibit hall closes. Association of Water Technologies Executive Director Matt Coffindaffer explains how deliberate preparation, wider professional relationships, and volunteer service can turn AWT 2026 into practical value for an industrial water treatment career or business.   Find the Right Place to Volunteer AWT offers yearlong committee service, shorter task-force assignments, and opportunities across technical research, marketing, membership, regulatory affairs, business resources, young professionals, Women of Water, legislative work, and charity. Matt emphasizes that there is no single ideal volunteer: owners, technical directors, sales and service professionals, field technicians, suppliers, and newcomers can contribute according to their time, experience, and interests.   For business owners, committee work can strengthen peer relationships and provide access to practical operating resources. Newer professionals can also use the Young Professionals Committee to understand the organization, explore career paths, and learn about different specialties within industrial water treatment.   Turn Convention Attendance into Business Value AWT 2026 in Oklahoma City brings together more than 1,000 industry peers and about 130 exhibitors. The program prioritizes technical content, while the September 15 Business Owners Meeting gives owners and management-team members a focused setting for business education, networking, and market insights from AWT's benchmarking survey. Matt frames the convention's value in operational terms: practitioners share lessons shaped by field experience, suppliers can support the full water treatment service chain, and one useful insight or connection may help a company solve problems more efficiently. The strongest return comes from engaging beyond familiar contacts.   Prepare, Connect, and Divide the Learning Before arriving, review the schedule, select sessions, read available papers, and prepare questions. Because several technical tracks run simultaneously, coordinate with peers, attend different presentations, and compare notes afterward. First-time attendees can use the first-timer ribbon—and the Scaling UP! H2O "magic button"—to begin conversations more naturally. Trace adds a practical exhibit-hall strategy: review the exhibitor list and map, note vendors connected to specific questions, walk the full floor once for orientation, then return for focused conversations. If attending alone, approach the event as a "faithful translator" responsible for bringing useful information back to the team. Strong professional communities grow when people contribute, remain curious, and share what they learn. AWT 2026 offers a concentrated opportunity to strengthen all three habits. Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!   Timestamps 05:00 — Trace introduces the Scaling UP! H2O "magic button" as a simple icebreaker for starting conversations and expanding a professional network. 09:50 — Matt outlines AWT's committee and task-force opportunities, showing how members can contribute through technical, business, membership, regulatory, and community-focused work. 11:40 — Matt explains why AWT does not have one ideal volunteer and why bringing your complete experience and perspective strengthens the organization. 13:20 — Business owners, sales and service professionals, suppliers, field technicians, and industry newcomers learn how volunteering can expand their knowledge and professional relationships. 19:00 — Matt provides clear next steps for getting involved by contacting a committee chair, the AWT president, Matt, or an AWT staff member. 19:30 — The AWT Annual Convention preview covers Oklahoma City, technical education, networking opportunities, suppliers, and activities planned for attendees. 23:10 — Matt explains what business owners can expect from the September 15 meeting, including benchmarking insights and structured peer collaboration. 26:40 — Matt describes why the convention attracts highly invested practitioners and gives attendees access to experienced peers and about 130 exhibitors. 28:50 — Convention costs are considered against the potential value of one useful lesson, relationship, or solution that improves business performance. 30:10 — First-time attendees receive practical guidance on reviewing the schedule, planning sessions, and using identification ribbons to connect with the AWT community. 32:20 — Matt identifies staying within an existing social circle as a major convention mistake and encourages attendees to approach unfamiliar professionals. 34:00 — Thematic tracks and peer recommendations can help attendees choose between technical presentations scheduled at the same time. 35:40 — Prospective presenters learn how AWT's annual call for papers and abstracts creates opportunities to contribute technical content. 42:50 — Trace explains how badges, ribbons, and Scaling UP! H2O buttons can help attendees identify board members and start productive conversations. 