What does it really take to build a safety culture where every employee feels empowered to speak up—and even stop work?

In this episode, host Blair Corning sits down with Izaiah Kruenegel, Deputy Director of Operations & Maintenance at South Platte Renew, to explore SPR Safe, the organization’s safety program built around the idea that people are the most valuable asset. Izaiah shares how SPR Safe moves beyond policies and procedures to create a culture rooted in trust, accountability, and proactive thinking.

From Job Hazard Analyses and tailgate meetings to employee-driven input and hands-on training, the conversation highlights how safety is embedded into daily operations—not treated as an afterthought. Looking ahead, Izaiah discusses how SPR Safe will continue to evolve and what success looks like in the years to come.

Find out more at https://parc-innovation-flow.pinecast.co

In this episode, host Blair Corning sits down with Adele Rucker, SPR's Laboratory Manager and Abby Wharton, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)'s Wastewater Surveillance Coordinator to explore the growing field of wastewater surveillance. By analyzing wastewater samples, public health officials can detect viruses and pathogens circulating in communities—often before clinical testing shows a rise in cases.

Abby and Adele share the history of Colorado’s wastewater surveillance program, how it has evolved since its early days, and how samples collected from treatment facilities like South Platte Renew are processed and analyzed. The conversation dives into what diseases can be detected, how the data supports public health decision-making, and how researchers and communities can access the information.

From tracking infectious disease trends to identifying emerging threats, wastewater surveillance is proving to be a powerful tool at the intersection of environmental engineering and public health.

Find out more at https://parc-innovation-flow.pinecast.co

Ever wondered what happens to utility equipment that’s no longer needed, but still works? In this episode, we unpack the Facility Asset Renewal Marketplace (FARM) and how it helps utilities turn surplus assets into shared opportunities. From reducing waste to saving money, FARM is reshaping how the industry thinks about asset renewal.

Host Blair Corning sits down with Caleb Vannice, Maintenance Manager at South Platte Renew, to discuss this innovative platform from how it got its start winning the Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association’s Innovative Water Technologies Shark Tank Competition to its potential to reshape industry sustainability.

Links:

FARM site: https://www.memberleap.com/members/classifieds_hybrid.php?org_id=RMWE\&sec=A

RMWEA IWT Committee: https://rmwea.org/innovative_technologies.php

Find out more at https://parc-innovation-flow.pinecast.co

Live from WEFTEC 2025, host Blair Corning interviews Bryan Coday, Principal Technologist at Carollo Engineers, to discuss the cutting-edge of biological phosphorus removal. Bryan explains why the industry is in a "golden age of innovation" and breaks down the complexities of Side Stream Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal. Bryan details a joint pilot project with South Platte Renew that converted existing infrastructure into a dedicated fermenter. This pilot offers a path to reducing long-term chemical reliance and creating a circular water economy by recovering phosphorus for beneficial reuse.

Find out more at https://parc-innovation-flow.pinecast.co

In this live episode from WEFTEC 2025, we sit down with Per Henrik Nielsen of VCS Denmark, a distinguished leader with 40 years in wastewater innovation. Per shares our belief that public utilities have an obligation to drive change where vendors and consultants cannot. Learn how VCS Denmark became an energy-positive utility, the challenges and calculated risks involved in pursuing ambitious projects, and why fostering an organizational culture built on trust and a "willingness to fail" is key to the future of water.

Find out more at https://parc-innovation-flow.pinecast.co

In this episode, recorded live from WEFTEC 2025, Jamie Lefkowitz and Mahesh Lunani explore how data science and artificial intelligence (AI) are fundamentally changing the future of the water industry. First, we tackle the urgent challenge of PFAS with Jamie Lefkowitz, Innovation Development Leader at Brown and Caldwell. Jamie shares details on a pioneering research project that uses machine learning algorithms to identify the unique "chemical fingerprint" of PFAS sources. Then Mahesh Lunani, Founder & CEO of Aquasight, introduces Ava, an AI-powered water assistant built to turn utility data into real-time operational intelligence. What’s in store for this new era of digital utility management?

Find out more at https://parc-innovation-flow.pinecast.co

What is the “money value of time” in wastewater master planning, and how is it fueling innovation at South Platte Renew?

In this episode, we talk to Deena Davidson, Municipal Operations Manager at Tetra Tech Water, who describes building flexibility into South Platte Renew’s latest Master Plan. The model allows utilities to intentionally delay critical spending decisions in order to ensure the most current, proven, and cost-effective technology. She and host, Blair Corning, also get into the groundbreaking PdNA pilot happening on-site at South Platte Renew.

Find out more at https://parc-innovation-flow.pinecast.co

What’s going on at the Pilot and Research Center (PARC) at South Platte Renew (SPR), and what does it take to be a good innovator? This episode features Anna Schroeder, Engineering and PARC Manager at SPR, sharing what’s new and exciting about the PARC program, from groundbreaking pilot projects to the rewards she's experienced through the process. She and host, Blair Corning, discuss how treating water holistically invites the kind of collaboration and creativity needed to build sustainable solutions. Learn how PARC brings long-term vision to life through detailed, real-world pilot design.

Find out more at https://parc-innovation-flow.pinecast.co