Latest / Make Water Work Podcast / Laura Vidal: Rural Water Always Finds a Way | Make Water Work 034

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Laura Vidal: Rural Water Always Finds a Way | Make Water Work 034 · Make Water Work Podcast

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We all got an amazing like front row
0:03
seat. Yeah, we can't do too much reveal,
0:06
so that'll just be the teaser for our
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listeners. I am very excited to
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introduce Welcome to the Make Waterwork
0:14
podcast, where we dive into the people,
0:17
ideas, and innovation shaping the future
0:19
of water. I'm your host, Isaac Pellerin.
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Each week, I share conversations and
0:26
stories with leaders, community
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champions, and innovators who are making
0:30
water work for everyone. Whether you're
0:33
a water professional, a curious
0:34
innovator, or simply passionate about
0:37
our most precious resource, this podcast
0:39
is for you. Let's get started.
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Welcome to the Make Waterwork podcast,
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where we celebrate the people serving
0:47
and leading in the water industry. I'm
0:49
your host, Isaac Pelerin, and I am very
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excited to introduce a new co-host to
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the Make Waterwork podcast, Laura Vidal.
0:58
Laura is the association partnership
1:01
director here at 120 Water and has a
1:04
real passion for rural water um and all
1:08
of our customers, but um has a has a
1:10
unique background. And we thought that
1:13
it would be amazing to get to tell the
1:15
stories of rural water. And before we
1:17
did that, we wanted to have this
1:20
opportunity to say let's dig into
1:22
Laura's story. So Laura, welcome to the
1:25
Make Water Work podcast.
1:27
>> Yeah. Yeah. Thanks for having me. I'm
1:28
super excited to to be here and to be
1:31
with you and be highlighting uh rural
1:34
water in particular.
1:35
>> Yeah. Yeah. I This is a this is a fun
1:38
unique one because we get to um we've
1:42
had years of having meetings together,
1:44
going to events together. um just
1:47
exploring and and you've been um such a
1:50
a generous guide in helping me
1:53
understand um um the uh what rural water
1:59
brings to the table and and just the um
2:02
just the incredible impact that they
2:03
have on their community. And so um as we
2:08
just introduce our listeners to you and
2:10
who you are, though I'd be surprised if
2:13
they don't already know who you are. um
2:17
um because you're kind of a big deal.
2:19
But um
2:22
let's let's go ahead and just start with
2:24
this first question. So Laura, how did
2:27
water find you?
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>> Yeah. Yeah. Um so I love this question.
2:33
How how did water find you? Because
2:35
water always finds a way, right? Like no
2:37
matter what, water is going to go
2:39
wherever it's going to go.
2:40
>> Um and it certainly did. It found me. I
2:43
I was not looking for it. Um, way back
2:47
in 2005,
2:49
um, I actually had a friend that said,
2:53
"Hey, you know, you really should apply
2:54
for this job we're we're hiring for.
2:56
It's a it's a marketing a PR position at
3:00
this company I work for." And I didn't
3:02
really know anything about the company
3:04
that she worked for. Uh, but I had been
3:07
out of college for about a year and was
3:09
working at a u an investment brokerage
3:12
firm, which is um interesting. It's it's
3:17
it's high stress. Um, and you know, for
3:20
for a young a young woman dealing with a
3:23
a highowered uh male broker, it was it
3:27
was a lot and I was ready to leave. And
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so I said, "Well, yeah, I'll I'll try
3:31
it." So, um, I applied for the job. Um,
3:35
my degree is actually in computer
3:37
information systems through the Kelly
3:40
School of Business at IU. Um, so luckily
3:45
through that I did take, you know,
3:46
marketing and all the other businessy
3:49
classes and stuff. So that that kind of
3:51
set me up. Anyways, I applied for the
3:53
job uh ended up getting it and um got to
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work at the Alliance of Indiana Rural
4:01
Water uh for 17 years. uh no background,
4:05
no no water background, nothing, right?
4:09
>> Um and got to work with one of my
4:12
closest friends uh for a super long
4:14
time. Um she actually works here at 120
4:17
now again. We had a little break in
4:18
between, but
4:20
>> uh water finds a way, right?
4:22
>> Yeah. Yeah. It bring brings you back and
4:24
it brings the the people um that have an
4:27
impact on you and and with you. You get
4:30
to work together.
