In this “10 year anniversary” episode, I want to take the time to say thank you, answer some very common questions about the website and the best way to use the material on it, give an update on my life, and share a few other items I think you might like.By The Water Sifu

Marianne Metzger is a laboratory sales executive with ResinTech and Executive Director of the Eastern Water Quality Association. In this episode of Straight from the Tap, she joins host Debbie Stadtler to discuss new developments and challenges in water testing technology, and what to do if you drop your phone down a well you’re testing. For more i…

Brooke Mayer is an Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In this episode of Straight from the Tap, she joins host Debbie Stadtler to discuss water treatment topics including how her research is “inspired by nature" and how water and electricity really do mix. For more info on water treatme…

Toby Thomas is the current President of the Water Quality Association (WQA) as well as President and CEO of Kinetico Incorporated, a company that offers non-electric residential and commercial water treatment systems. In this interview with host Debbie Stadtler, he discusses what he accomplished as WQA president, where WQA is headed and an outlook …

Matthew Wirth, General Manager of the Pargreen Sales Engineering-Water Division in Chicago, discusses resin technology, reverse osmosis, and recovery and reuse of filter backwash water. In this interview, he talks about how to get started in the water treatment industry and what makes the Midwest great. Wirth also touches on uniform particle size v…

Ben Mohaved, P.E., BCEE, President of WATEK Engineering Corporation in Gaithersburg, MD, talks about membrane technology, reverse osmosis, and PFAS. Mohaved brings over 35 years of expertise in water engineering and membrane technology. In this interview, he explains how he get started in the water treatment industry and why he volunteers his time …

Chemicals in Water Treatment In this episode I answer a couple of common questions I often receive pertaining to searching for jobs in the water industry. I discuss a speech I recently gave about this podcast, and then we hop into the meat of the show covering chemicals we use in treatment. We discuss ferric chloride and alum as coagulants, lime an…

Membrane Filtration Membrane Filtration is the wave of the future in the water treatment field. This month I spend a little time talking about my new job and the last State Treatment Exam, and then get into talking about membrane filtration in depth. Membrane plants are totally different from plant to plant, so we talk about the different types of …

Advanced Treatment Audio Flash Cards (click to listen in a new window) I’m back for three more monthly shows, starting with another audio flash cards show. This is one I initially made for myself, but decided to release because I think some of you could find it very helpful. I found it very helpful myself, many people have been asking me to do more…

Hello and Goodbye (click to listen in a new window) I haven’t stopped teaching! … still going strong and still loving it! However, this episode of The Water Sifu is the last in this podcast series. With that in mind, this show is my way of saying goodbye to those who have been listening and hello to new listeners. I wrap up some topics from last we…

Your Questions about Certification and Hiring (click to listen in a new window) This month I let you produce the show, answering some of the most common questions I have received pertaining to certification and getting hired in the water industry. We discuss the California (and nations) job market with respect to water jobs, which level of certific…

Pumps and Motors (click to listen in a new window) This packed full episode deals entirely with pumps and motors. Discussing pumps, we specifically focus on volute and turbine centrifugal pumps, since they are by far the most common used in the water industry. We discuss the workings of each and different types of each in detail. We also discuss pa…

Treatment Techniques, Part 2 (click to listen in a new window) Part 2 of 2 in a series on water quality problems and treatment techniques… I begin this show by talking about my recent meetings with Leo Laporte, “The Tech Guy”, and Cliff Ravenscraft, “The Podcast Answerman”. I then spend a brief time discussing my latest project “The Other Water Mat…

Treatment Techniques, Part 1 (click to listen in a new window) This episode is the first part of a two part show concentrating on material you need to know for your state exams concerning different harmful or undesirable issues which can occur in water and the techniques we can use to remedy them. Items covered on this show include Waterborne Patho…

Water Chemistry (click to listen in a new window) The meat of this episode focuses on some water chemistry subjects which can initially be difficult to grasp, specifically the subjects of pH, alkalinity, and calcium carbonate saturation. We will discuss them in detail, explaining how they interact and affect each other. We will also get into discus…

Meters and Valves (click to listen in a new window) In this episode of The Water Sifu, I spend a brief time discussing some things going on in my life, as well as upcoming episodes, and then jump into the meat of the show, discussing the types of meters and valves you will find in a distribution system. Items covered under meters include types of p…

Distribution Review – Audio Flash Cards (click to listen in a new window) With the popularity of the last “Water Treatment” audio flash cards episode, I have had many people request I do another with an emphasis on “Water Distribution System” exam preparation. This week we will do just that….By The Water Sifu

