359 Visualizing Success: The Power of Creativity and Problem-Solving in Water Treatment
Visualization helps water professionals better understand equipment, processes, and problem-solving techniques
Often, as water professionals, we breeze past the intricate inner workings of the equipment we handle, missing out on valuable insights that could enhance our understanding and effectiveness.
But what if we took a moment to visualize what's happening inside that cooling tower? Through the simple act of visualization, we can unlock a whole new perspective on the systems we work with, gaining profound insights into their operation.
Step into the fascinating world of industrial water treatment with host Trace Blackmore and special lab partner, James McDonald as they embark on a remarkable journey through the heart of a cooling tower. Shrinking down into water molecules, they vividly visualize the processes at play, offering a captivating glimpse into the complex world of water treatment.
James McDonald, Director of Technology & Marketing at Chem-Aqua, founder of Industrial Water Week, and weekly contributor to the Scaling UP! H2O podcast, shares his profound insights into the importance of creativity and visualization in engineering. By harnessing these tools, water professionals can deepen their understanding, sharpen their problem-solving skills, and foster better communication within the industry.
Join us for this enlightening discussion and discover how visualization techniques can revolutionize your approach to industrial water treatment. Let's unlock the full potential of our creativity and imagination, together shaping a brighter future for water professionals everywhere.
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Timestamps
01:00 - Trace Blackmore shares fun facts about the IRS during this tax return season
05:30 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals\xa0
13:30 - Interview with James McDonald, CWT, about the importance of visualizing systems
33:09 - Shrinking down and going inside a cooling tower
01:06:00 - Drop by Drop With James McDonald\xa0
01:08:00 - The power of visualization\xa0
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Quotes
\u201cI like doing visual exercises because it teaches me the gaps in my knowledge so I can learn about those ideas.\u201d - James McDonald
"It serves as an excellent learning tool, offering a dynamic approach to problem-solving by providing a visual representation of the situation." - James McDonald
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Connect with Scaling UP! H2O
Email Producer: corrine@blackmore-enterprises.com
Submit a show idea: Submit a Show Idea
LinkedIn: in/traceblackmore/
YouTube: @ScalingUpH2O
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Connect with James McDonald
Website: www.chemaqua.com\xa0
Industrial Water Week: www.industrialwaterscience.com
Read James\u2019 Industrial Water Week Jokes and Comics at www.industrialwaterscience.com/fun
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/james-mcdonald-pe
www.linkedin.com/company/chem-aqua\xa0
Read or Download James McDonald\u2019s Press Release HERE
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Links Mentioned
Water Softener Regeneration Process
Understanding Cycles of Concentration
Episode 21 The One with James McDonald
Episode 49 The One with James McDonald, Again
Episode 113 Pinks and Blues (with James McDonald)
Episode 290 The One About Making Time For What Matters Most (with James McDonald)
Episode 291 The One About Nitrite (with James McDonald)
Episode 31 The One with Mark Lewis
Episode 34 The Other One With Mark Lewis, CWT
Episode 112 The One Where Trace Is Interviewed By Mark Lewis
Industrial Water Week Resources
Episode 161 Trace shared a story about the koi fish in the cooling tower
AWT (Association of Water Technologies)
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Drop By Drop with James\xa0
Today we\u2019re thinking about safety.\xa0 Working around steam, hot water, high pressures, moving parts, confined spaces, hazardous chemicals, pathogenic organisms, extreme environments, deep water, and even people, there are hundreds of ways we could get hurt or worse every single day.\xa0 Of course, there are guidelines, regulations, laws, safety programs, engineering controls, training, and so forth to help keep us safe, but the ultimate thing in charge of our safety day to day is ourselves.\xa0 If we don\u2019t follow the rules, learn from the trainings, are unaware of our surroundings, and/or circumvent engineering controls, we are much more likely to get hurt.\xa0 So be both smart and aware when you are performing your industrial water treatment duties.\xa0 You\u2019re probably NOT the only one relying upon you returning home safely.
A personal example of when I encountered an unsafe condition is from when I was brand new in industrial water treatment and was being trained on boiler inspections.\xa0 My manager and I were just about to enter the mud drum of a watertube boiler when steam started coming out of the manhole. My manager and the plant manager both looked at each other and were a little white in the face. An operator had blowndown one of the nearby boilers, and steam had backed up into the one we were literally just about to enter.\xa0 If we had climbed in just a little sooner, we could have suffered steam burns and worse.\xa0 Neither lockout/tagout nor proper communication had been conducted. Lessons were learned quickly very early in my career.
I\u2019ve heard stories of people dying in confined spaces due to the space being filled with nitrogen or argon.\xa0 Proper confined space entry procedures had neither been established nor conducted.\xa0 I\u2019ve heard stories about water hammer blowing elbows, valves, etc. apart and injuring people.\xa0 I once had a colleague who had live steam blown inside his work boot.\xa0 Never have I ever seen blisters that big in my life.\xa0 I\u2019m sure too many of you may have scary stories to tell as well.
So please, today and every day, think about the safety of yourself and those around you.\xa0 Your safety matters to you, your family, your coworkers, and your colleagues.\xa0 Your safety matters to both Trace and me as well.\xa0
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2024 Events for Water Professionals
Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we\u2019ve listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE or using the dropdown menu.
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