461 Corrosion, Lead, and Algae: New Tools for Old Water Problems
Release Date: 01/30/2026
468 Born into Water Treatment: Tom Brandvold on AWT’s Origin Story and a Life in the Industry
Scaling UP! H2O
Tom Brandvold, CWT, has lived industrial water treatment from the inside out. In this conversation, he traces that path from sweeping floors and running sample bottles as a kid to leading Premier Water and Energy Technology and serving as a former president of . The result is not just a career story. It is a useful look at how credibility, collaboration, and standards are built over time in this industry. How Association of Water Technologies (AWT) was formed One of the most valuable parts of this discussion is Tom’s explanation of how Association of Water Technologies (AWT) began. The...
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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
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465 From Classroom to Cooling Towers: Teaching Water Treatment with Dan Merritt (Part 1)
Scaling UP! H2O
Industrial water training only works when the knowledge transfers. That means the material lands with the audience, survives the drive home, and shows up later in the field when decisions get made. , Sales Manager at , brings a rare perspective to that problem. He started as a teacher (chemistry, calculus, physics), entered industrial water treatment on February 5, 2002, and later became part of the AWT training team. This conversation follows the path from classroom instruction to boiler rooms and cooling towers, then uses that journey to examine what makes technical training...
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464 Corrosion Coupons, Brand Building, and Having Fun at Trade Shows with Will Ritter
Scaling UP! H2O
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463 Mapping the Future of Water Innovation with Paul O’Callaghan
Scaling UP! H2O
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462 From Lab Chemist to Field Mentor: Water, Culture, and Representation
Scaling UP! H2O
Industrial water work rewards people who can move between precision and practicality. brings both. She started as a lab chemist, then transitioned into field service with , where much of her work supports healthcare facilities and high-accountability programs. Lab habits that protect your tools and your data Katie describes the first surprise of field work: a central plant is “very dirty,” and the job demands good technique without chasing lab-level perfection. She shares a couple of simple practices that prevent expensive problems. Use proper lab wipes on...
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461 Corrosion, Lead, and Algae: New Tools for Old Water Problems
Scaling UP! H2O
Corrosion rarely announces itself as a “big water problem.” It shows up as leaching at the tap, residual loss in the field, premature equipment replacement, and the slow, expensive erosion of decision-quality. (CEO) and (chemist/Chief Science Officer) of lay out a system-wide view of corrosion control—starting with what changed in Flint from a technical standpoint and moving into why many utilities still struggle to meet expectations when standards and risk assumptions shift. System-wide corrosion control starts with chemistry...
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460 Building Boiler Talent: Fundamentals, Online Training, and Better Partnerships with Eric Johnson
Scaling UP! H2O
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459 From Wastewater to Resource: Water Reuse with Dr. Veronika Zhiteneva
Scaling UP! H2O
Industrial water professionals are increasingly pulled into conversations about scarcity, resilience, and “where the next gallon comes from.” , CEO and Co-founder of 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...
info_outlineCorrosion rarely announces itself as a “big water problem.” It shows up as leaching at the tap, residual loss in the field, premature equipment replacement, and the slow, expensive erosion of decision-quality.
Pat Rosenstiel (CEO) and Wolf Merker (chemist/Chief Science Officer) of Great Water Tech lay out a system-wide view of corrosion control—starting with what changed in Flint from a technical standpoint and moving into why many utilities still struggle to meet expectations when standards and risk assumptions shift.
System-wide corrosion control starts with chemistry and consequences
A source-water change can shift corrosivity fast. If corrosion control does not adjust proactively, the downstream effects show in metal release and public exposure. Wolf stresses the distinction between the technical problem and the political challenges, then points to corrosion control as a solvable technical matter when it is treated as a system condition—not a single asset issue.
Why “phosphate-only” isn’t the end of the story
Trace frames what most operators recognize: many municipalities use phosphate inhibitors to form a tenacious film and reduce corrosion. Wolf argues phosphates are “a little bit of old news” in practice and explains the approach Great Water Tech discusses with their German partners—using phosphates and silicates together in the right amounts to create a tighter separation between water and metal.
Barriers, biology, and the disinfection tradeoff
Wolf breaks corrosion drivers into three sources: chemical, biological, and electrochemical (dissimilar metal corrosion). He also ties corrosion to cascading operational decisions—especially disinfectant strategy. If residual loss pushes a system from chlorine to chloramine, Wolf warns that corrosivity can increase dramatically, and that corrosion can amplify the formation of disinfection byproducts as chlorine reacts with what is in the water.
What industrial water treaters should listen for
Pat connects the same barrier logic to industrial priorities—CapEx, OpEx, and lifecycle extension in closed systems (cooling towers, closed chilled loops, boilers). Wolf clarifies that closed systems require different product “flavors,” while keeping the core concept consistent: the combined silicate/phosphate approach remains the best path he is aware of.
Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!
Timestamps
02:20 - Trace sets the tone for the episode: decision-quality improves when you “rethink the way that you think you know things,” especially around tests and procedures
08:20 - Words of Water with James McDonald
11:00 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals
18:22 - Interview with Pat Rosenstiel, CEO of Great Water Tech & Wolf Merker, Chief Science Officer of Great Water Tech
23:00 - Flint technical breakdown
27:30 - Corrosion control options
32:20 - Scale vs. Corrosion
43:40 – Algae Control Pivot
Connect with Pat Rosenstiel
Website: Great Water Tech | Water Treatment Solutions
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-rosenstiel-a148952/
Great Water Tech LLC: Overview | LinkedIn
Connect with Wolf Merker
Website: Great Water Tech | Water Treatment Solutions
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wolf-merker-a1b95284/
Great Water Tech LLC: Overview | LinkedIn
Guest Resources Mentioned
NSF/ANSI/CAN 60 — Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals: Health Effect
NSF — Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals Certification (NSF/ANSI/CAN 60) (how certification works)
ANSI Webstore listing (official standard access/purchase)
EPA — Lead and Copper Rule (regulation hub)
EPA — Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) (final rule page)
EPA fact sheet — Tap Monitoring Requirements (LCRI) (sampling protocol changes)
Folmar (Great Water Tech) — corrosion inhibitor (phosphate + silicate blend)
Algae Armor (Great Water Tech) — nutrient-binding tool for ponds/lakes
Historical context for silicate–phosphate combinations
Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned
AWT (Association of Water Technologies)
AWT Technical Training (March 2026)
Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses
Ep 422 Inside the Association of Water Technologies with John Caloritis
Words of Water with James McDonald
Today's definition is the smallest functional unit of a cooling tower that contains its own heat exchange section, fan or air-moving system, water distribution system, and drift eliminators.
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.
