010 The One with Jim Lukanich
On today\u2019s episode we welcome Jim Lukanich, a former AWT board member, he is a Certified Water Technologist (CWT) and the director of applied technology with U.S. Water. Jim won the Ray Balm Memorial Water Treater of the Year award in 2008. Jim describes himself as a short guy, about 59 years old, he runs, bikes and swims and just happens to be a water treater. Jim has been in the water treatment industry since 1981, he comes with a great deal of experience over the years and he has a big interest in microbiology and chemistry. Jim and his wife, alongside their nine rescue cats and two rescue dogs live in Grapevine, Texas.
In this episode we\u2019re going to talk a little bit about closed loop systems, what you need to know and how they are the step child of the water treatment community. Jim Lukanich also joins us to share some need-to-know things about water treatment.
Closed Loop Systems
The close loop is just as important as that cooling tower loop and you know what that tower looks like when you don\u2019t feed a microbiocide, well it\u2019s a lot easier to see, of course we\u2019ve got a more dynamic system with the cooling tower and sunlight might be getting in but we have things that are growing in the close loop as well. Give the closed loop the respect that it deserves and give your profession the respect that it deserves. If you are going to take care of a customer\u2019s systems, make sure that you\u2019re completely taking care of all of the customer\u2019s systems. Treat for all four areas of water treatment: scaling, corrosion, microbial fouling and taking the dirt and debris out of the system.
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Timestamps:
Jim shares a bit more about himself [09:58]
Hear how Jim ended up working in the water treatment industry [12:53]
Learn what secrets Jim has learned through his many years of water treatment experience [22:30]
Find out why Jim believes it\u2019s important to admit when you\u2019re wrong [26:11]
Discover how if you understand microbiology, it\u2019s easy to treat the cooling tower [28:29]
Understand how Jim relates a cooling tower and it's ecosystem to teeth.
Hear at what age Jim gained wisdom and noticed a difference in his reactions [30:26]
Discover how the words potable and microbicide are two words often misused. - And how he called Trace out on it years ago [36:24]
Find out how Trace and Jim challenge each other when they do presentations [39:23]
Learn what things Jim did and still does to become a better speaker [42:48]
Listen as Jim helps us understand what PTSA is [45:05]
Hear some of Jim\u2019s experiences about using PTSA [45:14]
Learn about TTPC, the one particular microbicide that could interfere with PTSA [49:32]
Discover some of Jim\u2019s small wins throughout his career [53:02]
Hear why Jim considers his biggest failure, failing to recognize his own failures [54:56]
Find out what advice Jim has for people new to the water industry [57:18]
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Clarifying Points:
Jim mentioned the issues with PTSA and TTPC.\xa0 To clarify PTSA stands for para toluenesulfonic acid and is used as a product tracing.\xa0 TTPC stands for tributyl tetradecyl phosphonium chloride.\xa0 The most well know TTPC is Bellacide 355.
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Quotes:
\u201cTry to keep learning; never stop learning.\u201d - Jim Lukanich
\u201cI think the secret to becoming a world class water treater is to never stop learning.\u201d - Jim Lukanich
\u201cMicrobiology plays a major role in all types of depositions. Most important.\u201d - Jim Lukanich
\u201cMy biggest failure is my failure to recognize any of my failures.\u201d - Jim Lukanich
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Connect with Jim Lukanich:
Website: www.uswaterservices.com
Twitter: @jlukanich
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Links Mentioned:
Tastes great, Less Filling - Miller Lite 1987 Commercial
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Books Mentioned:
The Primal Scream by Arthur Janov
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