#31 Enabling Water Smart Communities

In this episode of Waterfall Rapids, Cath, Karen and Tom are joined by Tom Spencer from the Moors For The Future Partnership. They explore the vital role peat bogs play in improving water quality, reducing flood risk and supporting wildlife. The conversation highlights how restoring these natural landscapes can help tackle climate change, protect drinking water supplies and create a more resilient environment for the future. The full length edition of this episode was originally released on 10/11/2023. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction and welcome  01:39 – What the Moors For The Future Partnership does  02:35 – Why healthy peat bogs matter for water quality  05:29 – Restoring peatlands and the role of sphagnum moss  08:48 – Benefits for wildlife, flood management and drought resilience 12:00 – Raising awareness and preventing wildfires  

In this episode of Waterfall Rapids, Mike and Karen are joined by Richard Reynolds, Senior Agronomy Manager at Anglian Water. They explore how working with farmers can help protect water quality, improve soil health and support sustainable food production. The conversation covers regenerative farming, reducing pollution at source and the importance of partnerships in managing water more effectively for the future.  The full length edition of this episode was originally released on 3/11/2023. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction and welcome  01:45 – Meet Richard Reynolds and the role of an agronomist  03:00 – Working with farmers to protect water quality 05:02 – A successful project tackling agricultural pollution 08:24 – Soil health, regenerative farming and climate resilience 10:20 – Future plans and the power of partnerships  13:13 – Key reflections and closing thoughts  

In this episode of Waterfall Rapids, Mike and Karen are joined by sewer experts Steve Grebby and Steve Homer from Southern Water to uncover the truth about FOG (fats, oils and grease) and fatbergs. They discuss the costly impact of sewer blockages, how businesses can prevent them, and why disposing of fats, oils and grease correctly can help protect homes, businesses and the environment.  The full length edition of this episode was originally released on 27/10/2023. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction and welcome  01:27 – What is FOG and how do fatbergs form?  02:23 – The cost and impact of sewer blockages  05:21 – Preventing FOG build-up in kitchens and businesses  07:40 – Grease management systems and industry challenges  08:39 – Project 100 and the link between water saving and sewer health 10:00 – Key takeaways and closing reflections  

In this episode of Waterfall Rapids, Mike and Karen are joined by Chris Philpott, Chief Executive of the Water Conservancy in Australia. They discuss Water Night, an initiative that encourages people to spend an evening without using water at home to better understand its value. The conversation explores Australia's experience of droughts and water scarcity, the inspiration behind Water Night, and how the campaign is helping people, particularly younger generations, develop a greater appreciation for water and adopt more water-efficient behaviours. The full length edition of this episode was originally released on 14/4/2023.   Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction and welcome 00:22 – Meet Chris Philpott and learn about Water Night 01:01 – Australia's experience of droughts and water challenges 04:00 – Why Water Night was created 05:53 – Reaching younger audiences and changing attitudes to water 09:34 – The impact of Water Night and key takeaways 11:47 – Final thoughts and close    

In this episode of Waterfall Rapids, Mike and Karen are joined by Natasha Wiseman, founder of Make Water Famous, to discuss how positive storytelling can help more people connect with water. Natasha shares the mission behind the growing platform, why people are more interested in water than many assume, and how raising awareness of water issues can inspire action, attract future talent to the sector, and support a more sustainable future. Plus, the team talk water-saving habits and the importance of celebrating the people working behind the scenes to keep our water services running. The full length edition of this episode was originally released on 16/6/2023. Timestamps 01:39 Introductions 02:21 The idea behind Make Water Famous 04:00 Getting more people interested in water 05:36 Growing a global water community 08:56 Natasha's water-saving habits 10:50 Why making water famous matters

In this episode of Waterfall, Mike and Karen chat with Andrew Tucker, Demand Reduction Manager at Thames Water, about one of the biggest hidden sources of household water waste: leaky toilets. They discuss how modern dual-flush toilets leak internally without people noticing, how a single leaky loo can double a household's daily water usage, and what smart meter data is revealing about continuous leaks across thousands of homes. Andrew also breaks down why internal mechanisms fail and how upcoming regulations, like Defra's mandatory water labeling, aim to fix the issue on a national scale. The full length edition of this episode was originally released on 29/9/2023. Timestamps 00:45 – Introductions 02:08 – What is a leaky loo and why modern toilets fail 03:49 – What smart meter data reveals about household leaks 05:20 – The national scale: 50 million litres lost daily 06:40 – Why dual-flush mechanisms fail and how to fix them

In this episode of Waterfall Rapids, Mike and Karen speak with Dr Claire Houlihan from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research and Professor Alison Brown from the University of Manchester about their Ofwat-funded project, Enabling Water Smart Communities. They discuss what a "water smart community" really means, how new housing developments could better manage water, the challenges of water reuse, and why understanding why people use water matters more than just measuring how much. The full length edition of this episode was originally released on 16/8/2024. Timestamps: 01:52 – What is a water smart community? 03:48 – Interesting findings so far 04:33 – The challenge of water reuse 05:20 – Why social science research on water matters 06:59 – Why understanding people matters more than numbers

In this episode of Waterfall Rapids, Mike and Karen are joined by Lisa Craven, MD of Stormsaver, to talk about rainwater harvesting. She explains how the systems work, clears up common misconceptions about rainwater being dirty, and shares the impressive savings possible for both homes and businesses, plus practical tips for retrofitting older properties. The full length edition of this episode was originally released on 2/8/2024. Timestamps: 00:56 – What is rainwater harvesting? 02:25 – Is rainwater actually clean? 04:04 – Typical water savings at home 07:16 – Business appetite for reuse 10:21 – Retrofitting an older home

In this episode of Waterfall Rapids, Lia takes us on two walks with water in Wales to promote the Walking with Water campaign. She speaks with Tony Rees from South East Wales Rivers Trust about the Taff Trail, its industrial heritage and its links to local reservoirs, then with land artist Rebecca Wynne-Kelly in Aberarth about Welsh water folklore, slowing down in nature, and the fight for water justice. The full length edition of this episode was originally released on 21/7/2023. Timestamps: 00:39 – What is Walking with Water? 01:38 – Meeting Tony and the Taff Trail 04:21 – How reservoirs feed the river 07:42 – Meeting Rebecca in Aberarth 10:42 – The legend of the witch and the pool

In this episode of Waterfall Rapids, producer Tom and Karen report live from Gardeners' World Live. They speak with Malcolm Moody from the Solihull and District Orchid Society about why orchids are water efficient and how to water them properly, then talk to Josh Fenton about his award-winning show garden, designed to demonstrate water-saving solutions like drought-tolerant planting and a composting toilet. The full length edition of this episode was originally released on 19/7/2024. Timestamps: 01:43 – Are orchids water efficient? 02:54 – Rainwater vs tap water for plants 04:34 – Malcolm's top water-saving tips 06:59 – Josh's water-saving show garden 09:33 – The eco toilet, the "Cuddy"