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
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
What happens when a water chemist leaves the lab and heads to the pump room? knows firsthand. A former PhD researcher who studied resource recovery from trade‑waste customers, Jake now manages accounts at in Melbourne, working with cooling towers, boilers, chemical dosing rigs and wastewater treatment systems. He joins host Trace Blackmore to discuss how rigorous research, regulatory compliance and process automation translate into practical field work for industrial water treatment professionals. From PhD Research to Industrial Practice Jake’s academic background informs the way he...
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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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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. Scott Lynch and Shaunica Jayson explain how American Boiler Manufacturers Association (ABMA) 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 traditional manufacturer membership into a broader supply-chain view of the boiler room. That includes boiler, burner, deaerator, and economizer manufacturers, component suppliers, service providers, consultants, and manufacturer representatives.
That broader view matters because boiler performance does not begin and end with the vessel itself. Decisions made across installation, controls, service, and water treatment shape efficiency, reliability, and long-term asset life.
Education that reaches the people actually running boiler rooms
A strong theme throughout the conversation is education. ABMA is reaching beyond its own meetings to speak with healthcare engineers, food processors, facility engineers, and other sectors that rely on boilers every day. Scott outlines the practical angle of that work: what operators should be doing on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis to keep boiler rooms safe and efficient.
Shaunica adds that ABMA is building toward a larger resource center, on-demand materials, and expanded access to white papers and best-practice guidance. They also discuss partnerships with trade schools and Maritime Academies as part of a larger workforce strategy. For water professionals, that matters because better-informed boiler operators create better conditions for treatment programs to succeed.
Water treatment is not a side issue
One of the clearest takeaways is that water treatment remains central to boiler performance. ABMA’s work with the Association of Water Technologies is helping align deaeration and chemical treatment perspectives into a single, co-branded guidance document. That effort is meant to reduce finger-pointing, improve technical clarity, and give end users a more unified message.
Scott is direct about the operational stakes: poor water treatment drives scaling, damages equipment, and undermines efficiency. The discussion also pushes back on outdated assumptions about boiler rooms, highlighting gains in efficiency, modern controls, remote monitoring, retrofit options, and emerging technologies such as hydrogen, dual-fuel, and hybrid systems.
Boiler systems may be longstanding infrastructure, but the thinking around them cannot stay static. Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!
Timestamps
01:18 - Trace introduces ABMA, explains its relevance to water treaters, and previews the upcoming ABMA Expo
03:11 - Trace gives a concise history of boilers, from early steam vessels to modern high-efficiency systems
07:36 - Scott Lynch and Shaunica Jayson join the show and introduce themselves and their roles at ABMA
08:18 - Scott explains how ABMA has evolved from a manufacturer-focused association into a broader industry organization spanning the full boiler supply chain
10:27 - Shaunica outlines ABMA’s four membership categories, including manufacturers, associate members, consultants, and manufacturer reps
33:18 - The discussion shifts to the ABMA–AWT partnership and the co-branded water treatment guideline
34:58 - Scott explains why deaeration and water treatment need to be addressed together to produce useful technical guidance
36:31 - Shaunica shares what ABMA learned from attending the AWT conference and why the partnership helps reduce finger-pointing between disciplines
38:19 - The conversation moves to Boiler Expo, including why ABMA launched it and how it is designed to serve the full boiler community
40:49 - Shaunica explains the co-location with the Biomass Conference & Expo and highlights ABMA’s BUILT and WIBI communities
45:18 - Scott and Shaunica close with their key takeaways: the boiler industry is evolving, and ABMA is a resource for the field
53:50 - Words of Water with James
Connect with Shaunica Jayson
Email: Shaunica@abma.com
Website: American Boiler Manufacturers Association (ABMA)
LinkedIn: Shaunica Jayson | LinkedIn
Connect with Scott Lynch
Email: scott@abma.com
Website: American Boiler Manufacturers Association (ABMA)
LinkedIn: Scott Lynch, CAE | LinkedIn
Quotes
“Our official mission is to lead, advance and provide solutions to the boiler industry.”
“Our vision is boilers are recognized for advancing energy sustainability and powering people's lives.”
“The boiler industry continues to evolve and innovate.”
“We love our members. We love our operators. We love our water treaters.”
Guest Resources Mentioned
The Association of Facilities Engineering (AFE)
The ABMA Boiler Expo Registration
ABMA – Free Boiler Maintenance Schedule
ABMA Boiler Expo 2026 Pre Conference (Boiler Water Treatment Workshops)
ABMA - Boiler Industry Leaders of Tomorrow (BILT)
Women in the Boiler Industry (WIBI) Professional Community
Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned
AWT (Association of Water Technologies)
Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses
Words of Water with James McDonald
Today's definition is a salt solution, generally sodium chloride, used during the regeneration process in ion exchange. Can you guess the word?
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.
