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Showing posts from September, 2025

Every time you flush the toilet, you may be inadvertently contributing to a global environmental crisis: wastewater pollution. Eighty percent of the world's wastewater enters our waterways without adequate treatment — and the repercussions are critical for both human and ecological health.

Tune in to waste(d)water, a first-of-its-kind podcast from The Nature Conservancy, to hear from experts across disciplines and geographies, so we can unpack wastewater pollution and learn about the solutions to tackle it. From resource recovery to nature-based solutions, we can reshape how we perceive and manage wastewater.

Listen to the podcast on your favorite streaming platforms:

EPISODE FIVE: SHOW NOTES

  

Liquid assets: The rise of recycled water

 Featuring Kerry Kates, Lynn Spivey & Garrett Wallace


LISTEN ON:     Apple Podcasts    ◦    Spotify    ◦    YouTube



DESCRIPTION
Could wastewater become our most valuable water source? In this episode of The Nature Conservancy’s waste(d)water podcast, host Kassie Morton explores how Florida is leading the way in recycling wastewater to combat water scarcity, protect ecosystems, and support agriculture. Featuring insights from experts in utilities, conservation, and agriculture, guests Kerry Kates (Orange County Utilities), Lynn Spivey (City of Plant City, FL), and Garrett Wallace (The Nature Conservancy in Florida) dive into the science, safety, and public perception of water reuse —including potable applications. Discover how wastewater is being transformed from a problem into a resource, by reshaping infrastructure, policy, and community engagement and providing a key solution for climate resilience.


KEY WORDS
wastewater recycling, Florida, water management, sustainability, public health, environmental protection, potable reuse, water scarcity, conservation


AT A GLANCE

  • Wastewater can be treated and reused for various purposes.
  • Florida is a leader in wastewater recycling efforts.
  • Public perception is a significant barrier to acceptance.
  • Regulatory frameworks are evolving to support water reuse.
  • Education and outreach are crucial for public acceptance.
  • Economic considerations play a vital role in water management.
  • Collaboration among stakeholders is essential for success.
  • Innovative technologies can effectively treat wastewater.
  • Sustainable water management is critical for future generations.
  • Wastewater recycling can help alleviate water scarcity issues.

GUEST BIOS

Kerry Kates is the Deputy Director of Alternative Water Supply, Intergovernmental Affairs, and Solid Waste at Orange County Utilities. He received B.S. degrees in Civil Engineering and Geology from University of Florida. Kerry is a licensed civil engineer and LEED-accredited professional passionate about water-resource management, water stewardship, sustainability, and cross-sector collaborations. He has extensive experience in federal and Florida water law and environmental policy pertaining to water-supply planning, water-quality requirements, legislative rule-making, consumptive-use permitting, environmental-resource permitting, water and land conservation, and sustainability initiatives.

Lynn Spivey is the Director of Utilities for Plant City, Florida. She received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of South Florida and has extensive design experience related to the project management, design and permitting of water and wastewater treatment systems and plant startup. Lynn has extensive background in Florida regulatory requirements, with vast experience in water and wastewater permitting through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Agency, Florida Water Management Districts, and local County and City Building Development Departments. 

Garrett Wallace is the Southern Division Government Relations Director with The Nature Conservancy. He holds an M.B.A. from University of Phoenix and a B.A. in Journalism from Southern Illinois University. Garrett works at the nexus of policy and conservation issues working with Federal, State, non-profits, and corporate entities. He has worked extensively with Federal interests throughout his career securing the funding to preserve over 40,000 acres of Florida Ranchland into the USDA Wetland Reserve Program, and served as the Director of Federal and Tribal Affairs for the South Florida Water Management District, representing Everglades Restoration in Washington D.C.


CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to Wastewater and Its Potential

02:40 The Importance of Wastewater Recycling

05:38 Florida's Leadership in Wastewater Reclamation

08:26 The Process of Wastewater Treatment

11:29 Regulatory Framework and Public Perception

14:20 Public Engagement and Education

17:16 Economic Considerations of Water Reuse

20:10 Future of Water Management in Florida

23:28 Conclusion and Call to Action



EPISODE RESOURCES

Wastewater: Turning Problem to Solution 
United Nations Environment Programme, 2023 

UN World Water Development Report
United Nations, 2019 

Global Issues: Water United Nations 

Brief: Resource Recovery from Domestic Wastewater Ocean Sewage Alliance

Water Recovery 
Ocean Sewage Alliance - Knowledge Hub 

Sewage: The Most Urgent Threat to Oceans You’ve Never Heard Of 
The Nature Conservancy, 2019

Florida’s Reuse Program
Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Potable Reuse FAQs
Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Profiles in Reuse: Florida WateReuse Association, 2023 

National Water Reuse Action Plan
United States EPA, 2020 

History and Current Status of Reclaimed Water Use in Florida
Toor and Rainey, 2009 

Recycled Water: The Facts 
Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 2021
Florida Agriculture Overview and Statistics Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 

Verification of Irrigated Agricultural Land Acreage in 55 counties in Florida, 2013-21
Marella and Dixon, 2022 

California drought: San Jose's new high-tech water purification plant to expand recycled water use
The Mercury News, 2016 

Wastewater Irrigation: The State of Play 
Hamilton et al., 2007 

Water in Agriculture 
World Bank Group, 2023 


CREDITS
Post-production services for waste(d)water provided by Two Aspen Audio. A special thank you to The Nature Conservancy Coda Fellows Sydney Bezanson and Juan Sebastián Gómez Gutiérrez for their contributions.
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EPISODE FOUR: SHOW NOTES

 

Burden or benefit? Recovering resources from wastewater

 Featuring Dr. Sasha Kramer, Maile Lono-Batura & Dr. Daniel Yeh


LISTEN ON:     Apple Podcasts    ◦    Spotify    ◦    YouTube



DESCRIPTION
What if wastewater could fuel our homes and feed our crops? In this episode of waste(d)water, host Kassie Morton dives into the transformative potential of domestic wastewater. Joined by Dr. Sasha Kramer (SOIL Haiti), Maile Lono-Batura (California Association of Sanitation Agencies), and Dr. Daniel Yeh (University of South Florida), we explore how biosolids and biogas can become renewable energy, sustainable fertilizer, and climate solutions. From cutting-edge tech like the NEWgenerator to community-led models in Haiti, discover how circular sanitation can protect ecosystems, boost food security, and reduce emissions — while confronting challenges like PFAS contamination, financing, and public perception.