4:31
>> It does. Yes. And so um I started
4:34
working there. I had no idea about water
4:36
and uh quickly learned there was a lot
4:40
of complexities, you know, to to do with
4:42
water. I had I didn't really know where
4:44
my water came from, what happened and
4:47
all of that. And so just learning about
4:50
all of the lensures that folks have to
4:53
have to
4:56
actually do the job. Um, and then the
4:58
public health protection behind that,
5:00
all of the different
5:02
>> uh methodical processes, the math. I
5:05
mean,
5:05
>> yeah,
5:06
>> all of that stuff like that's none of
5:08
that is visible to anybody who's just
5:10
turning on their tap who has no idea.
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>> Yeah.
5:13
>> Um,
5:14
>> and it it sparked a genuine excitement
5:19
in me to be to be a part of something
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that, you know, truly mattered. And so I
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ended up staying, obviously, if you if
5:26
you do your math. Uh back to 2005, I
5:29
stayed at the Alliance of Indiana Rule
5:31
Water for 17 years
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>> before making the leap to come and work
5:36
here at 120 Water, which obvious,
5:41
you know, over 15 years. But
5:44
>> the reason it was easy for me was
5:47
because, you know, they invited me to
5:49
come here. I applied, but they invited
5:52
me to come and uh help manage our
5:54
relationships with our our role water
5:57
partners. And being on the other side of
5:59
that and kind of um executing that
6:02
partnership from the association side at
6:05
the alliance, um I was like, heck yeah,
6:08
like this is great. I know these folks.
6:10
I love these folks. Um, and so I just
6:14
get to keep doing things in the real
6:16
water industry. And I just never I never
6:20
knew that that's what I would be doing,
6:22
but I
6:23
>> can probably honestly say that I won't
6:26
ever not work in the water industry. I
6:29
love it here.
6:30
>> Yeah. Yeah. I feel like I can say the
6:32
same thing after um even though I
6:35
haven't been in in water um as long as
6:38
you have. 2018 was my um my introduction
6:41
into water. And ironically, it was one
6:44
of the first people that I met in in
6:47
water um was Tom Spear from um Lawrence,
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Indiana. And um uh who was a customer
6:56
and and I knew I didn't know a lot. And
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so, um, he again was just, uh, generous
7:02
in, um, I asked if I could do a ride
7:05
along, follow him along on what it takes
7:08
to, um, to do his job, get a tour of the
7:12
treatment plant, like all those kind of
7:13
things. And it just opened up an entire
7:15
new world, um, to kind of say, what what
7:18
does the day-to-day um, look like? And
7:21
so, um, I'm kind of curious, too. Um, if
7:27
you reflect back to when you were at the
7:30
alliance and you look at um,
7:34
uh, let's just talk about like like I
7:37
think we can talk about rural water as
7:39
like oh it's a segment or it's a um,
7:43
there even like workshops that are great
7:46
but like rural water workshops or small
7:48
system challenges and um, things like
7:51
that but like what are the traits of of
7:54
rural water um utility professionals
7:58
that um that um that you see that you
8:02
observe that you say like wow these are
8:04
these are amazing people.
8:05
>> Yeah, absolutely. So that's I kind of
8:09
alluded to that a little bit about
8:10
staying in the industry. It's it's
8:12
because of the people. Um these are
8:15
genuine salt of the earth kind of people
8:17
that are doing these jobs. Uh they care
8:21
about what they're doing. um they're
8:24
usually neighbors or belong, you know,
8:27
in theu community. They live where they
8:29
work. They care about the water that's
8:31
being delivered. Um and since they are
8:34
small systems, oftentimes, you know, the
8:36
budgets are smaller and they have to do
8:39
a lot more with less, I would say, and
8:44
are just genuine, gritty, determined,
8:49
creative folks that get the job done.
8:52
Mhm. Yeah. Yeah. And and let's talk
8:58
about the association in particular. Um
9:01
just for our listeners, let's just um
9:04
how does rural water associations work,
9:07
particularly the national rural and then
9:09
state associations like um help
9:12
demystify like like um what what that um
9:16
what that is and the support that they
9:18
provide to their utility members.
9:21
>> Yeah. Uh this is this is a good a good
9:24
question to ask and to to talk about
9:27
because I think a lot of people don't
9:29
quite understand it unless you're in it.
