Scaling UP! H2O
Episodes
472 Finding and Fixing the Invisible: Chris MacDonald on Pressure Pipe Inspection and Rehab
17 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
"Document everything." Spring startup season exposes more than operational stress. It also reveals what happened months earlier when systems were lai...
471 Biofilms, Biocides, and TTPC: A Deep Dive with Dr. Jeff Kramer
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Biofilm is not a fringe issue in cooling systems. As Dr. Jeff Kramer explains, it is a given. That matters because biofilm affects heat transfer, cont...
470 Wastewater Enthusiast: Training the Next Generation Online
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Shawn Powell has built a following by doing something wastewater operators have needed for a long time: making practical technical education easier to...
469 ABMA: The Oldest Association Meets Today's Challenges
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Boiler performance rarely depends on a single decision. It depends on design, controls, maintenance, workforce capability, and, as this conversation m...
468 Born into Water Treatment: Tom Brandvold on AWT's Origin Story and a Life in the Industry
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Tom Brandvold, CWT, has lived industrial water treatment from the inside out. In this conversation, he traces that path from sweeping floors and runni...
467 From PhD to Pump Rooms: Jake Elliott on Wastewater, Efficiency, and Saying "Yes" Wisely
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when a water chemist leaves the lab and heads to the pump room? Dr. Jake Elliott knows firsthand. A former PhD researcher who stud...
466 Stories, Math, and "Never Again" Moments: Inside AWT Technical Training with Dan Merritt (Part 2)
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
AWT's in‑person technical training is a keystone for developing competent water treaters. Yet classroom knowledge only matters when it survives the...
465 From Classroom to Cooling Towers: Teaching Water Treatment with Dan Merritt (Part 1)
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Industrial water training only works when the knowledge transfers. That means the material lands with the audience, survives the drive home, and sh...
464 Corrosion Coupons, Brand Building, and Having Fun at Trade Shows with Will Ritter
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
"Don't be afraid to say I don't know. - Will Ritter" Corrosion is expensive, relentless, and easy to underestimate—until a "lasagna battery" turn...
463 Mapping the Future of Water Innovation with Paul O'Callaghan
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
"If you say something over and over often and enough, it becomes true because perception is reality." Paul O'Callaghan has built a career at the in...
462 From Lab Chemist to Field Mentor: Water, Culture, and Representation
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Industrial water work rewards people who can move between precision and practicality. Katie Holliday brings both. She started as a lab chemist, the...
461 Corrosion, Lead, and Algae: New Tools for Old Water Problems
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Corrosion rarely announces itself as a "big water problem." It shows up as leaching at the tap, residual loss in the field, premature equipment repl...
460 Building Boiler Talent: Fundamentals, Online Training, and Better Partnerships with Eric Johnson
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Boilers can feel intimidating the first time you step into a boiler room—the heat, the noise, the pressure gauge, and the weight of knowing that mi...
459 From Wastewater to Resource: Water Reuse with Dr. Veronika Zhiteneva
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Industrial water professionals are increasingly pulled into conversations about scarcity, resilience, and "where the next gallon comes from." Dr. V...
458 Hiring Olympics and High-Performance Culture with J.D. Roth
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
"Stay curious. And you only have one reputation. Guard it with your life." Hiring for judgment, not just rehearsed confidence Industrial water tr...
457 2026: A New Year with New Intentions
02 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Trace Blackmore opens 2026 with a practical reset: how to plan with urgency, sharpen the fundamentals that make troubleshooting easier, and use the...
456 The 12 Days of Scaling UP! H2O 2025
26 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A year-end recap is more than a highlight reel—it's a practical reset. In this New Year episode, Trace Blackmore walks through 2025 using a "12 Da...
455 Mentors, Mindset, and the CWT: Owning Your Water Career with Nella Fergusson
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"So one thing I never do is try to start giving remediation or advice before I truly have understood and diagnosed the problem." Mentorship and ...
454 Water Recycling, Innovation, and Industry Wisdom with Dr. Kelle Zeiher
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Industrial cooling is one of the biggest levers industrial facilities can pull on water use—and it's getting harder to ignore as data centers and ...