46:50 — Trace shares a structured exhibit-hall strategy based on reviewing the map, preparing questions, surveying the floor, and returning for focused discussions. 50:50 — Trace previews his Working Genius presentation with Tom Hutchison and directs listeners to Episodes 127 and 426 for related conversations. 52:40 — Industrial Water Week 2026 is scheduled for October 5–9, with daily themes and new podcast episodes covering major industrial water applications. 55:00 — Trace recognizes Angela Pike's years of service to AWT and reflects on the association's transition to Momentum Association Management.   Quotes "AWT is what it is today because a group of people showed up for this industry, for this community, for this beautiful profession, and they gave of their time and talents." "This organization works best; volunteerism works best when you're bringing your full self to that role." "There is no wrong answer in how to get involved." "Just be true to yourself. Bring your full and authentic self to the experience and every day will feel like a joy, even the days where you're deep in the trenches." "If you're attending by yourself, I want you to have the mindset that you're now going to be the faithful translator to bring that information back to your company so your company can truly benefit from you being at the convention this week."   Connect with Matt Coffindaffer Email: [email protected]   Website: AWT – The Association of Water Technologies   LinkedIn: Matt Coffindaffer, MBA, CAE | LinkedIn   Association of Water Technologies (AWT): About | LinkedIn     Guest Resources Mentioned   AWT 2026 Annual Convention & Exposition   2026 AWT Agenda  2026 AWT Exhibitors List 2026 AWT Business Owners Meeting   The Value of CWT Certification  ANAB Personnel Certification Accreditation  Momentum Association Management    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  493 Preparing for AWT 2026: Leadership, Change, and CWT Growth with Matt Coffindaffer, Part 1  127 The One With Tom Hutchison   426 Sustaining Success: Tom Hutchison on Leading Through Generational Change    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

Strong professional associations do more than provide programs and credentials. They create an environment where members can exchange knowledge, build trusted relationships, and prepare their businesses for what comes next. As the Association of Water Technologies enters a new operational chapter, Executive Director Matt Coffindaffer explains how AWT is strengthening that environment without losing the culture that makes it distinctive.     From the Arts to Association Leadership  Before entering association management, Matt built a career behind the scenes in theater. His experience designing scenery, lighting, and technical environments taught him how people with different skills can work together in service of a larger concept.  That same principle now shapes his leadership at AWT. Matt describes his role as a partnership with the board of directors: helping volunteer leaders make timely, consequential decisions based on reliable information while directing the staff and daily operations that turn strategy into member value.    Evolving AWT's Operational Structure  After 20 years with Management Solutions Plus, AWT transitioned its association management support to Momentum Association Management. Matt explains that the change was driven by the organization's long-term strategic goals and the need to align staff resources with the expectations of a growing membership.  Members can expect evolutionary improvements before larger changes take shape. Specialized support is being assigned to membership, CWT certification, committees, meetings, and exhibits. A new ticketing system will also help AWT track inquiries and connect members with the appropriate staff. With the annual convention approaching, customer service and a successful Oklahoma City experience remain the immediate priorities.    Expanding the Reach of the CWT Program  The Certified Water Technologist designation remains one of AWT's most important professional programs. However, the number of certificate holders has remained around 300 to 350 for more than a decade, despite more than 4,500 professionals being within AWT's member orbit.  Matt outlines a broader strategy for growth: examine potential barriers to eligibility, provide specialized administrative support, pursue ANSI accreditation, and work toward greater recognition of the CWT designation in bid specifications and regulatory requirements. The objective is to expand participation while preserving the credential's rigor and professional value.    Making the Convention Work for You  Trace closes with a practical reminder: plan your agenda, make time for the exhibit hall, and use the Scaling UP! H2O button as a simple conversation starter. Attendees can continue those connections during the next Hang on October 1 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern.  