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.
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TT062 – The Olympics of Water Quality: WEFTEC's Operations Challenge
Tap Talk
If you've ever been to , you know about Operations Challenge. The annual showcase of the top operations teams in the country is the Olympics of the industry, and it's impossible to miss in WEFTEC's exhibit hall. WEFTEC 2025 is just around the corner, and to mark the return of the world's largest water quality exhibition to Chicago, we welcomed Steve Harrison and Jeff Sober to the podcast. Steve, a senior manager, and Jeff, Director of Water Services at , are both members of the Operations Challenge Community. Their passion for the event makes clear its singular value to the industry! Visit ...
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TT061 – Exploring Septic System Best Practices for SepticSmart Week 2025
Tap Talk
To kick off Tap Talk's sixth season, today we bring you a special early episode to mark the 13th annual celebration of ! Jennifer and Steve welcomed Jim Starbard and Andrew Evans, technical assistance providers at , to the show to discuss some of stories of onsite wastewater and septic system challenges they have faced in Massachusetts and around New England. Sometimes, even the most basic septic system guidance — like regularly pumping tanks and not flushing any sort of wipe — can make a huge difference in the health of a system, its users, and the surrounding environment! Visit to learn...
info_outlineFor the penultimate episode of our fifth season, Glenn Barnes joins us for the first episode of a two-part series. Glenn is the director of Water Finance Assistance, a consulting agency that provides finance-focused training and technical assistance to water systems. Our discussion focused specifically on water auditing at utilities, or the process of identifying and minimizing the loss of non-revenue water — also known as water loss.
Visit drinkingwaterpodcast.org to learn more and find the full show notes for this episode!