Why 40% of Our Water Disappears

Welcome back to another episode of the 21st Century Engineer Podcast, where we explore innovation, infrastructure, and the minds reshaping our world. In this powerful episode, host Dennis sits down with Emma Quail, a seasoned expert in non-revenue water, leak detection, and water infrastructure innovation.

Emma, now leading Technology Solutions at Ferguson — the nation's largest plumbing and waterworks distributor — dives into why up to 40% of treated water in the U.S. is lost before it reaches a customer, how outdated systems and old thinking keep the industry stuck, and why young professionals and proactive technology are our best hope for sustainable change.

From practical leak detection approaches to the power of human intervention, Emma shares actionable insights on how municipalities, engineers, and water leaders can reclaim lost water, build trust, and lead the shift toward smart, data-driven infrastructure.

This conversation is essential for utility leaders, city planners, engineers, environmental advocates, and anyone passionate about fixing broken systems before it’s too late.

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