21st Century Water

• "Water Found Me" - with AWWA President Heather Collins

  In this episode of 21st Century Water, we sit down with Heather Collins, president of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and operations leader at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. We trace Heather’s path from engineering intern to managing water treatment for 19 million people, hearing how she was drawn into the water industry by chance and has stayed ever since. Her career journey is rooted in a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and public service, and it shapes her priorities as AWWA president today.We discuss the scale and complexity of running one of the nation’s largest wholesale water operations, including the balancing act of hydrology, source water quality, demand planning, and emergency preparedness. Heather explains how her team maintains agility with five-layer-deep contingency plans and how their Climate Action Master Plan (CAMP) for Water aligns infrastructure, planning, and sustainability.Shifting to her role at AWWA, Heather outlines three key priorities: rebuilding public trust in water, cross-sector collaboration, and mentoring the next generation. She sees public trust as rooted in proactive communication, storytelling, and connecting with people on a human level. On collaboration, she’s committed to engaging water-intensive industries like tech, agriculture, and healthcare in dialogue, making AWWA the go-to resource for best practices and research. Her goal is for these industries to reference AWWA as the authoritative source on water.Mentorship is also central to her leadership. Heather aims to demystify water careers for students and workers across generations, often drawing direct links between their interests and potential water sector roles. She emphasizes the power of being present and giving younger professionals the “cliff notes” to accelerate their learning and career development.Heather also reflects on managing crises, highlighting her work on emerging groundwater contaminants like MTBE and perchlorate while a public health regulator. That experience reinforced her belief in the value of engineered, science-based solutions. We close with a look at technology’s role in water, where Heather embraces AI and advanced tools but insists we maintain a manual understanding to ensure resilience.Her legacy? To be remembered as a leader who led with kindness, purpose, and built lasting bridges—between people, sectors, and generations. Aquasight Website: https://aquasight.io/

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• How Cooperatives Offer a Future Business Model for Utilities- Del-Co Water's Success Story

  In this episode of 21st Century Water, we sit down with Glenn Marzluf, CEO and General Manager of Del-Co Water, to explore the growth, innovation, and strategic leadership shaping one of Ohio's fastest-growing water utilities. With roots in civil engineering and a unique journey through municipal roles in Florida and Ohio, Glenn shares how intentional career steps and a deep sense of purpose led him to his current role.We trace Del-Co's origins from a rural cooperative founded in the 1970s to an expansive utility covering 830 square miles across eight counties. Glenn explains how Del-Co’s growth has been fueled by regional consolidation and a commitment to member-focused service, supported by a nimble governance model. This structure allows for flexible, proactive planning—like pre-engineering transmission lines for anticipated industrial users—and innovation in rate design. Glenn highlights their recent shift to an inclining block rate to encourage water conservation, a rare move in the Midwest, aimed at reducing peak-day demand and extending infrastructure lifespan.On infrastructure, Glenn outlines the utility’s deliberate investments: four treatment plants, several new elevated tanks, and significant capacity at their flagship Olentangy plant. Water quality is a priority, with upgrades like ultraviolet disinfection and an upcoming granular activated carbon retrofit to combat PFAS, disinfection byproducts, and taste/odor issues. Distribution strategies focus on resiliency and redundancy, ensuring the system remains robust and future-proof.Del-Co’s remarkable source water resiliency stems from 2.6 billion gallons of upground reservoir storage, allowing operational flexibility and water quality control unmatched by many peers. Their partnership with the City of Columbus on the Doutt Reservoir further strengthens supply.Technology adoption is another pillar. From IBM Maximo for asset management to Esri GIS and Oracle’s cloud-based customer system, Del-Co emphasizes scalable, cloud-based platforms. Glenn even discusses canine-led leak detection, a novel tool for maintaining low water loss in a modern, distributed network.Community engagement is intentional and deep-rooted. Del-Co has grown from an inward-facing utility to a community pillar, earning corporate citizenship honors and serving as a statewide training hub with its Wolf Water Center. Annual member meetings have evolved into educational open houses, reflecting a broader commitment to transparency and trust.As we look ahead, Glenn defines his legacy around securing sustainable source water, leveraging data and conservation to manage peak demand, and developing the next generation of leaders. Del-Co Water, under his guidance, is a case study in how cooperatives can drive 21st and 22nd century water excellence in both growth and governance.Del-Co Water Website: https://delcowater.org/ Aquasight Website: https://aquasight.io/