453 Water Risk, Governance, and Community Engagement with Dr. Annette Davison
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Industrial water professionals sit at the intersection of risk, regulation, and community trust. In this episode, Dr. Annette Davison ("the water risk...
452 UV Innovation and Whole-Building Water Safety with Ron Blutrich
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Entamoeba histolytica nearly ended Ron Blutrich's scientific career. Instead, it pushed him to rethink how we protect people in multi-family buildin...
451 Building a Culture of Innovation and Customer Service with Frank Lecrone
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when you build a company around one niche, listen obsessively to customers, and never stop improving? In this episode, host Trace Black...
450 Wastewater Advocacy and Innovation with Robin Deal
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"The More You Know" - Robin Deal A million-gallon-a-day perspective, distilled into actionable steps. Robin Deal, AquaPure Product Manager at Hubbar...
449 Michael Bourgeois on AWT Partnerships and Professional Growth
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Get stuck in – Michael Bourgeois, CWT How do standards get written in ways that working water treaters can actually meet? In this conversation, AW...
448 2025 Halloween Special
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Holidays don't usually line up with release day—but this year they did. In this Halloween special, Trace uses the horror-movie trope of the "scary ...
447 Unlocking Team Potential with Culture Index with Randi Fargen
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hiring in industrial water is slow, specialized, and expensive to get wrong. In this conversation, executive advisor Randi Fargen explains how a ...
446 Leveraging the Culture Index for Business Success with Danielle Scimeca and Conor Parrish
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you make "right person, right seat" a repeatable system—not a hope? Fact Water Co's Danielle Scimeca (President) and returning guest Cono...
445 Industrial Water Week 2025: Careers Friday
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Industrial Water Week 2025: Careers Friday brings the celebration back to first principles—mentors, disciplined training, and field diagnostics t...
444 Industrial Water Week 2025: Wastewater Thursday
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Wastewater isn't an endpoint—it's a decision point. On Wastewater Thursday, host Trace Blackmore, CWT sharpens the operator's toolkit with field-te...
443 Industrial Water Week 2025: Cooling Wednesday
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cooling Wednesday is about performance, protection, and proof. Trace Blackmore invites the Nation to get hands-on with cooling equipment and share ...
442 Industrial Water Week 2025: Boiler Tuesday
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Boiler rooms reward clarity: how many BTUs from the flame actually arrive in steam—and stay there to do useful work? For Boiler Tuesday, Trace Bl...
441 Industrial Water Week 2025: Pretreatment Monday
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Industrial Water Week is here—and Day 1 is Pretreatment Monday. This special episode sets the tone for the week with specific ways to celebrate a...
440 Mental Health in the Workplace with Dr. Andy Melton
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The best leaders are the ones that can hold space for both—care personally and challenge directly. Work never happens in a vacuum. Field calls, cus...
439 Innovating Water for Smart Cities: Christine McHugh's Vision
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when cities become "networked"—and water systems start telling us what they need in real time? In this episode, Trace Blackmore speaks ...
438 Innovative Water Treatment Chemistry with Matheus Paschoalino
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can a carbon-negative, bio-based molecule replace legacy phosphonates and help you use less azole—without sacrificing corrosion performance? In thi...
437 Redefining HR: The Key to Talent & Culture in Water Treatment
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if HR wasn't the department you dreaded — but the partner that helped your team thrive? In this episode of Scaling UP! H2O, host Trace Blackm...
436 Raising the Bar: Legionella Management & Industry Standards
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With those words, Jemma Tennant highlights one of the most profound differences between Legionella management in Europe and the United States. In this...
435 Optimizing Legionella Control Strategies with Dr. Vincenzo Romano Spica
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Legionella remains one of the most complex challenges for water professionals worldwide. How do we balance effective monitoring with realistic costs—...
434 Encore Interview with Patsy Root
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"Rules written in a panic rarely stand the test of time." In this encore episode, Trace Blackmore welcomes back Patsy Root, Senior Manager of Gove...
433 Legionella Investigations and LIDO Technology
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if preventing Legionella outbreaks wasn't about adding more chemicals, but removing what the bacteria needs to survive? In this episode of Scalin...
432 Water Management Plans: Evolving Standards and Best Practices with Matt Freije
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"Just because you have a water management plan doesn't mean it's working." That's the hard truth Matt Freije, founder and CEO of HC Info, delivers i...
