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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“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 Brian Liotta, Director of Marketing and Product Development at USALCO, about the shifting regulatory landscape and the advanced technologies being developed to monitor, remove, and destroy PFAS compounds.
From Industry Curiosity to Regulatory Urgency
Brian candidly shares how he “fell into” the world of PFAS, sparked by client questions and his work with AWT’s Wastewater Subcommittee. Over time, he became one of the industry's clearest voices on how PFAS is transforming everything from chemical manufacturing to compliance practices. In this conversation, Brian breaks down the science, the timeline, and the technologies professionals need to understand—whether they’re manufacturers, consultants, or field engineers.
Testing, Treatment, and Destruction: What's Working and What's Coming
Testing for PFAS isn’t straightforward. Brian outlines why high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry are still standard, despite the lack of affordable, field-ready kits. Then, he walks us through the big three: granular activated carbon, ion exchange, and membrane filtration—explaining how each performs and what their operational limits are. He also introduces lesser-known but emerging strategies like foam fractionation, electrostatic concentration, and supercritical water oxidation—some of which could shape the next generation of end-to-end PFAS solutions.
The Legal Front: EPA Rules, State Action, and the Chevron Doctrine
The conversation turns toward the regulatory environment: from the EPA’s national drinking water standard of 4 parts per trillion to individual state actions in California, Maine, New York, and others. Brian unpacks the implications of the Chevron Doctrine being overturned and why this legal shift may slow federal implementation but accelerate state-led policies.
What It Means for Water Treatment Professionals
Whether you're new to industrial water or managing a large portfolio, Brian delivers a simple but powerful takeaway: understand the regulations, study the technologies, and provide solutions. With PFAS-related services on the rise, the opportunity for technical leadership and business growth is clear—but only for those who do their homework and move early.
Conclusion
PFAS isn’t just a regulatory buzzword—it’s a catalyst for innovation. As Brian notes, the most successful professionals will be those who bridge the gap between evolving science and real-world application. This episode equips you with a deeper understanding of what’s at stake and how to lead your customers through uncertainty with confidence.
Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!
Timestamps
10:35 – Water You Know with James McDonald
12:52 – Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals
18:06 – Interview with Brian Liotta Director of Marketing & Product Development of USALCO
22:15 — What is PFAS?
26:00 — EPA’s new 4 parts per trillion PFAS drinking water standard and what it means
32:06 — Treatment technologies: GAC, ion exchange, reverse osmosis, and their pros and cons
37:32 — Emerging innovations: foam fractionation, electrostatic concentration, and plasma-based destruction
42:00 — State-by-state PFAS regulations and implications of the Chevron Doctrine ruling
46:20 — Advice to new water professionals: understand the regulations, then bring the right solutions
Quotes
“Regulation drives our business. If you're not paying attention, you're not preparing your customers.”
“PFAS are in our water, our products, even our bloodstream. This isn’t hype—it’s science catching up.”
“Some of the smartest people I know ask a lot of questions. Curiosity is how you become valuable.”
“We’re seeing companies build end-to-end treatment trains. That’s where the innovation is happening.”
Connect with Brian Liotta
Phone: 15102747326
Email: [email protected]
Website: Water Treatment Chemicals - Baltimore, MD | USALCO
LinkedIn: Brian Liotta | LinkedIn
Click HERE to Download Episode’s Discussion Guide
Guest Resources Mentioned
Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC)
ITRC PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances)
Battelle PFAS ANNIHILATOR® Destruction Technology
Measure What Matters: How Google, Bono, and the Gates Foundation Rock the World with OKRs
This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession by Daniel J. Levitin
Brooks: The Biography of Brooks Robinson
EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for PFAS (2023)
Chevron Doctrine Overturn (2024) – Supreme Court Decision
EPA Announces It Will Keep Maximum Contaminant Levels for PFOA, PFOS
EPA’s Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Sewage Sludge
EPA's Summary of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
MIT News ‘ A new sensor detects harmful “forever chemicals” in drinking water ‘
AWWA’s Journal: Treating PFAS-Laden Waste Using Aqueous Electrostatic Concentration
California adopts health-protective goals for forever chemicals in drinking water
Maryland PFAS in Biosolids Regulatory Update – August 20, 2024
Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned
AWT (Association of Water Technologies)
Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses
Ep 410 Unleash Your Pricing Power: Casey Brown’s ‘Fearless Pricing’ Revolutionizes Business Value
Ep 408 Pinks and Blues: The Power of Processes
Fearless Pricing: Ignite Your Team, Own Your Value, and Command What You Deserve by Casey Brown
Water You Know with James McDonald
Question: If you place a small amount of concentrated hydrochloric acid on a deposit sample and it bubbles, what is this likely to indicate?
2025 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.
