459 From Wastewater to Resource: Water Reuse with Dr. Veronika Zhiteneva
Release Date: 01/16/2026
475 Inside the Boiler: Inspection, Failure Analysis, and Photography with Cheryl Heiser
Scaling UP! H2O
A boiler failure can create pressure quickly: production is down, emotions are high, and the water treater may be the first person blamed. of . joins Trace Blackmore, CWT, to walk through a more disciplined way to evaluate boiler issues by looking beyond chemistry alone. Why Boiler Failures Need a Broader Lens Cheryl brings field experience from the OEM boiler side, conventional water treatment, and purified tannin boiler treatment. Her perspective is rooted in the idea that no two boilers are the same. Design, operating conditions, fuel, history, circulation, steam...
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474 Questions from the Scaling UP! Nation about Trace
Scaling UP! H2O
Every career in industrial water treatment is shaped by decisions, mentors, credentials, systems, and the willingness to keep learning. In this special mailbag-style episode, Trace Blackmore, CWT, answers questions from the Scaling UP! Nation about how he entered water treatment, why he started the podcast, what professional credentials have meant to him, and what he is still working to improve. This conversation gives water professionals a practical look at the habits behind a long career in the industry: getting involved early, documenting customer conversations, building strong...
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473 From Oil to Water: How the Water Midstream Sector Was Born with John Durand
Scaling UP! H2O
Industrial water professionals often think about water in terms of treatment, compliance, reuse, and operational risk. John Durand brings a different but closely connected view: water as infrastructure, water as a managed resource, and water as a strategic part of energy development. , one of the early pioneers of the water midstream sector and CEO of Magnificent Desolation, LLC, joins Trace Blackmore to explain how produced water moved from a disposal challenge to a large-scale infrastructure opportunity. From Disposal Model to Managed Resource John describes how...
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472 Finding and Fixing the Invisible: Chris MacDonald on Pressure Pipe Inspection and Rehab
Scaling UP! H2O
"Document everything." Spring startup season exposes more than operational stress. It also reveals what happened months earlier when systems were laid up poorly, maintenance steps were skipped, or warning signs were documented but not acted on. In this episode, Trace Blackmore connects that reality to a broader infrastructure problem: hidden damage inside pressure piping systems that operators often cannot see until a leak, rupture, or budget crisis forces action. Why hidden pressure pipe problems are so expensive , CEO and President of , explains why pressure pipe...
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471 Biofilms, Biocides, and TTPC: A Deep Dive with Dr. Jeff Kramer
Scaling UP! H2O
Biofilm is not a fringe issue in cooling systems. As Dr. Jeff Kramer explains, it is a given. That matters because biofilm affects heat transfer, contributes to corrosion, and can serve as a reservoir for Legionella in treated systems. In this conversation, Trace Blackmore and Dr. Kramer examine what experienced water treaters should be looking for when choosing and evaluating a microbiological control program. Biofilm as an operating problem Dr. Jeff defines biofilm as a community of microorganisms attached to a surface and held together by an external polymeric matrix. From there,...
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470 Wastewater Enthusiast: Training the Next Generation Online
Scaling UP! H2O
has built a following by doing something wastewater operators have needed for a long time: making practical technical education easier to access. In Episode 470, he explains why that matters, how he built , and what the industry still gets wrong about training, certification, and knowledge transfer. From test prep to true understanding A major thread in this conversation is the gap between passing an exam and actually understanding plant operations. Shawn reflects on his own early experience with certification prep, where classes helped him recognize test questions but did not always help him...
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469 ABMA: The Oldest Association Meets Today’s Challenges
Scaling UP! H2O
Boiler performance rarely depends on a single decision. It depends on design, controls, maintenance, workforce capability, and, as this conversation makes clear, the quality of water treatment. and explain how is addressing those realities by connecting manufacturers, representatives, suppliers, and field stakeholders around education and practical guidance. Why ABMA still matters in a changing boiler market ABMA has been in place since 1888, but this discussion is not about preserving old structures for their own sake. Scott and Shaunica describe an association that has expanded beyond...