431 Legionella Awareness Month Kickoff!
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are You Ready to Talk About Legionella? Every August, we dedicate an entire month to a topic that touches public health, liability, and the core of ...
430 PFAS Regulations and Technologies with Brian Liotta
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"The winning combination will include not just removal—but real destruction of PFAS." - Brian Liotta PFAS: The Invisible Challenge Reshaping Wate...
429 The Life and Career of Jim Lukanich
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"You can't learn it all in one year. You can't even learn it all in ten." That single statement from Jim Lukanich captures the spirit of this unforget...
428 Innovations in Water Treatment with Dr. Jasbir Gill
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when a nuclear chemist pivots into industrial water treatment? In this episode, host Trace Blackmore is joined by Dr. Jasbir Gill, Presid...
427 July 4th! Entrepreneurship, Water Wells, and the Spirit of Liberty
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!" - Patrick Henry Honoring Innovation, Freedom, and Small Business on the 4th of July In this special Independen...
426 Sustaining Success: Tom Hutchison on Leading Through Generational Change
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Trace Blackmore welcomes back Tom Hutchison, Chairman of the Board, HOH Water Technology, to reflect on what it really takes to step ...
425 Smart Technology in Water Treatment with Kevin Kuhne
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"You don't have to transition your entire business. You just need to start. Small beginnings are okay." Revolutionizing Water Treatment Through Smar...
424 Chlorine Dioxide Insights with Greg Simpson
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A Lifelong Exploration into Chlorine Dioxide In this episode of Scaling UP! H2O, Trace Blackmore welcomes Greg D. Simpson, a recognized authority on...
423 Pushing the Boundaries: Jacob Deak on Innovating Water Treatment Systems
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Scaling UP! H2O, host Trace Blackmore interviews Jake Deak, Marketing & Inside Sales Director at Pyxis Lab, for a deep dive into ho...
422 Inside the Association of Water Technologies with John Caloritis
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this milestone episode, host Trace Blackmore welcomes John Caloritis of the Metro Group and current President of the Association of Water Technolo...
421 The Benefits of Tagged Polymers in Water Treatment with Gary Garcia
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"Keep it simple because the more complex things get, the less people will do it" - Gary Garcia For years, water treatment professionals have relied on...
420 Tapping Into Tech: How Ben Frieders Uses AI to Elevate Water Treatment Marketing
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"Continue to learn something new every day." What happens when a Navy-trained water chemistry expert dives into AI-powered marketing? You get Ben Frie...
419 Leading with Purpose: Culture, Customers, and Chemical Supply with Dave Fitzgerald
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Scaling UP! H2O, host Trace Blackmore reconnects with returning guest Dave Fitzgerald, President of North Metal & Chemical Company....
418 Maleic Acid-Based Corrosion Inhibitors: Expanding the Water Treatment Toolbox with Mike Standish
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Corrosion control is fundamental to the success of any water treatment program, but how often do we question the limitations of the tools we rely on?...
417 How To Live a Life of Significance: Insights from Aaron Walker
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
" Don't Just Be Successful – Be Significant" How do you define success? Is it about financial achievement, accolades, or influence? What if true f...
416 The SteriPen Revisited: Scaling UP! Your UV Digestion Knowledge
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"Always test your tools before field use. Side-by-side comparisons ensure repeatability and accuracy." In this episode of Scaling UP! H2O, host Trac...
415 Green Building Updates: What You Need to Know
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"When there's a will, there's a way." - Charlie Cichetti Sustainability is more than just a trend—it's a commitment to a better future. In this epis...
414 Pinks and Blues: Trace's Phosphate Redux
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"Scaling is like debt—it's always better to prevent it than to clean it up later." Phosphate plays a crucial role in Industrial Water Treatment, yet...
413 Charting the Future: Mastering the Art of Strategic Planning
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"Strategic planning is creating certainty in an uncertain world." – Tim Fulton Strategic planning is essential for success in any business, yet many...
412 Pinks & Blues: The Iron-clad Saga
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"Be the iron fist that keeps your water flowing clean and clear." - Trace Blackmore Welcome back to another insightful Pinks & Blues episode of Scalin...