The strength of AWT comes from professionals who contribute their knowledge, volunteer their time, and help one another succeed. Preparing intentionally for the convention allows you to take full advantage of that community.  Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps 02:10 — Trace introduces the AWT Convention and Expo and explains why the gathering matters to industrial water treatment professionals.  03:00 — The episode's convention-focused agenda covers preparation, networking, learning opportunities, and changes taking place within AWT.  05:00 — Industrial Water Week 2026 offers five days of themed education, from pretreatment and boilers to cooling, wastewater, and careers.  08:10 — Matt Coffindaffer joins the podcast and introduces his role as executive director of the Association of Water Technologies.  12:10 — Matt connects his background in the arts with association leadership, emphasizing service to a mission larger than any one contributor.  14:10 — Matt explains how his previous association management experience introduced him to AWT and its highly engaged volunteer community.  17:20 — AWT's established programs, committed volunteers, and healthy organizational model distinguish it from associations requiring a complete turnaround.  23:30 — Matt describes AWT's unusually collaborative culture and explains why its meetings and programs feel like a professional homecoming.  24:30 — The executive director's primary responsibility is helping the board make informed decisions while strengthening organizational capacity.  28:50 — Matt explains how an association management company provides flexible access to specialized staff and additional event resources.  31:30 — Becoming AWT's first direct employee allowed Matt to evaluate the organization beyond the limits of a consulting scope.  34:00 — AWT's transition from Management Solutions Plus to Momentum Association Management reflects its strategic goals and future operational needs.  39:10 — AWT begins developing a broader plan to expand the CWT program while preserving the credential's professional rigor.  41:30 — ANSI accreditation could strengthen the CWT program's credibility and support broader recognition in legislation, regulation, and bid specifications.  45:20 — During the transition period, AWT prioritizes customer service, tracked member inquiries, and a successful convention experience.  49:10 — New committee liaisons and recurring leadership roundtables will give AWT volunteers more consistent operational support.  52:10 — Matt introduces Janessa Camps, AWT's new director of membership and operations and a primary contact for member assistance.  54:50 — Trace explains how the Scaling UP! H2O "magic button" can help attendees start conversations and build new professional relationships.  57:30 — The next Hang, scheduled for October 1 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern, gives attendees an opportunity to continue connections made at the convention.    Quotes "I think the real common thread between the arts and associations is it's about a group of people from all different backgrounds, but they're, at their core, very passionate about the work that they're doing."  "I really do view the AWT as home."  "It's my job to make sure that they are making timely, consequential decisions based on the best data available."  "I think over the next three to six months, you'll see some evolutionary changes, but we'll really start to see some significant changes in 2027 and beyond."  "But we want to make sure that we're maintaining the character and the rigor of the CWT while making sure that we're not creating unnecessary barriers to adoption."    Connect with Matt Coffindaffer Email: [email protected]   Website: AWT – The Association of Water Technologies   LinkedIn: Matt Coffindaffer, MBA, CAE | LinkedIn   Association of Water Technologies (AWT): About | LinkedIn     Guest Resources Mentioned   AWT 2026 Annual Convention & Exposition   2026 AWT Business Owners Meeting   The Value of CWT Certification  ANAB Personnel Certification Accreditation  Momentum Association Management    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  468 Born into Water Treatment: Tom Brandvold on AWT's Origin Story and a Life in the Industry   127 The One With Tom Hutchison   426 Sustaining Success: Tom Hutchison on Leading Through Generational Change    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