KEY WORDS
wastewater management, biosolids, sustainable agriculture, resource recovery, sanitation technology, circular economy, environmental health, SOIL Haiti, NEWgenerator, PFAS


AT A GLANCE

  • Waste can be a valuable resource if managed properly.
  • Biosolids can contribute to sustainable agriculture.
  • Innovative technologies are transforming wastewater treatment.
  • Haiti faces significant sanitation challenges due to poor infrastructure.
  • SOIL Haiti is a model for sustainable sanitation practices.
  • Regulatory frameworks need to adapt to emerging contaminants.
  • Collaboration is key to solving wastewater issues.
  • Public awareness of wastewater's value is essential.
  • Future innovations in wastewater management are promising.

GUEST BIOS

Dr. Sasha Kramer is the Co-founder and Executive Director of SOIL Haiti. She’s an ecologist and human rights advocate who has been living and working in Haiti since 2004. She received her Ph.D. in Ecology from Stanford University in 2006 and co-founded SOIL that same year. Sasha is also a global advocate for the recycling of nutrients in human waste, helping others implement sustainable sanitation projects and inspiring people around the world to participate in the sanitation revolution. 

Maile Lono-Batura is the Director of Renewable Resources with the California Association of Sanitation Agencies, and prior to this was the Director of Sustainable Biosolids Programs at the Water Environment Federation after serving as Executive Director of Northwest Biosolids for 22 years. She holds a B.A. in Community & Environmental Planning with an Environmental Studies Minor from the University of Washington, received her Master’s in Nonprofit Leadership from Seattle University, and is a Certified Compost Facility Operator through the Washington Organic Recycling Council and a Board-Certified Environmental Scientist with the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists Board (AAEES). 

Dr. Daniel Yeh is a Professor of Environmental Engineering at the University of South Florida where he leads the Membrane Biotechnology Laboratory, focused on the research and development of innovative wastewater treatment and resource recovery technologies. He is a LEED green building accredited professional, a registered professional engineer, and a board-certified environmental engineer. He is also a Visiting Professor at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in the area of regenerative water purification for space. One of Daniel’s most impactful inventions is the NEWgenerator a portable and self-contained solar-powered toilet system that converts the collected waste into renewable energy, fertilizer nutrients, and clean water that can be used for irrigation of crops.


CHAPTERS

00:00 The Value of Waste: A New Perspective on Human Excrement

02:48 Wastewater as a Resource: Exploring Circular Economy Solutions

05:47 Innovative Technologies in Wastewater Treatment

11:30 Real-World Applications: Success Stories in Waste Recycling

17:51 Challenges and Opportunities in Sustainable Sanitation

23:24 Regulatory Landscape: Navigating Biosolids Management

29:26 Emerging Contaminants: The PFAS Challenge

35:35 Future Directions: Scaling Up Resource Recovery Programs

41:28 Collaboration for Change: Building a Sustainable Future



EPISODE RESOURCES

Brief: Resource Recovery from Domestic Wastewater Ocean Sewage Alliance

Solution Space: Fertilizer Recovery
Ocean Sewage Alliance
Explore the solution

Solution Space: Resource Recovery
Ocean Sewage Alliance
Explore the Knowledge Hub

Wastewater: Turning Problem to Solution 
United Nations Environment Programme, 2023 

SOIL Haiti 
Sustainable Sanitation in Haiti 

Bill Gates Wants to Reinvent the Toilet The Daily Show, 2019 (Interview with Daniel Yeh) 

Bill Gates Drinks Water That Had Been Poop Just Minutes Before 
Time, 2015 

Biosolids Communication Toolkit 
Water Environment Federation

Phosphate Fertilizer Crisis Threatens World Food Supply 
The Guardian, 2019

Foodscapes: Toward Food System Transition The Nature Conservancy / IIASA / SystemiQ, 2021 

As Prices Soar, Japan Returns to Human Waste Fertilizer Phys Org, 2023 

Understanding Food Loss and Waste
Ishangulyyev et al., 2019 

How and Who Regulates the Use of Biosolids? 
School of Plant & Animal Science, Virginia Tech, 2011 

A History of Human Waste as Fertilizer 
Zeldovich, 2019
Treatment Technologies for PFAS in Biosolids Garg et al., 2022 

PFAS Substances in Biosolids 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2021-2024 

Forever Chemicals Are Everywhere. Here’s How to Limit Your Exposure 
Wirecutter , 2024 

Something’s Poisoning America’s Land. Farmers Fear ‘Forever’ Chemicals 
New York Times, 2024 

Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 

Risk Assessment of Pollutants in Sewage Sludge 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Draft Sewage Sludge Risk Assessment for PFOA and PFOS 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

FAQ: Draft Sewage Sludge Risk Assessment for PFOA and PFOS U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 


CREDITS
Post-production services for waste(d)water provided by Two Aspen Audio. A special thank you to The Nature Conservancy Coda Fellows Sydney Bezanson and Juan Sebastián Gómez Gutiérrez for their contributions.
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