{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"467 From PhD to Pump Rooms: Jake Elliott on Wastewater, Efficiency, and Saying \u201cYes\u201d Wisely","description":"What happens when a water chemist leaves the lab and heads to the pump room? \u202fDr.\u202fJake\u202fElliott knows firsthand. A former PhD researcher who studied resource recovery from trade\u2011waste customers, Jake now manages accounts at Hydro flow in Melbourne, working with cooling towers, boilers, chemical dosing rigs and wastewater treatment systems. He joins host Trace Blackmore to discuss how rigorous research, regulatory compliance and process automation translate into practical field work for industrial water treatment professionals. From PhD Research to Industrial Practice Jake\u2019s academic background informs the way he approaches operations. While completing his PhD he investigated how to recover resources from wastewater permits, synthesizing municipal data with bench\u2011scale testing. Today he draws on that experience to design treatment systems and advise customers on cooling\u2011tower and boiler chemistry. He emphasizes long\u2011term efficiency: spending a little extra time or money now can save much more later. This mentality helps him balance the competing demands of design, installation, sales and service, and underscores Hydro flow\u2019s support for continuing education. Balancing Service, Sales and Efficiency No two days look alike for Jake. One week he is calibrating pH probes, inspecting cooling towers and designing dosing skids; the next he is troubleshooting filtration systems or negotiating wastewater discharge limits. To stay ahead of his schedule, he deliberately \u201cdrags things as early as possible\u201d and completes visits well before month\u2011end. Jake uses the iPhone Reminders app to tag tasks by site, service type and system; location triggers ensure he never forgets critical parts. He advocates automating routine reports and allowing generative AI to massage field notes into professional correspondence, provided every line is double\u2011checked for accuracy. Even at the end of a long day, tools such as ChatGPT help him strike the right tone in customer emails. Regulation, Training and Risk Management Jake contrasts cooling\u2011tower regulation in Australia with the more fragmented approach in the United States. In Victoria every tower must be registered, documented and sampled on a schedule; non\u2011compliance leads to fines. The risk management plan \u2013 the term used in Australia for what many Americans call a water management plan \u2013 is a comprehensive document containing details of the cooling tower, associated chillers and a unique registration number. Australian practitioners follow the AS\/NZS 3666 standard, and third\u2011party RMP reviews and audits are annual requirements. Jake notes that an equivalent certification does not yet exist for international candidates seeking the Certified Water Technologist designation, although metric\u2011based exams may be under consideration. Sales, Communication and Mentorship Serving existing customers often means identifying the real decision drivers. Jake categorizes site priorities \u2013 cost reduction, profit increase, ease of use and product quality \u2013 and tailors proposals accordingly. He maintains open communication with influencers while gently probing approval limits, sometimes splitting quotes so that local managers can sign off without escalating requests. Mentorship is both a given and a goal: Hydro flow holds monthly meetings where technicians, account managers and production staff share problems and solutions, allowing juniors to benefit from seasoned expertise. Jake encourages newcomers to simply \u201cdo it\u201d \u2013 the blend of hands\u2011on work, autonomy and flexibility makes industrial water treatment a rewarding career. In his lightning\u2011round advice he urges his younger self to be selective about commitments and to automate early. Dr.\u202fJake\u202fElliott demonstrates that a rigorous scientific background and a passion for efficiency translate into better service, improved compliance and happier customers. His tips on process automation, risk management and sales communication help water professionals navigate a complex landscape while maintaining work\u2013life balance. Listen to the full conversation above. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge! Timestamps  01:14 - Trace Blackmore notes the conclusion of the 2026 AWT Technical\u202fTraining (Session\u202f1) and then shares his doctor\u2019s office story 09:15 - Words of Water with James McDonald  11:45 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals   15:32 - Introduction with Jake Elliott, PhD, Senior Account Manager at Hydro Flow  18:47 - Jake's Advice for those taking a Doctorate Degree 23:19 - How Jake came to work at Hydro\u202fFlow 44:24 - Tips from Jake   Quotes \u201cVery happy to spend a little bit of extra time or money now to save a lot of time or money later.\u201d \u201cIf you can get some of your thoughts down and then let ChatGPT massage that into something that is good communication, again, double check it before you send it.\u201d \u201cI would tell myself to be selective in what you say yes to \u2026 automate hard, automate early.\u201d \u201cAutonomy, flexibility. It\u2019s really the perfect package, definitely for me and for people like me.\u201d Connect with Jake Elliott, PhD  Email: jakeelliott91@hotmail.com   Website: https:\/\/hydroflow.com.au\/   LinkedIn: https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/hydro-flow\/   Jake Elliott | LinkedIn    Guest Resources Mentioned   AS \/ NZS 3666 Air-Handling and Water Systems of Buildings - Western Australia Legislation and guidelines for cooling towers and water systems - Government of Western Australia (Department of Health) ASSE\/IAPMO\/ANSI 12080   Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Audible audiobook) Dropbear (Paperback) by Evelyn Araluen (Author)  The Winner's Mindset Audible Logo Audible Audiobook \u2013 Unabridged Shane Watson (Author, Narrator)    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  AWT - Become Certified Google Earth Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind   Words of Water with James McDonald  Today's definition is the curved upper surface of a liquid in a tube, such as a graduated cylinder.  Can you guess the word?    2026 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.  ","author_name":"Scaling UP! H2O","author_url":"http:\/\/scalinguph2o.com","html":"