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468 Born into Water Treatment: Tom Brandvold on AWT’s Origin Story and a Life in the Industry
Scaling UP! H2O
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467 From PhD to Pump Rooms: Jake Elliott on Wastewater, Efficiency, and Saying “Yes” Wisely
Scaling UP! H2O
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466 Stories, Math, and “Never Again” Moments: Inside AWT Technical Training with Dan Merritt (Part 2)
Scaling UP! H2O
AWT’s in‑person technical training is a keystone for developing competent water treaters. Yet classroom knowledge only matters when it survives the drive home and emerges later in the field. In this second conversation with —National Sales Manager at and head of AWT’s education committee—Trace Blackmore uncovers how stories, math, and memorable mistakes turn theory into intuition. Why training keeps evolving Dan explains that the rewrites courses every year. Instructors refine content, delivery and demonstrations, not for novelty’s sake, but because...
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Industrial water professionals are increasingly pulled into conversations about scarcity, resilience, and “where the next gallon comes from.”
Dr. Veronika Zhiteneva, CEO and Co-founder of Waterloop Solutions frames water reuse as an implementation challenge more than a technology gap—and explains where the practical starting points are when the scope feels overwhelming.
Moving reuse forward when the technology already exists
Waterloop Solutions was founded to accelerate implementation: clarifying end-use quality, identifying post-treatment needs on the back end of existing plants, and building risk management plans that fit real operational and regulatory expectations. The conversation stays grounded in what slows projects down (time, permitting, funding, and public acceptance) and where progress can be made without reinventing the toolbox.
Centralized vs. decentralized: why “less regulated” can move faster
Europe’s agricultural reuse regulation (noted as coming into effect in June 2023) created shared minimum requirements, but also uncertainty around permitting and responsibility at the local level. In contrast, decentralized reuse is described as an “early adopter” space—often driven by innovative building projects (gray water separation, rooftop rain capture) and, in some cases, easier implementation from scratch than retrofits.
What matters to industrial listeners: partnerships, autonomy, and distance
For industrial teams, Dr. Veronika points out opportunities for synergistic partnerships with municipalities and agriculture—balanced against the realities of infrastructure distance and cost. She also makes the case for industrial autonomy: decoupling from conventional sources through internal reuse to protect future production when municipal needs take precedence.
Communication and the “toilet to tap” problem
Public perception remains a stubborn barrier. Dr. Veronika calls out the long-lasting impact of “toilet to tap” framing and why first impressions can derail technically sound reuse projects.
Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!
Timestamps
03:58 - Trace Blackmore shares how “Pinks and Blues” questions get chosen—and where listeners can submit them
05:05 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals
07:42 – Words of Water with James McDonald
11:47 – Meet Dr. Veronika Zhiteneva and why Trace invited her from LinkedIn insights
12:20 — Veronika’s path: UMD → Colorado School of Mines → PhD at Technical University of Munich
15:40 — Why Waterloop Solutions started: progress is slow, but implementation support is missing
19:40 — Decentralized reuse: why interest is rising, and why it can be easier to implement in buildings
20:20 — EU agricultural reuse regulation (June 2023): minimum quality, crop types, and risk plan uncertainty
23:40 — Unique barriers by sector: municipal timelines, industrial ROI, and the difficulty of reaching farmers
33:20 — Lowest-hanging fruit: municipal reuse for street cleaning and parks; industrial autonomy via internal reuse
45:00 — Women and young professionals: visibility, role models, and why the sector’s willingness to help matters
47:20 — Where to learn more: US EPA resources, EU work underway, and Australia as a reuse leader
Quotes
“It's okay to ask questions.”
“But actually, all the technology needed for it already exists.”
“What I think is awesome in the US, for example, that you guys are really pursuing this direct potable reuse now.”
“I think these are all valid options to have kind of in the water management portfolio on a local level and also on a regional level.”
Connect with Dr. Veronika Zhiteneva 
Email: vzhiteneva@gowaterloop.com
Website: Home – Waterloop Solutions
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vzhiteneva/
Waterloop Solutions: Overview | LinkedIn
Guest Resources Mentioned
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (Paperback)
European Commission's Water reuse: New EU rules to improve access to safe irrigation
Intermezzo Paperback – by Sally Rooney (Author)
US EPA State Water Reuse Resources
US EPA Water Reuse Information Library
US EPA's “A Framework for Permitting Innovation in the Wastewater Sector Report”
US Department of Energy’s About the BuildingsNEXT Student Design Competition
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)
Water Reuse Europe Policy and Regulations
Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned
AWT (Association of Water Technologies)
AWT Technical Training Seminars
Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses
Words of Water with James McDonald
Today's definition is a device for removing condensate from a steam line without allowing the steam to escape. Can you guess the word or phrase?
2026 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.