Because sometimes you just can’t get a shutdown. Trenching Shoring and Water Main Construction (click to listen in a new window) This week focuses on everything having to do with main construction and installation… pipe types, joints, soil types, competent person, trenching and shoring, excavations, pipe laying, back-filling, and flushing / bac-t p…

Drinking Water Supply (click to listen in a new window) The format of this show will be switching to a monthly format, with the episodes primarily focusing on treatment and distribution exam preparation. This week we spend a little time discussing the direction I will be taking the show in the future, and why. Then, I jump right into the meat of th…

Water Treatment Exam Prep (click to listen in a new window) I think that creating and using flash cards is an incredible tool for ingraining the knowledge when studying for your water treatment or distribution exams. A major stray from my normal show type, this week will basically be a “study guide on the go” for people testing for a Treatment Exam…

Passing your Water Treatment or Water Distribution Exam (click to listen in a new window) In this podcast I share my advice on how to best improve your chances of success on your water treatment and water distribution exams. From exam prep, to what to study, to where to find the best study materials, to how to study, and how to test, this podcast h…

Water Math (click to listen in a new window) Knowing your water math is a huge step in passing any state exam. Those that know it have a huge step up and those that don’t are often doomed to fail. Unfortunately, finding information to teach water math in a clear and easy way can be difficult. This podcast will discuss my views on water math. It wil…

Government Regulation of the Drinking Water Industry (click to listen in a new window) In this episode of The Water Sifu, I spend a brief time discussing issues which have gotten in my way of putting out regular weekly content, and then get into the meat of the show, which discusses government regulation of the drinking water industry. This is a mu…

Hard / Soft Water, Iron and Manganese, Nitrification (click to listen in a new window) This week I focus on some random, undesirable, issues which may arise in the system and affect water quality… specifically hard or soft water problems, staining as a result of iron or manganese, and nitrification.By The Water Sifu

Biological Contaminants and Disinfection (click to listen in a new window) Biological contaminants of the water supply have killed millions and millions of people through the years. Today we are going to look at some of these contaminants and show how, through chlorination and disinfection, their threat has been drastically reduced. We are also goi…

Implementation of Fluoride Programs (click to listen in a new window) Part 4 of a 4 Part series, this episode will take a look at how fluoride programs are implemented. We will discuss the major players behind pushing fluoridation programs, how they work together, techniques used to implement fluoridation programs, and why they are successful. From…

Fluoridation – Safe and Effective ….Really??? (click to listen in a new window) Part 3 of 4, This episode will focus on the “safe and effective” aspects of water fluoridation. I ask the questions… “Is it safe?” and “Is it effective?” on the way to answering the ultimate question, “Is it worth it?”. Among the evidence brought out is a chart graphing…

Water Sifu #7: The History of Fluoridation (Part 2 of 4) (click to listen in a new window) The History of Fluoridation is the subject of this weeks episode. In an attempt to fill in some huge gaps in the history of fluoridation, as told by promoting groups, I delved deep into this subject. My research took me into some pretty creepy and unexpected …

Water Sifu #6: Water Fluoridation Part One (click to listen in a new window) Water fluoridation has long been a hotly debated topic. This episode of The Water Sifu will discuss my initial thoughts about the fluoridation of drinking water, what I found when I first started looking into it that really shocked me, and how I’ve been completely pulled i…

Nanene Sampling Source Water Water Sifu Episode 5: Women in the Water Industry (click to listen in a new window) This episode of The Water Sifu is a discussion / interview, and will focus on women doing field work in the water industry. Special thanks to Nanene, Brenda, Sheri, and Theresa for their help…

Water Sifu Episode 4: Distribution System Overview (click to listen in a new window) This episode of The Water Sifu is going to talk about water distribution systems, giving you a brief overview of how the whole process works. We’re going to talk about sources of supply, and how water gets from that source to your tap. We’re also going to talk abou…

Water Sifu Episode 3 – Water Treatment Overview (click to listen in a new window) Water Treatment is the subject of this weeks episode, with an emphasis on Conventional Treatment. We will follow water from the moment it enters the plant as it travels through pre-disinfection and into the flash mixer where coagulation occurs. From there we follow it…

Water Sifu Episode 2 – Water Treatment / Distribution Operator Certification (click to listen in new window) In this episode of The Water Sifu, I concentrate our discussion on Operator Certification. I will discuss why you want to get certified, how to get certified, how to keep your certification, and how to move up the certification ranks, using …

The Water Sifu – Episode 1 (click to listen in a new window) This first episode of The Water Sifu will introduce you to myself and explain how I went from a life devoted to the martial arts to running a water distribution system, working in water treatment, and sitting behind the microphone. I will also discuss the potable water industry, jobs in t…