The Water Online Show

Hosted by Travis Kennedy

Business Science

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Jul 2026

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About the show

The Water Online Show is a network of podcasts serving the water and wastewater treatment and engineering communities, delivering the latest in industry news, regulatory guidance, technology solutions, and management best practices. Produced by Water Online, the industry’s premier information resource, Water Online pods feature entertaining conversations with thought leaders, decision-makers, and innovators, helping you to stay on top of your profession and better protect the world’s most precious resource. Be sure to subscribe so that you don’t miss an episode.

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60 recent

July 22, 202617 min

Understanding the Limit of Detection

In this episode of The Water Online Show, host Travis Kennedy is joined by Mike Sadar of Lovibond to demystify two critical specifications often listed on instrument spec sheets: Limit of Detection (LOD) and Limit of Quantification (LOQ).While these terms are frequently overlooked, understanding what they actually represent is essential for water treatment operators — especially when configuring process turbidimeters to prevent filter breakthrough and maintain strict regulatory compliance.

July 6, 202615 min

On Location At ACE26 In D.C.

This episode of The Water Online Show: On Location captures the cutting-edge innovations and thought leadership defining the AWWA ACE 2026 conference. Hosts Travis Kennedy and Angela Godwin highlight the event’s central theme, "Water Heroes," celebrating the often-unsung workforce responsible for global public health, while diving into the technological turning points transforming the industry. Watch the full episode to learn more about game-changing AI advancements, and to find out Angela's show favorite for the year.

July 1, 202637 min

Why Innovation Still Struggles To Scale In Water

Tune into this episode for a wide-ranging conversation with Jim Good, Chairman and Founder of Parkview Advisors, that explores why progress in the water sector often moves more slowly than the technologies designed to advance it. Rather than focusing on any single solution, the discussion highlights the interplay between risk tolerance, operational realities, and the scale of the market itself, revealing how even strong ideas can struggle to gain traction. We also explore where meaningful change is beginning to surface — and why the path forward depends less on breakthrough moments and more on aligning practical needs with tools that actually fit how utilities operate day to day.

June 17, 202622 min

Navigating A Shifting Federal Drinking Water Landscape

The clock is ticking for water utilities across the nation. With federal compliance deadlines for PFAS and other contaminants of emerging concern looming on the horizon, the municipal water sector is facing an unprecedented wave of operational and regulatory pressure. Are communities truly prepared for what’s coming, or are they waiting too long to act?In this episode, host Travis Kennedy sit down with Paris Neofotistos, President & CEO of AqueoUS Vets, to dissect the shifting landscape of water remediation. Paris breaks down how upcoming regulatory mandates will fundamentally reshape the industry over the next several years and shares how AqueoUS Vets has aggressively scaled its own manufacturing and operational capabilities to meet the surging demand.

June 10, 202640 min

Why AMI Success Starts After Installation

As utilities worldwide race to modernize, advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) has emerged as one of the most talked-about — and often misunderstood — investments in the water sector. In this episode, our hosts are joined by Smart Water Network Forum (SWAN) members Shirley Ben-Dak (SWAN Senior Advisor) and Richard Relyea (Senior Project Manager for Water Loss and AMI Technology at GHD) to discuss insights from the SWAN Global Smart Metering Playbook — unpacking why getting meters installed is only the beginning.

May 27, 202634 min

The Real Barriers Holding Back Digital Water Adoption

In this episode of The Water Online Show, Travis Kennedy and Kevin Westerling sit down with Seth Werlinsky, Director of Strategy and Growth for Boeh Agency, to tackle a question that continues to frustrate the water sector: if digital solutions are so powerful, why aren’t utilities embracing them faster?

May 18, 202633 min

Top 5 Thoughts Of The Month For May 2026

Each month, host Travis Kennedy and co-host Kevin Westerling break down the top issues on the minds of engineers, operators, and utilities across the industry. In this kickoff episode, the two cover five pressing topics — from energy costs and AI adoption to workforce development and customer satisfaction — making the case that the water sector is at a turning point that will require utilities to adapt financially, digitally, and culturally to meet the challenges ahead.

May 6, 202644 min

Turning Water Investment Into Impact

In this segment of The Water Online Show, hosts Travis Kennedy and Kevin Westerling sit down with Karine Rougé, Executive Vice President of Strategic Transformations and Chairwoman of Regulated Water for North America at Veolia, and Rob Powelson, President and CEO of the National Association of Water Companies, to unpack a growing shift in the U.S. water sector: treating water infrastructure as an economic imperative, not just a utility function.Grounded in a new white paper authored by the two guests, the conversation explores what that shift really means for utilities, policymakers, and the broader market — and why translating momentum into measurable progress remains a complex challenge.

April 30, 202621 min

Return On Investment By Modernizing Utility Operations

In the latest episode of The Water Online Show, host Travis Kennedy sits down with Bobby Barker, Senior Director of Global Utility at Geospace, to explain why the humble water valve is being reimagined as a powerhouse of ROI.The most immediate drain on a utility’s budget often isn't a pipe leak—it's the vehicle. Barker reveals that a single manual disconnect and reconnect cycle can cost between $200 and $300 when accounting for labor, fuel, and safety risks. By automating this process, smart valves eliminate "windshield time" and allow staff to focus on more critical tasks. While most infrastructure projects are measured in decades, Barker asserts that a targeted deployment of smart valves can achieve a full return on investment in as little as two to three months, a timeline he describes as a "nothing burger" compared to traditional lifecycle costs.

April 1, 202623 min

Engineering Resilience Through Localized Manufacturing

As global supply chains grow more unpredictable, the water industry is rethinking how and where critical technology gets made. In this episode, Kamstrup’s James Salisbury reveals how localized manufacturing—bringing key suppliers closer to home—is transforming resilience, quality, and responsiveness.From Georgia-based production hubs to in-house supplier integration, discover how smart meter innovation is becoming faster, more reliable, and built to withstand disruption, without sacrificing precision or performance.