Utilities Driving Innovation: A Conversation with HRSD

Innovation doesn't just empower water and wastewater utilities to achieve compliance in an evolving regulatory landscape. It can also be the key to driving staggering economic, environmental, and resilience benefits for the communities they serve. In this episode, Hazen and Sawyer President Alan Stone talks with Jay Bernas, CEO and General Manager of Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) in Virginia, about the multitude of benefits utilities can realize when they adopt an innovation philosophy. Alan and Jay discuss HRSD's innovation journey from a risk-averse mindset to a culture built on trying new things and exploring what’s possible—and the multi-billion-dollar savings they unlocked in the process. They dig into HRSD’s cutting-edge projects, such as the Sustainable Water Initiative for Tomorrow (SWIFT), an innovative managed aquifer recharge system in which highly treated water is put through additional rounds of advanced water treatment to meet drinking water quality standards and achieve multiple goals. Additional highlights include discussions on the importance of strategic alignment, collaboration, and communications when implementing major future-facing initiatives and what’s next for the organization (hint: it involves a robot dog!). Guest: Jay Bernas (Hampton Roads Sanitation District) Hosts: Evan Bowles (Hazen), Stephanie Ishii (Hazen), and Alan Stone (Hazen) Get more information about HRSD here: https://www.hrsd.com/ Learn more about Hazen and Sawyer here: https://www.hazenandsawyer.com/