Scaling UP! H2O Podcast Por scalinguph2o.com arte de portada

Scaling UP! H2O

Scaling UP! H2O

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The podcast where we scale up on knowledge so we don't scale up our systems. Find out why working in Industrial Water Treatment is the best job in the world. Hear industry experts share their knowledge and stories. Learn about technologies, methods, and career journeys. Join podcast host Trace Blackmore, former AWT President, LEED, and CWT every Friday for a new episode.© 2018 All Rights Reserved, Blackmore Enterprises, Inc. Economía
Episodios
  • 468 Born into Water Treatment: Tom Brandvold on AWT's Origin Story and a Life in the Industry

    468 Born into Water Treatment: Tom Brandvold on AWT's Origin Story and a Life in the Industry
    Mar 20 2026
    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 Association of Water Technologies (AWT). 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 association did not start primarily as a training platform or networking group. It grew out of a business crisis in the 1980s, when independent water treaters were struggling to secure product liability and pollution coverage at prices that would not put them out of business. Tom explains how that pressure led a small group to create an insurance-focused structure that eventually required an association. From there, the collaborative side of AWT expanded into education, technical papers, meetings, and broader support for the independent water treater. Why Association of Water Technologies (AWT)'s culture feels different Tom also gives language to something many professionals have experienced but may not have fully defined: AWT members often compete in the same field while still sharing technical knowledge freely. He points to relationships as the reason. Trust, geography, and the practical reality of how accounts are won reduce the sense of technical knowledge as a threat. That helps explain why AWT has become a place where mistakes, lessons learned, and operating insight can be shared in ways that genuinely help other professionals improve. Why the CWT is changing A major focus of the episode is the next chapter of the Certified Water Technologist designation. Tom explains that AWT is pursuing ISO-aligned process work and ANSI recognition so the CWT carries stronger independent, third-party credibility. He walks through why that matters, what the CWT commission is doing, how the current process may change, and why he believes ANSI recognition will help the credential gain broader acceptance with customers, spec writers, government authorities, and technical institutions. What this means for professionals now This conversation lands on a practical point: the CWT is meant to distinguish serious professionals without making the credential feel inaccessible. Tom is clear that those already preparing should not wait. He also underscores that AWT technical training supports the body of knowledge, but it does not teach to the exam. For leaders, owners, and technical professionals, this episode is a strong reminder that industry standards matter most when they improve confidence, sharpen judgment, and strengthen trust in the field. Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge! Timestamps 00:46 — Trace explains why AWT matters so much to industrial water treatment professionals. 03:37 — Trace shares the story behind the "magic button" and how it helps people connect at industry events. 07:20 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals 11:05 - Words of Water with James McDonald 13:20 - Interview with Tom Brandvold, CWT, President at Premier Water and Energy Technologies and former president of the Association of the Water Technologies 18:18 - Tom explains the origin story of AWT 24:05 - Tom talks about volunteering within AWT over the years 34:14 - The conversation shifts to the CWT designation 37:01 - Tom explains why AWT is pursuing ANSI recognition for the CWT 48:11 - Tom and Trace discuss how ANSI-recognized CWTs could matter in legislation and water safety language 49:00 - Tom talks about the biggest challenge in the accreditation process: ISO 17024 conformance 53:35 - Tom makes an important distinction: AWT training does not teach to the exam 55:03 - Tom explains why professionals should pursue the CWT Quotes "The association ah was founded so that those who joined could have access to this captive insurance market where we were self-insuring so that all of us could stay in business." "The veil of threat is removed, and you share very freely." "We are committed as a trade association to add prominence to the CWT certification." "If you want to distinguish yourself from everyone else out there, this is the way to do it." "My magic wand would ensure that everybody has safe drinking water" Connect with Tom Brandvold, CWT Email: carmac@premierwater.com Website: CRB Water | Safe, Sustainable & Data-Driven Water Treatment Solutions LinkedIn: CRB Water: Overview | LinkedIn Guest Resources Mentioned ANSI / ANAB Personnel Certification Accreditation ISO/IEC 17024:2012 AWT Technical Reference & Training Manual AWT CWT Exam Candidate Handbook Kelly: More Than My Share of It...
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    1 h y 17 m
  • 467 From PhD to Pump Rooms: Jake Elliott on Wastewater, Efficiency, and Saying "Yes" Wisely

