437 Redefining HR: The Key to Talent & Culture in Water Treatment
Scaling UP! H2O
What if HR wasn’t the department you dreaded — but the partner that helped your team thrive? In this episode of Scaling UP! H2O, host Trace Blackmore welcomes , HR Director at , to explore how human resources can be a strategic driver of talent, culture, and profitability in the water treatment industry. Redefining HR’s Role Tia shares her journey into water treatment and how she built HOH’s HR department from the ground up. Instead of treating HR as a compliance function, she reframed it as a leadership partner—focused on employee connections, transparent...
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436 Raising the Bar: Legionella Management & Industry Standards
Scaling UP! H2O
With those words, Jemma Tennant highlights one of the most profound differences between Legionella management in Europe and the United States. In this episode of Scaling UP! H2O, host Trace Blackmore welcomes , Chair of the Water Management Society (WMSoc), to explore how legislation, enforcement, and professional training shape the fight against Legionella. Proactive Regulation and Duty of Care The UK treats Legionella as a foreseeable and preventable risk. Jemma explains how laws like the Health and Safety at Work Act and COSHH Regulations require mandatory Legionella risk...
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435 Optimizing Legionella Control Strategies with Dr. Vincenzo Romano Spica
Scaling UP! H2O
Legionella remains one of the most complex challenges for water professionals worldwide. How do we balance effective monitoring with realistic costs—and which strategies deliver true public health impact? In this episode, Trace Blackmore welcomes Head Public Health University of Rome "Foro Italico to explore new insights from his comparative research on Legionella control. Reframing Legionella Risk Dr. Spica explains why public health data increasingly points to Legionella pneumophila—not all Legionella species—as the primary concern for human health. He shares how...
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434 Encore Interview with Patsy Root
Scaling UP! H2O
“Rules written in a panic rarely stand the test of time.” In this encore episode, Trace Blackmore welcomes back , Senior Manager of Government Affairs at IDEXX Water and active member of the AWT Legislative and Regulatory Committee. Patsy brings global data, case studies, and clear recommendations for smarter Legionella regulation — and why a targeted focus on Legionella pneumophila can save both lives and resources. From Outbreaks to Proactive Policies Patsy unpacks a central truth: most regulations emerge reactively, often after a high-profile outbreak. Drawing on...
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433 Legionella Investigations and LIDO Technology
Scaling UP! H2O
What if preventing Legionella outbreaks wasn’t about adding more chemicals, but removing what the bacteria needs to survive? In this episode of Scaling UP! H2O, host Trace Blackmore talks with Dr. David Krause, Certified Industrial Hygienist, toxicologist, and founder of HC3, about his groundbreaking approach — LIDO (Legionella Inhibition by Deoxygenation). Legionella on the Rise Dr. Krause has investigated high-profile Legionella outbreaks and seen firsthand how current prevention strategies often fall short. Despite ASHRAE 188 standards, CMS requirements, and increasing water...
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432 Water Management Plans: Evolving Standards and Best Practices with Matt Freije
Scaling UP! H2O
"Just because you have a water management plan doesn’t mean it’s working." That’s the hard truth Matt Freije, founder and CEO of HC Info, delivers in this episode of Scaling UP! H2O. As the architect behind LAMPS — a leading cloud-based platform for water management programs — Matt joins Trace Blackmore to explore the critical evolution of water safety, compliance standards, and real-world implementation challenges facing facilities in 2025. Beyond the Binder: Water Management Plans That Actually Work In an era of heightened awareness and shifting regulations,...
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431 Legionella Awareness Month Kickoff!
Scaling UP! H2O
Are You Ready to Talk About Legionella? Every August, we dedicate an entire month to a topic that touches public health, liability, and the core of what water treaters do — yet it’s still misunderstood by many: Legionella. In this episode, Trace Blackmore kicks off Legionella Awareness Month by returning to the basics. Where did Legionella get its name? What makes it dangerous? And why is there still confusion between a water treatment program and a water management plan? Tracing It Back: History, Misconceptions, and Missed Conversations Trace opens with the 1976...
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430 PFAS Regulations and Technologies with Brian Liotta
Scaling UP! H2O
“The winning combination will include not just removal—but real destruction of PFAS.” - Brian Liotta PFAS: The Invisible Challenge Reshaping Water Treatment PFAS chemicals are everywhere—from consumer products to our bloodstream. But as regulations tighten, water treatment professionals must now evolve faster than ever. In this episode of Scaling UP! H2O, host Trace Blackmore speaks with , Director of Marketing and Product Development at , about the shifting regulatory landscape and the advanced technologies being developed to monitor, remove, and destroy PFAS compounds. ...
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429 The Life and Career of Jim Lukanich
Scaling UP! H2O
“You can’t learn it all in one year. You can’t even learn it all in ten.” That single statement from Jim Lukanich captures the spirit of this unforgettable episode. Returning to the for the first time since Episode 10, joins host to reflect on a remarkable 44-year career in the water treatment industry. From his early days at U.S. Steel to leading technical innovation at Buckman Laboratories, ChemCal, U.S. Water, and Kurita, Jim has been a force for mentorship, learning, and raising the bar in technical excellence. Building a Career, One Problem at a Time Jim...