9:32
So the National Rural Water Association
9:35
is a nonprofit grassroots
9:39
association that really helps support
9:43
rural water and wastewater uh systems
9:47
across the nation. you know I think they
9:50
are celebrating their 50th anniversary
9:54
this year it's you know the country is
9:56
250 I think they're 50 and you know they
10:00
started and just to help these small
10:04
systems now what happens is national
10:08
rule water gets funding from and they
10:12
ask for it every year they ask for
10:14
funding assistance from the EPA and USDA
10:18
rule development mainly. And what they
10:21
do is once they get that funding, they
10:23
then disseminate that through to the
10:25
different state real water associations
10:27
based on, you know, the need, the
10:29
population, all of that kind of stuff.
10:31
>> Yeah.
10:32
>> What that helps do is it helps fund
10:35
positions in the state rural water
10:37
associations for
10:40
boots on the ground assistance for these
10:42
small systems. And when I keep saying
10:45
small systems, what I mean is and what
10:46
the what the government and everybody
10:48
classifies that is is any system serving
10:51
a population of less than 10,000.
10:54
>> Yeah.
10:54
>> So through those grants and that money
10:56
and that funding then um that includes
11:01
uh circuit writers, uh EPA training
11:03
specialists,
11:05
um technical assistants, th those are
11:07
kind of the three main things, but those
11:09
folks then go out and help these
11:12
systems. And the term circuit writer
11:15
>> actually comes from, you know, the idea
11:17
that they're riding a circuit around,
11:20
you know, an area.
11:22
>> Um, so they will go around and just kind
11:25
of check in on systems if they don't get
11:27
calls from from systems, which they get
11:30
calls frequently from systems. um and
11:33
they just go in and they check on them,
11:34
ask them if they need any help with
11:35
anything because um through the advocacy
11:38
of NRWA, you know, the government
11:41
understands that those systems have a
11:45
greater challenge to comply with the
11:48
Safe Drinking Water Act rule and and all
11:50
of the other rules that are coming out
11:52
just because of um personnel, right? And
11:56
and um oh, you know, they just don't
11:59
have the uh what's the word? I'm looking
12:02
for.
12:03
>> Yeah. Yeah. They they don't necessarily
12:05
have have
12:07
>> Yeah. Yeah. And the the the
12:10
infrastructure built up the maturity,
12:13
but not in a not in a derogatory way,
12:16
but there there's just a lot to do,
12:18
>> right? Like the the rural water folks,
12:21
you know, like they might run the water
12:24
utility. Sometimes they run the water
12:26
and wastewater utility. Um, but they
12:29
also might be the parks person, the
12:31
maintenance person, um, you know, taking
12:34
care of snow removal, um, the grounds,
12:37
things like that. They they truly do
12:39
many, many things in their community. So
12:43
with the assistance that that we get,
12:45
you know, from USDA, rural development,
12:47
and EPA, they are able to then kind of
12:50
bolster those folks that have the
12:52
diminished capacity because they're
12:54
doing everything to kind of be uh th
12:56
those folks that help them, you know,
12:58
make sure they're staying in in
12:59
compliance, not as an enforcement type
13:02
thing or a checking up on them kind of
13:04
thing. And I think that's the beauty of
13:08
rural water associations is that um
13:12
the utilities know that that the
13:15
associations are there to help them.
13:17
Like they're not there to report on
13:19
anything that they see or you know they
13:22
talk about or whatever. Like it's like a
13:24
safe space and they truly are there to
13:27
support and help them.
13:28
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Which is amazing. I
13:31
feel like we we all got an amazing like
13:35
front row seat to how that all works
13:39
when
13:40
um and and even as we at 120 water and
13:44
some of the the programming and the um
13:49
um what you built here um was really in
13:53
collaboration with how we work with
13:56
utilities, how we work with state
13:58
agencies, how we work with rural water
14:01
associations. Um and so um yeah, let
14:05
let's kind of talk let's kind of talk
14:07
about that and go back a couple a couple
14:10
years before the lead and copper rule um
14:12
revisions hit or they hit and then we
14:15
realized that um all of these systems
14:20
needed to understand what the rule was
14:22
going to require when it was going to be
14:24
required what might change in the rule.
14:26
Like there there was there's a lot of
14:28
things that EPA will say, "Hey, here's
14:31
something new.
14:33
Here's 987 pages.
14:37
Go." And and like, you know, we I throw
14:42
around the stat a lot like 85% of
14:44
systems work have operate with three or
14:46
fewer employees, if that. Um and so
14:51
yeah, who has time for that? Um but um I
14:56
just think about the the way that you
15:00
built the relationship with the rural
15:02
water associations where we became a
15:05
partner to be in that step of education
15:09
and then that step of implementation. Um
15:12
yeah. What are some of the uh things
15:14
that you remember if that's not too much
15:16
PTSD um to go back?
