Water is simple to drink, but complex to understand. Water is essential to life, yet 2 billion people lack reliable access to clean drinking water. At the same time, millions of tons of plastic waste come from single-use bottles each year. So what actually makes water “sustainable”? Environmental scientist and water sommelier Dr. Elena Berg uses drinking water as a case study to unpack the complexity of sustainability from water sources and mineral content to local infrastructure, plastic use, and global inequality. Learn why not all water is the same, how small-scale “water farmers” approach stewardship, and why simple good vs bad narratives can be misleading. A deeper look at sustainability, environmental decision-making, and the hidden systems behind everyday choices.

Episode Guest: Dr. Elena Berg

Listen to Something in the Water on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

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Hosted by Clark Marchese

Audio Editing by Clark Marchese, Video Editing by Oscar Padula

Videography and Set Design by Le Studio Du Passage

Cover Art by Laurel Wong

Theme music by Nela Ruiz

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