411 Adiabatic Humidification: Harnessing Nature's Cooling Power for Efficient Climate Control
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"Be curious because the more you learn, the more exciting it is. Hit those challenges head on." - Ryan Reimer Adiabatic humidification is revolution...
410 Unleash Your Pricing Power: Casey Brown's 'Fearless Pricing' Revolutionizes Business Value
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"If you're excellent at what you do, you've got to be paid like you're excellent." – Casey Brown Ever wondered if you're truly getting paid what y...
409 A Western Refinery's Journey to Improved Water Efficiency
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"Water is a limited resource, and in this refinery, every gallon saved is a win for sustainability." – Juan Meneses Water is a critical resource in ...
408 Pinks and Blues: The Power of Processes
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What gets measured gets improved. But without a process, how do we know what to improve? In this brand-new episode, Trace Blackmore, the host of Sc...
407 Designing Success: A Deep Dive into 'Luck by Design' with Author Adam Tank
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if the moments we consider mundane or accidental hold the power to reshape our lives? In this week's Scaling UP! H2O Podcast, we welcome back ...
406 Eight Tips for Business Management: Part 2 – Essential Strategies
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"The only way you really know what you want to do is by learning more about it." - Mark Lewis Welcome back to Scaling UP! H2O as we dive into the se...
405 Cooling Water Innovation: Harnessing Wastewater for Sustainability
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Scaling UP! H2O podcast, host Trace Blackmore dives into a conversation with Juan Meneses, District Manager at Nalco Water, An Ecol...
404 Eight Tips for Business Management: Part 1 – Essential Strategies
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Trace Blackmore and Mark T. Lewis, Certified Water Technologist of Southeastern Laboratories, Inc. dive into practical tips for manag...
403 Navigating the New Frontier: Patsy Root on Legionella Legislation
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if you could help write the rules that keep us all safe? In this episode, Trace Blackmore sits down with the passionate and highly knowledgeab...
402 Game-Changing AI Tools: Matt Montellione's Insights
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"It's not that different than when smartphones came out.. Everything's overwhelming when you first try it, but with just a little bit of effort, it j...
401 Kick Off to 2025!
03 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to 2025! Episode 401 of the Scaling Up H2O Podcast is here to help you kick-start the new year with valuable insights, energy-saving tips, and...
400 Celebrating 2024 and 400 Episodes!
27 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"Take a victory lap today and celebrate all the wonderful things you've done this year." – Trace Blackmore In this milestone 400th episode, host T...
399 Pinks and Blues: The Science of Serial Dilution
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Having a product does not mean it's going to work well. Having a product and having the experience to use it properly, that's the determining factor. ...
398 Water Treatment Project Success: Essential Steps for New Facilities and Expansions
13 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"Don't be afraid to ask questions early and often when working with engineering firms or general contractors on your water treatment program... Gettin...
397 Pinks and Blues: How to look at your tests
06 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"Your test kit is your tool, and you are the master of that tool. "- Trace Blackmore In this insightful episode of Scaling Up! H2O Podcast, host Tra...
396 Navigating Carbon Capture: Water Demands and Wastewater Solutions with Steve Russell
29 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"Learning how to learn is essential. "- Steve Russell In this week's episode of the Scaling UP! H2O Podcast, we're excited to share a deep dive int...
395 A Career Flowing with Purpose: Five Decades of Water Wisdom with Bob Cunningham
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Here we go! We have the privilege of collaborating with our lab partner Bob Cunningham, of Arthur Freedman Associates, a true water industry expert wh...
394 Visibility and Value: Enhancing Sustainability in Water Treatment
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
By highlighting cost savings, clients can see how efficient water treatment impacts their bottom line. Sustainability isn't just a trendy term—it's ...
393 High Recovery Reverse Osmosis (HRRO): Expert Guidance on Optimizing System Performance
08 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We're focusing on High Recovery Reverse Osmosis (HRRO) with insights from Ken Robinson, Director of North America Application & Sales at Avista Techno...
392 Breaking Barriers: How Diversity and Confidence Drive Growth in Water Treatment
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"Your most limiting factor is yourself." - Tessa Nge In this week's episode of the Scaling UP! H2O Podcast, we're thrilled to bring you an empowering ...
