The Water Break Podcast, Episode 45: Source Water Protection!
Monday, March 24, 2025 • Duration 59:29
“Where we bridge the gap between water plant operators and engineers”
Matt Casto
Jordan Jackson
In today’s episode we are going to talk about “Protecting Source Water.” Our guests are Matt Casto and Jordan Jackson of North Carolina Rural Water Association.
Matt’s unconventional journey into the water industry began with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture, where he developed an improvisational problem-solving mindset that he’s carried into 14 years of hands-on experience in water operations. He’s worked as a surface water plant operator and superintendent, Circuit Rider, and he now serves as a Source Water Protection Specialist with the North Carolina Rural Water Association. Matt enjoys both the technical aspects of water treatment and the hands-on work of system repairs, feeling equally at home in the field or the boardroom. Outside of work, he is an avid saltwater aquarist, ornamental gardener, and recreational hockey player.
Born and raised in North Carolina, Jordan has 12 years of water and wastewater utility experience with expertise in source water protection, cross connection control, wastewater laboratory and pretreatment programs. She obtained a Masters of Water Resources from the University of New Mexico and holds NC Biological Wastewater Grade IV certification in addition to Utility Management Certification issued by National Rural Water Association.
The Water Break Podcast, Episode 43: What’s That Taste in My Water
Thursday, January 23, 2025 • Duration 01:03:51
“Where we bridge the gap between water plant operators and engineers”
In episode 43 of the Water Break Podcast, Heather Jennings, PE, discusses interesting details about water with our guests, John Schwartz, Senior Technical Support Representative/Technical Training Manager, and Loyd Rawlings, Technical Training Manager for a leading MRO company.
John brings over 40 years of experience in water and wastewater to the training room, including roles as a water system operator, lead/senior operator for both water treatment and distribution systems, and manager of water treatment and distribution systems. He also served as a circuit rider, trainer, and technical advisor for the California Rural Water Association. John is certified in Water Treatment and Distribution in both California and Montana and holds a Utility Management Certification (UMC) for Water and Wastewater Management from NRWA’s Water University.
Loyd has 30 years of experience in water and wastewater. He has worked for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources as a certification trainer and compliance assistance operator. With the Missouri Rural Water Association, he led EPA Water Quality Action Specialists (WQAS) trainings, worked as a USDA Wastewater Technician, served as a circuit rider, and taught numerous water and wastewater certification classes. Loyd holds certifications in Water Treatment, Wastewater Treatment, and Distribution Systems in Missouri. He also holds a Utility Management Certification (UMC) from NRWA’s Water University.
The Water Break Podcast, Episode 33: Getting Designs Started – Preliminary Engineering Reports
Tuesday, August 8, 2023 • Duration 46:25
“Where we bridge the gap between water plant operators and engineers.”
In episode 33 of the Water Break podcast our host Heather Jennings, PE, is going to talk about Preliminary Engineering Reports with Marty Howell who is a senior engineer with Souder, Miller & Associates, a civil engineering firm with offices throughout the mountain west. Howell’s work focuses on rural water and wastewater projects across southern New Mexico and Texas
The Water Break Podcast, Episode 32: PFAS Communication Plans
Thursday, June 15, 2023 • Duration 38:16
“Where we bridge the gap between water plant operators and engineers”
In Episode 32 of The Water Break Podcast, Heather Jennings, PE, talks with Mike McGill about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) communication plans and how to support local communities through the new regulations coming down from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Mike is the Founder and President of WaterPIO, a company that specializes in crisis communications planning and implementation in the water industry.
Heather’s Niagra Falls Photos:
The Water Break Podcast, Episode 31: Talking to the New Guy
Friday, April 21, 2023 • Duration 45:19
“Where we bridge the gap between water plant operators and engineers”
In episode 31 of the Water Break Podcast, Heather Jennings, PE, discusses the experience of being a new person in the water and wastewater industry with our newest team member Andrew Emerson, and Jim Huchel, Operations Manager, Makai Water Services. With 39 years of work experience in the wastewater industry, Jim shares his interesting journey and words of wisdom with Andrew and our listeners!
The Water Break Podcast, Episode 30: Operations Challenge
Tuesday, February 28, 2023 • Duration 39:15
“Where we bridge the gap between water plant operators and engineers”
In episode 30 of the Water Break Podcast, Heather Jennings, PE, discusses the WEFTEC Operations Challenge with Allan Clum, General Manager, and Greg Hill, Operations Manager, at Mount Pleasant Waterworks (MPW) in South Carolina. Clum and Hill share their experience of participating in the Operations Challenge and reveal why this challenge is a big deal in the industry.
The Water Break Podcast, Episode 29: Preventing Backflow, Part 2
Tuesday, February 28, 2023 • Duration 47:13
“Where we bridge the gap between water plant operators and engineers”
In episode 29 of the Water Break Podcast, Heather Jennings, PE, discusses fundamental water systems backflow and cross-connection issues with Gary McLaren, Marketing Director and “Backflow Nerd” at HydroCorp, based in Troy, Michigan, and Rich Davison, Engineering Sales at Soderholm & Associates in Madison, Wisconsin. Mr. McLaren and Mr. Davison have co-instructed over 150 backflow prevention and cross-connection control classes since 2012.
The Water Break Podcast, Episode 28: Preventing Backflow
Tuesday, February 28, 2023 • Duration 31:51
“Where we bridge the gap between water plant operators and engineers”
In episode 28 of the Water Break Podcast, Heather Jennings, PE, discusses fundamental water systems backflow and cross-connection issues with Gary McLaren, Marketing Director and “Backflow Nerd” at HydroCorp, based in Troy, Michigan. Mr. McLaren has inspected over 4,000 commercial and industrial facilities for unprotected backflow hazards. He is part of the team that developed SafeWaterEDU.com, the nation’s only Water Operator Continuing Education School dedicated to the world of backflow prevention. Gary is certified in Cross-Connection Control Surveying and Backflow Prevention Program Administration by the American Society of Sanitary Engineering.
The Water Break Podcast, Episode 27: I Spy Filaments in My Wastewater Treatment System
Tuesday, November 29, 2022 • Duration 38:58
“Where we bridge the gap between water plant operators and engineers”
In Episode 27 of the Water Break Podcast, Heather Jennings, PE, discusses the microbiology of filamentous bacteria with Dr. Toni Glymph-Martin. Dr. Glymph-Martin is a Wastewater Microbiologist and Certified Operator, B-Level, with 40+ years’ experience in wastewater. She is the author of two books: A Wastewater Microbiology Laboratory Manual for Operators and Wastewater Microbiology: A Handbook for Operators. In today’s podcast, Dr. Glymph-Martin discusses how to microscopically identify the various types of foaming and sludge bulking bacteria and the best ways to manage those bacteria when they cause treatment system problems.
The Water Break Podcast, Episode 25: Diving Deep into Water-Wastewater
Thursday, August 11, 2022 • Duration 36:44
“Where We Bridge the Gap Between Water Plant Operators and Engineers”
In The Water Break Podcast Episode 25, Heather Jennings, PE, discusses commercial diving and how it applies to water and wastewater treatment facilities with guest Robert Greenspan, president of Midco Diving & Marine Services of Rapid City, South Dakota (phone 1-800-238-0217). Mr. Greenspan has 28 years of commercial diving experience. He and Heather discuss all aspects of how commercial divers can be useful to water and wastewater facilities, what to look for when hiring a dive company, and how to best implement dive services.
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