15:19
>> Yeah. Well, you know, um I really have
15:21
to give props to to my former colleague,
15:24
uh Lol Huffman for really honing in and
15:27
developing those relationships and
15:29
providing uh the training, you know,
15:32
>> yeah,
15:33
>> for the associations to help get out to
15:37
utilities. Uh he did a phenomenal job of
15:39
kind of wrapping all of the different
15:44
nuances, requirements, everything like
15:46
that up in a little bow for people. He
15:48
wasn't always everybody's favorite
15:50
person in the room when he did that. You
15:52
know, he's like, "Don't shoot the
15:53
messenger."
15:54
>> Yeah.
15:55
>> But I think being able to disseminate,
15:58
you know, all those different things
16:00
that are happening in those 900 pages
16:02
and what's required, what you need to
16:04
focus on,
16:05
>> um that really, you know, that means
16:08
something to to uh the association and
16:11
the utilities. But developing that
16:14
relationship that you know we at 120
16:18
water are not just here to sell
16:22
something to utilities. Yes, we do sell
16:25
things to utilities. Yes, we want to
16:27
sell things to them, but we also really
16:30
want to help. And I think that's
16:31
something that's very unique here. And I
16:33
think through through LOL, previously me
16:36
now, uh, you know, we have developed
16:39
that relationship with the association
16:41
that, you know, we do we want to help.
16:42
We want to be your partner. We want to
16:44
help these small systems. You know, um,
16:47
unfortunately, many many companies just
16:49
care about the bigger ones. Uh, and so I
16:52
feel 120 is pretty unique in that
16:54
>> we care about the small the smaller
16:56
utilities. So with LCRR and LCRI now,
17:01
there are just so many different steps
17:03
and things to do. And I think initially
17:06
folks really thought, well, they're
17:08
giving me a spreadsheet. I really just
17:10
have to fill in the spreadsheet. That's
17:12
all there is to do. But when we're able
17:14
to kind of dissect it and tell them all
17:17
the different pieces that they'll have
17:19
to do with what they put in that
17:21
spreadsheet, it becomes clear that maybe
17:24
they need something a little bit more
17:27
robust to help them manage
17:30
>> all of the things that they'll have to
17:31
do. And so oftent times uh you know not
17:35
maybe the tiny tiny systems serving less
17:37
than like a 100 people but
17:40
>> some of those midsize systems they see
17:41
the value and and software which is you
17:44
know what we do at 120 um that will
17:46
really help them
17:48
>> do their job more efficiently and
17:50
ultimately make it so that it saves them
17:53
time to do some other things because
17:55
>> len copper is not the only thing they're
17:58
doing.
17:59
>> Yeah. No. No. one of a one of a million
18:02
things. And it's you were just you were
18:04
saying that the association is maybe
18:07
celebrating its 50th anniversary.
18:09
There's also like it's the 50-y year
18:11
anniversary of the safe drinking water
18:13
act, which is great. It like we need
18:18
safe drinking water. Obviously, we need
18:20
to make sure all those things that also
18:23
represents a point in time where the
18:26
amount of work and the amount of forms,
18:30
the amount of compliance testing
18:33
started increasing. And so the amount of
18:36
work that needs to be done, data that
18:38
needs to be reported up to a regulator
18:41
has increased exponentially. And that's
18:45
just the trend um of where it's going.
18:48
And at the same time,
18:50
um, the amount that the general public
18:55
has their eye a lot more on like what is
18:59
my utility doing for me? Um, I mean, I
19:03
feel like we're seeing this a lot as the
19:05
um as data center um kind of come come
19:10
front and center. folks are are
19:14
expecting their
19:16
utility to help them understand it and
19:20
or understand those things. So like all
19:23
that to say you have regulatory things
19:26
going up to regulators, you've got all
19:28
these reports and they have to
19:31
um deal with communicating out building
19:35
that relationship, making sure there's
19:37
transparency. Um it's not a job that's
19:40
getting easier. Um and it's becoming
19:44
really important to have associations
19:46
like National Rural Water and the state
19:48
um rural water associations
19:51
to be that um that collaborator. Um
19:56
>> yeah, I feel like we had such a unique
19:58
opportunity where we've got to build um
20:01
well I am if for the any those who are
20:04
hip to the anagram, I'm an enagram 9.