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• Farming, Methane, and Partnerships: The New Age of Wastewater with Matt Stouder

  In this episode of 21st Century Water, we sit down with Matt Stouder, Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC) in Oregon, to explore how his leadership is driving operational resilience, environmental stewardship, and innovative thinking in wastewater management. We begin by learning how Matt’s rural upbringing and early exposure to water chemistry inspired a lifelong commitment to environmental protection and public service. His path from stormwater engineering to leading a regional utility reflects a deep-rooted belief in stewardship, collaboration, and giving back to the community.We then dive into the scale and structure of MWMC, which serves about 275,000 residents across Eugene and Springfield. Despite owning over $500 million in assets and operating a major treatment plant with a peak capacity of 277 MGD, the commission itself has no employees and operates through intergovernmental agreements—Springfield handles the administration and capital projects, and Eugene manages the operations. Matt emphasizes how strategic coordination is key to balancing daily operations with long-term capital investments, especially as the infrastructure ages.We discuss MWMC’s shift from expansion to asset renewal, including a strong focus on asset management and funding strategies. Incremental rate increases and a rate stabilization fund have helped buffer financial volatility, allowing the utility to maintain steady investment without burdening ratepayers. Matt also shares MWMC’s approach to innovation through projects like the biocycle farm, where biosolids are applied to hybrid poplar trees for local reuse, and a renewable natural gas facility that generates new revenue streams while reducing emissions.Communication and education emerge as central themes. From community partnerships and public outreach at local fairs to an award-winning Clean Water University program for fifth graders, MWMC prioritizes transparency and awareness. Matt's engineering background doesn't limit his commitment to public engagement; instead, it reinforces it.As we shift to environmental goals, Matt outlines how MWMC embraces a circular economy mindset. Instead of costly infrastructure like chillers, the utility addresses thermal pollution by planting trees along the McKenzie River, effectively reducing river temperatures while supporting watershed health. He also highlights how climate change is affecting local precipitation patterns, forcing the utility to adjust infrastructure capacity and operational readiness.Looking ahead, Matt is focused on a $300 million infrastructure renewal plan, transforming biosolids into a higher-value Class A product, and potentially expanding MWMC’s services to nearby communities through regionalization. He views himself as a custodian of the system, aiming to leave the utility stronger than he found it and prepared for the next generation.More:Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC): https://www.mwmcpartners.orgOregon Association of Clean Water Agencies (ORACWA): https://oracwa.orgNorthwest Natural Gas (NW Natural): https://www.nwnatural.comWillamette Riverkeeper: https://www.willametteriverkeeper.orgNational Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA): https://www.nacwa.orgPacific Northwest Clean Water Association (PNCWA): https://www.pncwa.org Aquasight Website: https://aquasight.io/

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• The Mid-Major Powerhouse of Wastewater Innovation - FRWRD's Eric Johnson