391 Multimeter Troubleshooting: Your Guide to Accurate Diagnostics, Part 2
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We continue our in-depth conversation with Tom Tinney, Product Specialist and equipment guru at AquaPhoenix Scientific diving deeper into the technica...
390 Multimeter Troubleshooting: Your Guide to Accurate Diagnostics, Part 1
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In our latest episode, we had the pleasure of welcoming back Tom Tinney, Product Specialist and equipment guru at AquaPhoenix Scientific. Tom shared i...
389 Industrial Water Week 2024: Careers Friday
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Happy Careers Friday, Scaling UP! Nation! As we wrap up Industrial Water Week 2024, we want to thank you for celebrating with us. This week, we dove d...
388 Industrial Water Week 2024: Wastewater Thursday
10 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Wastewater isn't fully appreciated until it's not working. Let's dive into Wastewater Thursday! This is the day we celebrate the unsung heroes—wat...
387 Industrial Water Week 2024: Cooling Wednesday
09 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's Cooling Wednesday, and today we're spotlighting the essential systems that keep industrial processes and HVAC systems running smoothly—cooling ...
386 Industrial Water Week 2024: Boiler Tuesday
08 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We are equipment whisperers. Imagine this: You're at a conference, surrounded by industry experts, and someone raises their hand to ask, "What's the d...
385 Industrial Water Week 2024: Pretreatment Monday
07 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The wait is over! It's time to celebrate the best job in the world and each other during Industrial Water Week! As part of the Scaling UP! Nation, we ...
384 Innovations in Sunflower Oil Wastewater Solutions with Dr. Swati Sharma
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Discover Breakthroughs in Sunflower Oil Wastewater Treatment: A Special Re-Air of Our Most Popular Episode from 2023 When it comes to oil wastewater t...
383 Treatment of Aerospace Machining and Inspection Wastewater
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"What's the most economical, acceptable, compliance-based solution?" In our latest podcast episode, we sat down with returning guest Michael J. Soller...
382 Leading with Safety: How Veolia Embeds Health into Global Culture
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How Veolia Prioritizes Health and Safety Worldwide? At Veolia, safety isn't just a requirement—it's embedded in the company's core values. Leading ...
381 The Importance of Segregating Wastewater Streams in Heavy Metals Removal Applications
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"There's no doubt that heavy metal waste streams come with a significant amount of occupational risks." In this powerful episode of Scaling UP! H2O, T...
380 The WOW Effect: Women Leading Transformation in the Water Industry
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet the Women Behind the WOW Committee This episode features insights from six trailblazing women who are not only leaders in their respective fields...
379 Into the Unknown: The Link Between Biofilm and Legionella
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back, Scaling UP! Nation. Have you ever wondered about the hidden dangers of biofilm lurking in your water systems? In our latest Legionella A...
378 Tackling Legionella: Balancing Safety, Sustainability, and Disinfection
23 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"It is a team effort to protect public health from Legionella." - Alberto Comazzi, Ph.D. We are excited to welcome back Alberto Comazzi, Ph.D. of San...
377 Future of Legionella Monitoring: Strategies for Employing qPCR in a WMP
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"To find the most sensitive, accurate, reproducible, and reliable method for detecting and quantifying Legionella in a sample, qPCR is the best option...
376 Are Legionella Cases Truly on the Rise? Insights on Legionella Trends and Prevention
09 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We have the privilege of welcoming back Janet E. Stout, Ph.D., President of Special Pathogens Technology and the founder of Special Pathogens Labor...
375 Legionella Awareness: Your Questions Answered by Trace Blackmore
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hello Scaling UP! Nation, August is Legionella Awareness Month, and we're excited to bring you in-depth insights on this crucial topic. Usually, we br...
374 Strategies for Effective Customer and Employee Surveys
26 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Each week, we bring you insights from industry experts to help you scale up your water treatment knowledge and operations. This week, we're thrilled t...
373 HVAC Meets Water Treatment: Teaming Up for Customer Savings
19 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Collaboration: Enhancing Efficiency Through Industry Partnerships Welcome to this week's edition of Scaling UP! H2O, where we explore the critical ro...