    467 From PhD to Pump Rooms: Jake Elliott on Wastewater, Efficiency, and Saying "Yes" Wisely
    Mar 13 2026
    What happens when a water chemist leaves the lab and heads to the pump room?  Dr. Jake Elliott knows firsthand. A former PhD researcher who studied resource recovery from trade‑waste customers, Jake now manages accounts at Hydro flow 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 approaches operations. While completing his PhD he investigated how to recover resources from wastewater permits, synthesizing municipal data with bench‑scale testing. Today he draws on that experience to design treatment systems and advise customers on cooling‑tower and boiler chemistry. He emphasizes long‑term efficiency: spending a little extra time or money now can save much more later. This mentality helps him balance the competing demands of design, installation, sales and service, and underscores Hydro flow's support for continuing education. Balancing Service, Sales and Efficiency No two days look alike for Jake. One week he is calibrating pH probes, inspecting cooling towers and designing dosing skids; the next he is troubleshooting filtration systems or negotiating wastewater discharge limits. To stay ahead of his schedule, he deliberately "drags things as early as possible" and completes visits well before month‑end. Jake uses the iPhone Reminders app to tag tasks by site, service type and system; location triggers ensure he never forgets critical parts. He advocates automating routine reports and allowing generative AI to massage field notes into professional correspondence, provided every line is double‑checked for accuracy. Even at the end of a long day, tools such as ChatGPT help him strike the right tone in customer emails. Regulation, Training and Risk Management Jake contrasts cooling‑tower regulation in Australia with the more fragmented approach in the United States. In Victoria every tower must be registered, documented and sampled on a schedule; non‑compliance leads to fines. The risk management plan – the term used in Australia for what many Americans call a water management plan – is a comprehensive document containing details of the cooling tower, associated chillers and a unique registration number. Australian practitioners follow the AS/NZS 3666 standard, and third‑party RMP reviews and audits are annual requirements. Jake notes that an equivalent certification does not yet exist for international candidates seeking the Certified Water Technologist designation, although metric‑based exams may be under consideration. Sales, Communication and Mentorship Serving existing customers often means identifying the real decision drivers. Jake categorizes site priorities – cost reduction, profit increase, ease of use and product quality – and tailors proposals accordingly. He maintains open communication with influencers while gently probing approval limits, sometimes splitting quotes so that local managers can sign off without escalating requests. Mentorship is both a given and a goal: Hydro flow holds monthly meetings where technicians, account managers and production staff share problems and solutions, allowing juniors to benefit from seasoned expertise. Jake encourages newcomers to simply "do it" – the blend of hands‑on work, autonomy and flexibility makes industrial water treatment a rewarding career. In his lightning‑round advice he urges his younger self to be selective about commitments and to automate early. Dr. Jake Elliott demonstrates that a rigorous scientific background and a passion for efficiency translate into better service, improved compliance and happier customers. His tips on process automation, risk management and sales communication help water professionals navigate a complex landscape while maintaining work–life balance. Listen to the full conversation above. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge! Timestamps 01:14 - Trace Blackmore notes the conclusion of the 2026 AWT Technical Training (Session 1) and then shares his doctor's office story 09:15 - Words of Water with James McDonald 11:45 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals 15:32 - Introduction with Jake Elliott, PhD, Senior Account Manager at Hydro Flow 18:47 - Jake's Advice for those taking a Doctorate Degree 23:19 - How Jake came to work at Hydro Flow 44:24 - Tips from Jake Quotes "Very happy to spend a little bit of extra time or money now to save a lot of time or money later." "If you can get some of your thoughts down and then let ChatGPT massage that into something that is good communication, again, double check it before you send it." "I would tell myself to be selective in what you ...
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    1 h y 8 m
  • 466 Stories, Math, and "Never Again" Moments: Inside AWT Technical Training with Dan Merritt (Part 2)

