TT072 – Build Trust Before a Crisis: Communication Basics for Water Systems (Part 2)
Tap Talk
Today, we finish Tap Talk Season 6 with the second part of our conversation with Mike McGill of ! Jennifer, Steve, and Mike discuss the importance of reliable and updated websites for water utilities, the similarities and differences in communicating about lead versus PFAS contamination, how small utilities can best communicate on these subjects, and more. We hope you've enjoyed Season 6, and we'll see you back for Season 7 soon! Visit to learn more and find the full show notes for this episode.
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TT071 – Build Trust Before a Crisis: Communication Basics for Water Systems
Tap Talk
We're concluding Tap Talk Season 6 with another two-part series! Today, we release the first episode of the set: "Build Trust Before a Crisis: Communication Basics for Water Systems." Mike McGill, founder and president of water utility communications & PR firm , joins Jennifer and Steve to discuss the shifting landscape of communicating in the water sector. Between the longstanding issue of lead pipes, the evergrowing threat of PFAS contamination, and looming possibilities of natural disasters and other crises, the task of communicating with the public is harder than ever for utilities to...
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TT070 – Diving Into Biofilms With Water Quality Investigations (Part 2)
Tap Talk
In the second episode of our series featuring Andrew Jacque and Emily Hefty-Dieckhoff from , we continue exploring the world of biofilms and other common water quality issues in household water systems. Make sure you've caught first that covers a lot of biofilm basics, and then here in Part 2 hear Andrew, Emily, Steve, and Jennifer further discuss biofilm-induced water quality issues, water chemistry, microbial corrosion, the effectiveness of home treatment, and more advice for homeowners! Visit to learn more and find the full show notes for this episode.
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TT069 – Diving Into Biofilms With Water Quality Investigations (Part 1)
Tap Talk
In the first episode of a two-part series, we explore the world of biofilms in drinking water systems with guests Andrew Jacque and Emily Hefty-Dieckhoff of . Andrew and Emily explain to Jennifer and Steve the fundamentals of what biofilms are, where they can be found both in water systems and naturally, and the health issues they can cause. Be sure to return for Part 2, which will delve even further into the complexities of biofilms! Visit to learn more and find the full show notes for this episode.
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TT068 – How the Be Well Informed Tool Educates Well Owners
Tap Talk
In Tap Talk's 68th episode, Steve and Jennifer chat with Kurt Rakouskas — a project manager at the — about the organization's cross-disciplinary work and its stewardship of the . This free tool helps well users understand the results of water tests performed on their wells by translating the scientific and technical notation into plain language. This helps make clear if there is a problem indicated by the results, what the risks of any present contaminants are, and what the next steps should be for the well owner. Visit to learn more and find the full show notes for this episode.
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TT067 – The Value of Well Data in Serving Well Owners
Tap Talk
This week on Tap Talk we are pleased to welcome guest Erin Ling, a senior extension specialist at Virginia Tech University who coordinates the Virginia Household Water Quality Program (VAHWQP). The unique program provides a wealth of services to well owners in Virginia, including affordable testing, educational programming & workshops, water quality data collection & publication, and youth outreach for high school students. In particular, Erin emphasizes the value of the program's data on Virginia's private wells, and discusses with Steve and Jennifer how other states might learn from...
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TT066 - Understanding PFAS and Private Wells (Part 2)
Tap Talk
In this episode we're concluding a two-part series exploring PFAS and their impact on private well users. Our conversation with Dr. Jacqueline MacDonald Gibson and Jennifer Hoponick Redmon dives further into their research efforts and potential applications. Together these episodes offer important foundational understanding as well as new insight on PFAS exposure via well water. Visit to learn more and find the full show notes for this episode.
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TT065 - Understanding PFAS and Private Wells (Part 1)
Tap Talk
In this episode we're kicking off a two-part series exploring PFAS—also known as “forever chemicals”—and their impact on private well users. Jennifer and Steve are joined by Dr. Jacqueline MacDonald Gibson and Jennifer Hoponick Redmon, two leading experts in environmental health and water quality. Together, they break down the science behind PFAS, discuss how these chemicals enter our water supplies, and share new research on exposure risks for private well users. Our conversation explores the challenges, health implications, and ongoing efforts to protect drinking water in rural...
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TT064 – Lessons from RCAP's Private Well Technical Assistance Network
Tap Talk
In TT064, we bring you another private well-focused episode. Our guest is Cindy Brookes, a seasoned technical assistance provider at the , a division of . In this role, Cindy has assessed over 300 private wells and counseled well owners on how to proceed with their well challenges, and made significant use of the that our team developed in conjunction with RCAP. Cindy tells Jennifer and Steve about the ins and outs of the job, as well as the importance of these assessments in the quest to more widely educate well owners. Visit to learn more and find the full show notes for this episode.
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TT063 – Empowering Well Owners at the Private Well Class Help Center
Tap Talk
This week on Tap Talk, we are beyond pleased to welcome two of our colleagues on our Water & Public Health team at the Illinois State Water Survey to the show: Sallie Dolan and Erin Huggett, who are the main forces behind running our and phone hotline. Launched in the spring of 2024, these services have assisted over 65,000 well owners in finding answers to their well questions or solutions for well problems. As Sallie and Erin discuss, our team looks forward to helping many more as the program grows and develops! Visit to learn more and find the full show notes for this episode.
info_outlineWe're officially halfway through Tap Talk's fifth season! This week, we welcome some guests from our state's neighbor to the West: Mindy Uhle, Bureau Chief of Environmental Health at the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, and Erik Day, a Senior Environmental Specialist at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Mindy and Erik work on Iowa's Private Well Grants Program, a cross-agency effort to provide Iowans with free or discounted well services. (See more from HHS and DNR). The program was established through the Iowa Groundwater Protection Act, and bolsters relationship between all areas of Iowa's private well community in addition to saving well owners money.
Visit drinkingwaterpodcast.org to learn more and find the full show notes for this episode!