Reliable Legionella results begin long before a sample reaches the laboratory. Dr. Rajiv Sahay of Sahay Scientific Services explains how building conditions, field collection practices, and laboratory methods influence the quality—and usefulness—of the data water professionals receive. Building Water Conditions Shape the Risk Modern buildings rely heavily on controlled mechanical systems, yet water can remain an overlooked part of the indoor environment. Stagnation, low flow, dead legs, temperature, pH, disinfectant residuals, corrosion, and accumulated organic material can all influence biofilm development and microbial activity. Dr. Sahay cautions against solving one problem while creating another. Raising a disinfectant concentration without considering system materials, water chemistry, and occupant health can introduce secondary risks. Instead, water professionals need enough data to balance microbial control with the operational realities of the system. Better Samples Begin in the Field Sample quality depends on what happens at the collection point. Dr. Sahay recommends recording temperature and pH when the sample is taken, selecting a collection technique suited to the water body, and avoiding unnecessary sediment or debris. He also explains how gloves, hands, bottles, and sampling equipment can introduce cross-contamination. Aseptic handling, clean barriers, appropriate disinfection, and complete chain-of-custody documentation help the laboratory connect its findings with actual field conditions. What Happens Inside the Laboratory Dr. Sahay walks listeners through three testing pathways: non-culture methods, traditional culture, and molecular diagnostics such as PCR. Culture remains the reference method discussed for isolating and confirming Legionella, while molecular testing can provide faster screening information. The conversation also follows a sample through filtration, preparation, inoculation on BCYE media, incubation, preliminary identification, and confirmation. This context helps water professionals understand why laboratory turnaround times and reported results vary by method. Reading Results With the Right Context A nondetect does not necessarily establish that an entire water system—or even the full sample bottle—contains no Legionella. It means the laboratory did not detect the organism in the analyzed portion under the method's detection capability. That distinction reinforces the central lesson: usable field data, representative sampling, appropriate laboratory methods, and informed interpretation must work together. Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge! Connect with Dr. Rajiv Sahay  Phone: (727) 488-4001  Email: [email protected]  Website: Environmental Services Consulting   LinkedIn: Dr. Rajiv Sahay, FIAS, CIAQP | LinkedIn   Sahay's Scientific Services: Overview | LinkedIn    Guest Resources Mentioned   Presentation – Legionella Unveiled: Safeguarding Water Systems in a Changing World by Dr. Rajiv Sahay  Environmental Microbiology 3rd Edition by Ian Pepper (Editor), Charles P. Gerba (Editor), Terry Gentry (Editor)  Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology: Volume One : The Archaea and the Deeply Branching and Phototrophic Bacteria 2nd Edition by David R. Boone (Editor), George M. Garrity (Editor), Richard W. Castenholz (Editor)  Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology. Eighth Edition by R. E. Buchanan (Editor), N. E. Gibbons (Editor)  CDC Legionella water management program overview  CDC Legionella prevention resources: https://www.cdc.gov/legionella/index.html CDC ELITE Program (Environmental Legionella Isolation Techniques Evaluation)  EPA (Legionella-related publications and resources)  ASHRAE Standard 188 (Legionellosis risk management)     Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  Rising Tide Mastermind  Scaling UP! H2O Legionella Resources Library    Water You Know with James McDonald Today's definition is an organophosphorus compound containing a direct carbon-phosphorus bond that is commonly used in water treatment for corrosion control and threshold scale inhibition. Can you guess the word or phrase?   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:

A water management plan protects people only when the facility uses it to guide decisions. Dr. Abe Cullom, Director of Water Safety & Management at Pace Analytical, joins Trace Blackmore, CWT, to examine why Legionella programs break down—and how testing, communication, and consistent implementation can strengthen them.  Implementation Is the Bottleneck  Five decades after Legionella was identified, researchers understand much more about the organism, its ecology, the conditions that support its growth, and the interventions available to control it. However, Dr. Cullom identifies implementation—not a lack of science—as the primary bottleneck.  Many plans remain in filing cabinets or operate on autopilot. Teams collect measurements and samples, yet no one connects the results into a complete picture of the building water system. Process failures, limited follow-up, budget constraints, and unclear communication can allow a developing problem to remain hidden behind repeated low-level corrective actions.  Testing Must Inform Risk  Culture remains a dominant testing method, although the typical wait for results can complicate decisions during an investigation or operational change. qPCR provides faster results but may detect genetic material from both living and dead cells. Dr. Cullom also explains viable but non-culturable cells and why recent heat treatment, supplemental disinfection, oxidative stress, or prolonged stagnation can affect culture results.  