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428 Innovations in Water Treatment with Dr. Jasbir Gill
Scaling UP! H2O
What happens when a nuclear chemist pivots into industrial water treatment? In this episode, host Trace Blackmore is joined by , President at Water Energy Solutions Inc, whose career spans five decades of breakthrough innovations in water chemistry and sustainability. From developing predictive modeling systems to creating new polymer standards, Dr. Gill shares how scientific rigor and practical experience came together to shape tools still used today. “We were not just saving water—we were calculating the true cost of energy and environmental impact.” From Nuclear Chemistry to...
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Like you, we all want our water business to be profitable.
Embark on a journey to make your water business not just successful, but wildly profitable! While many believe that sales alone can solve all challenges, the truth lies in understanding the intricate dance of profitability and cash flow.
In the wise words of Stephen Covey, "No margin, no mission." We all share the conviction that a thriving business is one that can afford to invest in its people and resources. Even for non-profits, the bottom line remains crucial — successful organizations, whether for-profit or not, need to pay their bills and ensure sustainability.
Sales are undoubtedly a driving force, but the misconception that more sales always mean more success can lead businesses astray. Ever witnessed a company sell itself out of business on Shark Tank? It happens when the demand exceeds the capacity to deliver due to a lack of cash flow.
Enter the eye-opening world of Profit and Loss statements and explore your business through the lens of the Eight Cash Flow Drivers, outlined in the groundbreaking Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) by Gino Wickman. These drivers — Price, C.O.G.S. (Cost of Goods Sold), Margin, Ancillary Sales, Service Time, Errors, Compensation/Labor Costs, A/R Days, and G&A Expenses — form a strategic roadmap to enhance your water business's cash flow and profitability.
This new Scaling Up H2O episode unravels the secrets behind these drivers and shows how implementing them can transform your business landscape. Don't miss the chance to elevate your company's profitability starting tomorrow — tune in now to scale up your financial success knowledge!
Your friend as you drive from client to client,
Trace Blackmore, CWT
Timestamps
01:00 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals
04:40 - How to know if a conference is worthwhile to attend
05:30 - Showing up with a full cup mentality
10:45 - Trace Blackmore invites you to Scaling UP! Your Cash Flow
39:23 - Drop by Drop With James McDonald
Quotes
"Sales for sales’ sake can put you out of business" - Mary Kay Ash, the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics
"No margin, no mission." - Stephen Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Connect with Scaling UP! H2O
Email Producer: [email protected]
Submit a show idea: Submit a Show Idea
LinkedIn: in/traceblackmore/
YouTube: @ScalingUpH2O
Links Mentioned
Ep 204 Being Profitable with the Boilermaker Hamburger
Ep 315 The Intentional Growth Framework with Ryan Tansom
Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses
Books Mentioned
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman
What the Heck Is EOS?: A Complete Guide for Employees in Companies Running on EOS by Gino Wickman
Drop By Drop with James
In this week’s episode, we’re thinking about what happens when a large steam user in a facility suddenly starts using steam. What happens inside the boiler? How is the steam pressure impacted? How does the water level change in response to this suddenly large steam demand? When is feedwater triggered? What is the impact of this cooler feedwater upon the hotter water inside the boiler? How could this impact steam output rate? Could it cause boiler carryover and why? How could low level alarms be triggered if the high demand continued long enough?
The answers are actually very interesting and interrelated. Spirax Sarco has a nine-part series on YouTube called “The Inside Story.” This is a CLASSIC series that every industrial water treatment professional should watch. They actually let you view inside the boiler as steam is being produced and show what happens at low pressures, high pressures, increased demand, etc. If you’ve already seen the series, they are worth watching again. If you haven’t seen it, get your popcorn and pocket protector, because you’re in for a treat! Part 6 addresses the topic of today’s Drop by Drop episode on increased demand. I’ll be sure to get the links to Trace so he can hopefully include them into the show notes for this episode. Otherwise, if you search for “steam boilers the inside story” in your favorite search engine, you are likely to find the series.
Spirax Sarco's Steam Boilers - The Inside Story: Part 1 - Introduction
Steam Boilers – The Inside Story: Part 2 – Basic Boiler Control
Steam Boilers – The Inside Story: Part 3 – Water Level and Gauges
Steam Boilers – The Inside Story: Part 4 – Feed Water Control
Steam Boilers – The Inside Story: Part 5 – Low Pressure Operation
Steam Boilers – The Inside Story: Part 6 – Increased Demand
Steam Boilers – The Inside Story: Part 7 – Very High Demand
Steam Boilers – The Inside Story: Part 8 – TDS Control
Steam Boilers – The Inside Story: Part 9 – Summary
2024 Events for Water Professionals
Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we’ve listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE or using the dropdown menu.