20:06
nothing makes me happier than we than
20:08
when we can figure out how to harmonize
20:10
relationships. And I feel like that's
20:12
kind of what we've done um here at 120
20:14
is we've been able to um lean in to
20:17
conflict where it needs to be, but also
20:20
build that bridge between utilities and
20:23
regulators, regulators and associations,
20:26
and um understand how it works in each
20:29
state. Um
20:32
>> yeah.
20:33
>> Yeah, absolutely. And that's uh that's a
20:35
good point to bring up is there, you
20:37
know, partnerships are not without um
20:41
some stumbling blocks sometimes. And so
20:44
the best part about these partnerships
20:47
is that, you know, folks do feel like
20:50
they can come to me and voice something
20:53
that's wrong or that they think is wrong
20:56
or that, you know, hey, this isn't
20:58
working the way it should be. um you
21:01
know, we can work together to figure
21:02
out,
21:03
>> hey, what are we gonna do about this? Um
21:05
yeah, so
21:06
>> or even some of the exciting things that
21:07
we have going on now where it's like,
21:09
hey, love that we crushed it on lead.
21:14
Here are some other problems that we
21:15
have.
21:17
Can we be part of solutioning with you
21:20
um together? And and um you've been at
21:23
the forefront of those conversations um
21:25
lately.
21:26
Yeah, I think that's um some of the most
21:28
exciting things that have been happening
21:30
here recently probably within you know
21:32
the last six to nine months or so uh is
21:36
that yeah we have seen that there is a
21:39
need with like what we have we have this
21:42
new product sample manager right and um
21:46
we see that that could really benefit
21:48
small utilities and so do the
21:52
associations when I show them this and
21:54
so then we try to collaborate operate
21:56
and work together and figure out, well,
21:57
how do we really get this out to them
21:59
and make this available to them, you
22:02
know, um perhaps they, you know, have
22:05
budget constraints or or things like
22:07
that. So, I've been really um talking
22:10
with a couple of associations about
22:13
that. Um and some things are are moving
22:15
and shaking there and that's pretty
22:16
exciting.
22:17
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We can't do too much
22:20
reveal, so that'll just be the teaser
22:22
for our listeners. Um
22:23
>> Yeah. to keep your eye on on some um um
22:27
some ways that that we look to really
22:30
collaborate. And I think that's like the
22:32
the thing that that you bring. And you
22:37
know, we we always want to make sure
22:40
everyone um that works here and works
22:43
with um with our customers kind of
22:46
embodies that level of curiosity of
22:48
like, hey,
22:50
is this working for you? Is this
22:52
providing value? What else? Um, where
22:54
else are you experiencing um pain to say
22:57
we're we're here as a collaborator?
23:00
>> Um, yeah. And there's um yeah, the Rural
23:05
Water Association is highly
23:07
collaborative and
23:10
um and they care. I mean, they they they
23:14
bake you a cake when when it's your
23:16
birthday or they or you have a baby,
23:18
right?
23:19
>> They do. It's true. the little Easter
23:22
egg.
23:23
>> The little Easter egg. I hope he finds
23:25
it. Yeah, sometimes when you when you
23:27
have a baby shower, uh yeah, it might
23:30
bake you a cake.
23:31
>> Um but yeah, they are super
23:34
collaborative and I think that going
23:36
back to like the connective tissue that
23:39
we have at 120 and dealing with like we
23:41
have utilities that are customers, but
23:43
we also have state regulatory
23:46
agencies that are customers. And so we
23:49
kind of connect those two. But those
23:52
don't happen without the rural water
23:55
association truly uh because and in
23:59
every instance where we have a state
24:01
agency relationship it it has been
24:04
>> not just because of but the the rural
24:06
water association has definitely helped
24:09
um connect those pieces get everybody
24:11
together and you know those state
24:14
associations or state agencies really
24:16
look to uh the rural water association
24:20
to help them, you know, make sure that
24:23
they're bringing the utilities up to
24:26
standards or helping them if, you know,
24:28
they're falling out of compliance or
24:30
things like that. And that and that's
24:31
not to say that every small system
24:34
always has problems because some of them
24:35
don't. Some of them,
24:37
>> you know, they, like I said, they're
24:39
gritty, they're creative,
24:41
>> they know what they're doing,
24:43
>> amazing. But like I said, the rural
24:45
water associations are really that
24:47
connector then between
24:50
utilities and the agencies and then we
24:52
kind of are in there with them. It's
24:54
kind of this really beautiful thing.