The goal is not automatically to drive every Legionella result to zero. Instead, teams should interpret findings using the species detected, distal site positivity, the facility's population, and the limitations of the testing method. Dr. Cullom explains why testing only for Legionella pneumophila may make sense in some systems, while healthcare facilities may require a broader view because highly immunocompromised patients can develop infections from other Legionella species.  Ownership, Communication, and Continuous Review  Water management plans often fail when responsibility for corrective action has not been assigned. Dr. Cullom calls one version of this breakdown the "milkman approach": a consultant or water treater delivers results, but the facility expects that outside party to organize a response that was never included in the scope.  Effective programs clearly define authority, assign actions, and give engineers, infection prevention professionals, facility leaders, consultants, and water treaters a shared vocabulary. When reviewing a program, examine its records, verification and validation activities, corrective-action documentation, and long-term data trends.  Dr. Cullom recommends giving someone at least 30 minutes each month to consider what the results reveal and whether the plan needs to change. He closes with a direct priority: validate every plan through testing—at least once and, ideally, routinely.  Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps  08:40 — Trace introduces Dr. Abe Cullom and begins a practical examination of water safety, risk assessment, and Legionella outbreak prevention. 11:30 — Dr. Cullom defines opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens and explains why vulnerable building occupants face greater infection risks. 13:10 — Building water systems emerge as complex microbial environments shaped by chemistry, hydraulics, construction materials, pathogens, and antibiotic resistance. 14:40 — Fifty years of Legionella research have produced strong scientific guidance, but inconsistent implementation remains the central bottleneck. 16:40 — Process failures, poor communication, limited follow-up, and plans running on autopilot can undermine otherwise sound water management programs. 18:50 — Dr. Cullom compares culture and qPCR testing, including turnaround time, sensitivity, and the challenge of detecting DNA from dead cells. 20:50 — Testing only for Legionella pneumophila may reduce unnecessary responses in some systems, but healthcare facilities may need broader species testing. 22:30 — Viable but non-culturable cells can complicate sampling after heat, disinfection, oxidative stress, starvation, or prolonged stagnation. 24:10 — "Zero Legionella" and "zero cases" represent different goals, requiring teams to manage health risk instead of reacting identically to every positive result. 26:10 — Distal site positivity measures the percentage of sampled outlets testing positive and helps teams interpret building-level risk. 27:50 — Corrective actions can stall when authority, responsibilities, and expectations between facilities, consultants, and water treaters remain unclear. 30:00 — Plans, diagrams, and training should give multidisciplinary program teams a shared vocabulary for productive water-management decisions. 33:10 — Pseudomonas aeruginosa and nontuberculous mycobacteria deserve greater attention as additional building water pathogens. 34:20 — Public health, regulatory responsibilities, and the cost of outbreak mitigation can help professionals make the case for proactive water management. 36:50 — A program review should examine documentation, verification, validation, corrective actions, data trends, and how facility leaders interpret the results. 38:00 — Dr. Cullom previews "Clinical Crossroads: The Risk Burden of ST-108," addressing water quality, sterile processing, and new areas of liability. 39:40 — Program teams should dedicate time each month to reviewing data, challenging assumptions, and updating their understanding of the system. 41:30 — The Legionella Awareness Month lightning round covers essential resources, common communication failures, and routine testing as a driver of improvement.   Connect with Dr. Abe Cullom Phone: 913-948-3948  Email: [email protected]  Website: People Advancing Science®: Transforming Environment & Health   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abraham-cullom-46b04385/   https://www.linkedin.com/company/paceanalyticalservices/     Words of Water with James McDonald  Today's definition is a horizontal pressure vessel located at the bottom of a water tube boiler. Its primary functions are to facilitate water circulation and to provide a collection point for sludge, sediment, and other suspended solids that settle out of the boiler water. Can you guess the word or phrase?    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: