In 2025, a significant portion of the global population faces water scarcity. The UN World Water Development Report in 2024 estimated that 2.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water. How does the water industry not only address this challenge, but how does it do so without affecting future generations, and what is the future of the water energy nexus?

• Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 Best Innovation in Sustainability & Energy/Power Award
• VVater

• Intro and summary | 00:00
• How many people are without safe drinking water | 0:25
• Gasts's Background | 1:48
• What is the Faraday Reactor? How does it work? | 2:40
• How are you scaling to meet the needs of industrial manufacturing and is it scalable to drinking water treatment plants? | 5:14
• Does this work on PFAS? | 8:56
• How is VVater positioned to compete with long established companies? | 9:46
• What partnerships can be fostered between the water and energy sectors | 12:53

• SWS Top Projects Nominations
• WaterWorld Top Projects Nominations
• Wastewater Digest Top Projects Nominations

Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Wastewater Digest (WWD), WaterWorld and Storm Water Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and interviews with experts across the municipal water industry. New episodes of the podcast are released every other week. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.  

Contact the Talking Under Water podcast editors by emailing talkingunderwater@endeavorb2b.com engaging with them on X @TUWpodcast. Join the conversation by commenting or using the hashtag #talkingunderwaterpod on social media. 

Bob Crossen, vice president of content strategy for water and energy, recaps the American Water Works Associations' ACE show, which took place from June 8-11, 2025, in Denver, Colorado. Crossen was joined at the show by WaterWorld editor-in-chief Mandy Crispin and Water Group associate editor Alex Cossin, so he shares insights the three of them gained from the show. First, Crossen discusses new products that Mueller and Neptune showcased then moves on to two interviews. The first is with AWWA CEO David LaFrance. LaFrance discussed funding, financing, rates, and public communications. The second is with Gigi Karmous-Edwards who spoke about the different kinds of artificial intelligence, and some innovative uses for generative AI in the water sector.

• PFAS treatment and litigation strategies for water systems
• Mueller teases hydrant retrofit kits at AWWA ACE25
• Neptune Technology Group highlights newest meter and cellular endpoint offerings
• Deconstructing the conundrum of rising rates and water affordability

• Introduction & summary | 0:11
• Mueller teases new product | 0:56
• Neptune showcasese new products | 1:24
• Article read: PFAS treatment & litigation strategies for water systems | 2:18
• Interview with David LaFrance begins | 4:42
• Top challenges for water industry | 5:10
• Rate-setting tools and recommendations | 5:59
• Pressure on improving water quality | 8:15
• Factoring in communication with the public | 9:05
• Water 2050 | 11:12
• Interview with David LaFrance ends | 12:15
• Interview with Gigi Karmous-Edwards begins | 12:22
• Breaking down what AI means | 13:06
• Karmous- Edward's WRF AI project | 14:11
• Where is AI falling short? | 15:07
• Differences between Chatbots, AI and machine learning | 16:47
• What does the future hold for these technologies in water? | 17:53
• Interview with Gigi Karmous-Edwards ends | 22: 55
• Housekeeping | 23:18

• SWS Top Projects Nominations
• WaterWorld Top Projects Nominations
• Wastewater Digest Top Projects Nominations  

Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Wastewater Digest (WWD), WaterWorld and Storm Water Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and interviews with experts across the municipal water industry. New episodes of the podcast are released every other week. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.  

Contact the Talking Under Water podcast editors by emailing talkingunderwater@endeavorb2b.com engaging with them on Twitter @TUWpodcast. Join the conversation by commenting or using the hashtag #talkingunderwaterpod on social media. 

For 15 years, Dean Amhaus has led The Water Council in Milwaukee as CEO and president, but just earlier this year he announced his retirement. In this episode, co-Host Bob Crossen speaks with Amhaus about his career, how far the water industry has come, and where it's headed. Over his tenure, Amhaus has witnessed trends and shifts in businesses, and advancements in technology while helping The Water Council become a destination for water technology innovators and businesses seeking to make meaningful connections for their solutions.

•  Trump administration breaks silence on PFAS
• EPA Announces It Will Keep Maximum Contaminant Levels for PFOA, PFOS
• Toxic Release Inventory
• [AWWA] Hazard Index for PFAS [Statement June 5, 2024]

• Intro and summary | 00:00
• Retirement congratulations and plans | 1:05
• Future work developments post-retirement | 2:40
• How small business face similar problems to small utilities | 4:43
• The importance of technical and financial assistance for small systems | 6:17
• How microplastics and PFAS have taken over headlines | 7:35
• How water scarcity isn't always about limited access to water supply | 10:10
• Surprises in the business in the past 15 years | 12:36
• How corporations are recognizing water's criticality to their businesses | 14:23
• The intersection of economic growth and water infrastructure needs | 17:20
• Most memorable moments in 15 years with The Water Council | 19:01
• The Water Council pioneered collaborative water hubs | 22:40
• Why community and culture are vital to business success | 25:16
• Words for Dean's successor as CEO | 26:52

• SWS Top Projects Nominations
• WaterWorld Top Projects Nominations
• Wastewater Digest Top Projects Nominations

Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Wastewater Digest (WWD), WaterWorld and Storm Water Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and interviews with experts across the municipal water industry. New episodes of the podcast are released every other week. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.  

Contact the Talking Under Water podcast editors by emailing talkingunderwater@endeavorb2b.com engaging with them on Twitter @TUWpodcast. Join the conversation by commenting or using the hashtag #talkingunderwaterpod on social media.