  In this episode of 21st Century Water, we sit down with Eric Johnson, Executive Director of the Fox River Water Reclamation District (FRWRD), to unpack a unique leadership journey and explore a forward-thinking approach to water management. Eric’s path to running a regional wastewater agency is anything but conventional. Starting in public service at age 19 while in college, he transitioned from political roles to township supervisor, then city manager, and eventually into the water sector. What stands out is how he’s brought a legal and administrative mindset into a highly technical domain, focusing on assembling expert teams rather than becoming the technical expert himself.We dive into the scale and complexity of FRWRD’s operations—three plants serving over 200,000 residents across multiple counties, with a $24 million operating budget and up to $20 million in annual capital projects. Eric walks us through a strategic pivot the agency is undergoing: its first-ever facility master plan. This includes initiatives like implementing a digital twin, improving asset management, and exploring plant consolidation to drive efficiency.We also talk about regionalization. Eric makes a strong case for consolidating smaller wastewater utilities into regional agencies to improve cost-effectiveness, compliance, and service quality. He cites examples from his own district and explains the political and institutional barriers to broader adoption, highlighting the need for leadership willing to set aside control for the greater good of the community.Financially, FRWRD recently completed a rate study, aiming to keep costs fair and predictable while balancing regulatory pressures and infrastructure needs. Eric shares how the utility is pursuing alternative revenue streams, including water reuse and solar energy, to reduce the financial burden on ratepayers. He also emphasizes the importance of public communication, using scale, continuity, visibility, and plain language to help people understand the unseen but essential role wastewater infrastructure plays.Operationally, FRWRD faces challenges with aging infrastructure, rising costs, and a tightening labor market. Eric outlines efforts to modernize the organization—from equipping staff with better technology to launching workforce development partnerships and emphasizing leadership training. His passion for building high-performing, collaborative teams is clear, and he sees talent development as central to his long-term vision.Eric closes with reflections on legacy. For him, success means advancing regionalization, fostering innovation, and creating an environment where employees thrive—even if that means they eventually move on to bigger roles. He hopes FRWRD becomes known as a forward-thinking, mid-sized agency that others look to for leadership, innovation, and talent.More:Fox River Water Reclamation District: https://www.frwrd.com/ Aquasight Website: https://aquasight.io/

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• How a Small District in Colorado is Leading The West in Water Innovation

  In this episode of 21st Century Water, we sit down with Andrea Cole, General Manager of Dominion Water & Sanitation District in Colorado. With a background in engineering and law, Andrea brings a multidimensional perspective to leading water, wastewater, and stormwater efforts in the fast-growing Sterling Ranch community. We begin by exploring her journey from a small town in Wyoming, where an early appreciation for natural resources sparked her passion for water. Her unique blend of technical knowledge and legal expertise has positioned her to address the regulatory, financial, and political challenges that utilities face today.We dive into Sterling Ranch’s model of sustainability, where renewable water is foundational—not an afterthought. Dominion, under Andrea's leadership, has helped position the community as a leader in water efficiency, achieving usage rates as low as 0.17 acre-feet per home annually. This mindset-first approach has shaped a culture where residents inherently value water as a finite resource. With only 10% of the community built out so far, Sterling Ranch is on track to grow to nearly 60,000 residents, with infrastructure in place to support long-term sustainability.We also look at Douglas County’s broader vision for growth, where Dominion plays a central role in establishing renewable water systems to support future economic development. A key highlight is the $34 million regional wastewater treatment plant set to break ground, which will treat reusable water and enable indirect potable reuse. This project also connects a nearby disadvantaged community to modern infrastructure and safe water, correcting long-standing issues with non-renewable, contaminated sources.Andrea emphasizes the importance of soft skills in leadership—stakeholder engagement, regulatory navigation, and political awareness—as often more critical than the technical engineering work itself. Her legal training enables her to view regulatory frameworks not as barriers but as tools for innovative problem-solving. We also discuss Dominion’s forward-thinking investment strategy, totaling over $70 million across wastewater, pump stations, and water pipeline projects in the coming years.Despite being a small and growing utility with only 11 employees, Dominion is leveraging its flexibility to adopt modern technology like GIS to enhance planning and operations. Workforce development is another key theme, with Andrea focusing on hiring people who thrive in dynamic environments and want to help shape the district’s future. She closes by expressing her vision for a legacy rooted in sustainability—a future where our great-grandchildren can enjoy water and nature just as we have.Links:Dominion Water & Sanitation District: https://www.dominionwsd.orgSterling Ranch Community: https://www.sterlingranchcolorado.comDouglas County Government: https://www.douglas.co.usAmerican Rescue Plan Act: https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-governments/state-and-local-fiscal-recovery-funds Aquasight Website: https://aquasight.io/

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