24:56
>> Yeah, it is. and they like this is where
24:59
we can nerd out on the value of of data
25:02
and those kind of things because I think
25:04
there's I mean we've both been in rooms
25:07
where you talk about a new rule EPA and
25:11
and you and you might all of a sudden
25:13
become a therapist hearing the um yeah
25:18
receiving the feelings of that which are
25:21
all amazingly valid and then you also
25:24
realize that
25:27
we and start having the right
25:28
conversations when all of those entities
25:32
are looking at the same data or saying,
25:35
"Hey, what are what are the systems that
25:38
have the most need? How do we how do we
25:41
understand that from a framing or from a
25:43
funding framework? How do we understand
25:45
where to say hey let's partner with the
25:48
rural water association and um and be
25:51
targeted with those which at the end of
25:53
the day becomes just um an effective and
25:58
efficient use of the funding that they
26:00
that they get anyway. So, it's like um
26:04
>> I it just feels um uh without having too
26:09
much of a rosecolored glass view of it
26:12
that that we've been able to like help
26:15
evolve with the entire industry, how we
26:18
um just get better about having the
26:20
right conversations rooted in um in in
26:25
data. Um which again sounds super nerdy,
26:28
but I love it.
26:30
I mean, it does, but you know, ask any
26:33
of our our state agencies that we work
26:36
for and, you know, they they love that
26:39
data. It's so helpful. Um, you know, so
26:44
>> it's just a good thing.
26:46
>> Yeah. Yeah. Well, I'm I'm really um
26:51
excited that we get to do a a a new
26:55
series um under under the Make Waterwork
26:59
umbrella um focusing on rural water. And
27:03
um we've talked so much about all of the
27:06
guests or all of the amazing people who
27:09
are in rural water. We want to bring
27:11
some of those to the forefront. Um, and
27:13
I can't think of a better um a better
27:16
person to co-host those conversations
27:19
with um with than you. And um
27:22
>> yeah, I'm super excited about that too
27:24
when you when you brought it to me and
27:25
talked about Yeah, let's let's amplify
27:27
these voices. uh you know that you'll
27:31
learn or maybe you already know this but
27:34
uh in in the rule water space we often
27:38
say that um utilities need to do a
27:42
better job of amplifying what they do,
27:44
right? Like they're just kind of these
27:46
unsung heroes
27:47
>> and you know they're kind of almost
27:50
invisible sometimes when everything's
27:52
working appropriately, right? you know,
27:53
but something happens, you know,
27:55
infrastructure is old and something
27:57
breaks. Then suddenly, you know, it's
27:59
their fault and the public is mad at
28:02
them and
28:02
>> it's like, wait, what about all the
28:05
times that it was right?
28:06
>> They get to take the credit, but they
28:07
get to take all the blame.
28:09
>> Exactly. Yes. Um, so in in the rural
28:13
water space, there's definitely been a
28:15
push for um just public relations and
28:18
like getting stories out there,
28:21
amplifying all of all of the good that
28:24
is done. And so I think this is um a
28:27
small step in in that direction
28:29
specifically with just amplifying all
28:31
the good that is out there.
28:34
>> Yeah. Yeah. Well, I'm I'm super excited
28:36
about the the guests that we're going to
28:38
have in the coming um in the coming
28:40
months um because they have stories that
28:43
are absolutely worth um worth telling
28:46
and and shining a light on.
28:48
>> Absolutely. Super exciting.
28:50
>> Yeah.
28:50
>> Yeah. Well, thank you so much for
28:52
joining me on this podcast where I get
28:55
to interview you before we go and
28:57
interview um all of these unsung heroes.
28:59
Um and thank you to everyone who tuned
29:01
in. Um, I'm very excited to um get to
29:06
share these stories. Again, as always,
29:08
we appreciate when you like, share,
29:11
comment. Um, let us know who else you
29:13
want to hear from, particularly in this
29:16
case, if they're um a rural water hero.
29:18
Um, let us know. Um, we would love to
29:22
tell their story. And um, hope we'll see
29:25
you next time. And thank you for tuning
29:27
in. Thanks for listening to the Make
29:29
Water Work podcast. If you enjoyed
29:32
today's episode, please take a moment to
29:34
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29:39
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29:45
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