    466 Stories, Math, and "Never Again" Moments: Inside AWT Technical Training with Dan Merritt (Part 2)
    Mar 6 2026
    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 Dan Merritt, CWT—National Sales Manager at CH2O Inc. 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 Association of Water Technologies rewrites courses every year. Instructors refine content, delivery and demonstrations, not for novelty's sake, but because boilers and cooling towers rarely behave like textbook examples. Recognizing that multiple chemical reactions operate simultaneously helps prevent chasing the wrong problem. Updated program design and operations classes now bridge the gap between fundamentals and advanced topics. Specialized modules for sales, membrane/softener maintenance, ASSE 1280 compliance, and a two‑tier wastewater curriculum ensure that attendees can match coursework to their experience and role. Lessons from experience: paperwork, PPE and people Anecdotes ground the theory. Dan recounts losing his Certified Water Technologist status for five years after assuming an office manager filed his recertification paperwork. He re‑sat the exam in 2016 and now tells every candidate: verify your own paperwork. Another incident involved a sulfuric acid injection line that still held pressure; a line blew while he was replacing a fitting, covering his jeans in acid—his apron protected his torso, but he still had six‑inch holes in his pants. "Wear your PPE" is his first piece of advice to new technicians. Beyond safety, Dan highlights that water treatment careers demand communication and management skills. Technical strengths don't automatically translate into leadership; becoming a mentor and training others brings lasting fulfillment. Developing a growth mindset For new practitioners, Dan recommends learning from whoever will teach you and embracing the "nerdy" parts of the job—math, chemistry and calculations translate directly into customer value. After the first year it's easy to plateau, so he urges veterans to intentionally take on new technologies such as wastewater treatment or chlorine dioxide and to share knowledge with younger colleagues. This industry can't be automated or offshored; field troubleshooting will always require hands‑on expertise. Even in sales roles, success comes from offering solutions grounded in a deep technical foundation. Looking ahead The episode closes with a call to prepare for AWT's upcoming training seminars (March 10–13 and November 11–14). Attendees should bring system data and be ready to teach one takeaway to their teams when they return. Scaling Up! H2O encourages listeners to invest in their careers, meet peers and instructors, and approach each technical challenge as an opportunity to raise the bar for the entire industry. Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge! Timestamps 01:35 - Trace Blackmore shares a reminder for listeners about the AWT Technical Training on March 10-13 04:12 – Words of Water with James 09:20 - Transition to Interview Recap 11:24 - Second part Interview with Dan Merritt, CWT 12:40 - Losing CWT Certification 20:49 - ASSE 12080 Training 22:49 - Wastewater Training Expansion 38:22 - Sulfuric Acid Incident Quotes "Failure is not the failure. Quitting is the failure." "The water treatment industry is not something that you can do remotely. There is always going to be the need for people to troubleshoot water systems." "Being a mentor is a great way to take that experience that we have and translate it—to give it away to those in our company." "Don't worry about making mistakes. We all make mistakes, and that's how you learn." "I swore up and down that I would never be a salesman. Now I'm the sales manager because I realized that selling solutions grounded in technical knowledge isn't about pushing products—it's about helping people." Connect with Dan Merritt, CWT Email: dmerritt@ch2o.com Website: .https://www.ch2o.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-merritt-cwt-18413819/. Guest Resources Mentioned Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't by Simon Sinek (Paperback) The AI-Driven Leader: Harnessing AI to Make Faster, Smarter Decisions by Geoff Woods, AI Thought Leadership The Accidental Superpower: Ten Years On by Peter Zeihan (Narrator, Author) The Shattering Peace: Old Man's War, Book 7 by John Scalzi (Author), Tavia Gilbert (Narrator), Audible Studios (Publisher) Education Offerings – AWT Become Certified – AWT Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned AWT (Association of Water Technologies)...
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    57 m
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