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Episodes

May 10, 2022

waterloop #143: Disrupt The Status Quo

The water industry is often described as conservative, risk-averse, and slow to change. That behavior and accompanying acceptance of the status quo frustrate Will Sarni, Founder and CEO of the Water Foundry, who believes the industry needs disruption,

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May 3, 2022

waterloop #142: Two Nations, One Park (In Spanish) (A Pass The Mic Ep…

Note: This episode is in Spanish. Watch it with English subtitles or read a transcript in English at https://bit.ly/TwoNationPark The Rio Grande River serves as the border between the United States and Mexico and in many ways keeps people apart.

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April 23, 2022

waterloop #141: The Market-Based Model of Water.org

Hundreds of millions of people around the world that lack water and sanitation spend money and valuable time to get access. The market-based model of Water.org has helped 43 million people to use microloans to gain proper access to water …

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April 19, 2022

waterloop #140: Most Endangered River 2022 - The Colorado

The Colorado River has been named the most endangered river in the U.S. by American Rivers, with the organization citing the challenges it faces from the impacts of climate change, outdated water management practices, overallocation of resources,

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April 11, 2022

waterloop #139: Local Is The Leading Location

Tremendous attention is paid to decisions, dollars, and officials at the federal and state levels, but local government is arguably the key cog in water management. Local leaders and staff are the ones ultimately spending funds, setting policy,

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April 4, 2022

waterloop #138: Great Opportunities For Great Lakes

In many parts of the U.S., political partisanship and climate change pose challenges for environmental progress. Meanwhile, the Great Lakes have shown to be a place for rare bipartisan support for investing in clean water and healthy communities. Also,

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March 29, 2022

waterloop #137: The Chronology Of Conflict

The relationship between water and conflict has a long history. Sometimes a fight arises over water resources. Other times water is used as a weapon during war. In other cases water is collateral damage. The history is detailed in the …

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March 15, 2022

waterloop #136: The Wonder and Weirdness of Water

Water is a rather simple chemical compound, with two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Yet this seemingly basic substance is necessary for all known forms of life, comprises two-thirds of the human body, and covers 70 percent of the …

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March 7, 2022

waterloop #135: Coordination For Louisiana’s Coast

Before Hurricane Katrina, the work to protect and restore Louisiana’s coast was fragmented among various government agencies with limited budgets and little coordination. The devastation of the storm and continued catastrophic loss of land and wetlands...

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Feb. 28, 2022

waterloop #134: Utah’s Cold-Shoulder To Conservation

Utah is one of the driest states in the U.S. and the strain on water resources is growing as its population booms and climate change fuels aridification across the American West. But instead of aggressively advancing water conservation as other …

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Feb. 21, 2022

waterloop #133: A Mindset Of Public Service

The water industry functions better when the workforce has a diverse blend of backgrounds and perspectives. This includes having individuals that bring experience in public administration and a mindset of service to others. In this episode, Amanda Jones,

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Feb. 14, 2022

waterloop #132: Projects For The Plastic Ocean

The amount of plastic - trillions of pieces and millions of tons - in the ocean is one of the planet’s most daunting environmental challenges. But many people are undeterred and drawn to projects to address the pollution,

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Feb. 7, 2022

waterloop #131: The Resilience Of Navajo Nation (A Pass The Mic Episo…

The water challenges are serious for Navajo Nation, including one in three families lacking running water, impacts of climate change straining the land, and legacy pollution tainting some sources. But a spirit of resilience and leadership from within a...

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Feb. 1, 2022

waterloop #130: Cleveland's Water Rocks

Five decades ago, Cleveland was infamous for major water problems, including the Cuyahoga River catching on fire and Lake Erie being proclaimed dead. But the challenges attracted attention, resources, businesses, and problem-solvers. 50 years later,

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Jan. 24, 2022

waterloop #129: Toledo's Turnaround From Toxic Algae

In 2014, a toxic algae bloom in Lake Erie forced the shutdown of Toledo’s drinking water system, cutting off the vital service for 400,000 people. In the years since, the City of Toledo responded by forging partnerships to monitor conditions …

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Jan. 18, 2022

waterloop #128: Inside Illinois' Lead Legislation (A Pass The Mic Epi…

Illinois is the state with the most lead service lines for drinking water in the country, estimated to be between 700,000 and 1.4 million, with a large number of those found in Chicago. But in 2021, the efforts of a …

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Jan. 10, 2022

waterloop #127: A Battleship Lives With Water

Wilmington, North Carolina is home to the USS North Carolina, a retired World War II battleship that is open as a museum that draws over a quarter of a million visitors each year and serves as a memorial to the …

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Jan. 4, 2022

waterloop #126: Getting Schooled On Freshwater

The Great Lakes are the largest freshwater ecosystem in the world, containing over 20 percent of Earth’s surface freshwater. This makes the Great Lakes an incredibly unique and critical place for water research,

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Dec. 15, 2021

waterloop #125: State Of The Beach, 2021 Edition

Healthy and resilient coastlines depend on action by states to properly manage development and prepare for climate change. While the Surfrider Foundation’s 2021 State of the Beach report found only two-thirds of states performing at poor to adequate le...

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Dec. 6, 2021

waterloop #124: An Atlas For Local Solutions

Local government officials and staff responsible for water management often have limited resources and must avoid risk, putting them on the constant search for proven solutions that work for their peers. Enter The Atlas,

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Dec. 1, 2021

waterloop #123: Flipping Front Yards In NOLA

Over time many property owners in New Orleans have replaced green spaces in favor of concrete and other impervious surfaces in order to gain more parking and reduce yard maintenance. The amount of hard surfaces contributed to serious flooding problems …

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Nov. 28, 2021

waterloop #122: Going Green In New Orleans

Managing water in New Orleans is a challenge because of the city’s unique hydrology, system of pipes and pumps, and intense rainfall events. Instead of relying only on traditional gray infrastructure, the city is embracing the use of green infrastructu...

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Nov. 22, 2021

waterloop #121: Lifting Up Lives With Infrastructure

Growing up and working in water in Puerto Rico, Yajaira Morphonios saw people who didn’t have access to clean drinking water and she gained a unique understanding of the essential nature of water services to the well-being of a community.

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Nov. 16, 2021

waterloop #120: Tracking The Tides With Tech

Coastal communities need accurate, reliable, and accessible information on tides, particularly as they confront rising sea levels and need to adapt to flooding events. But federal gauges are spread out on the U.S. coastline,

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