482 Preserving Our Industry's Story – Paul Petersen and the Industrial Water Exhibit

Industrial water treatment has always supported industry, but much of that story remains invisible to the public. Paul Petersen wants to change that by helping establish an industrial water treatment presence at the National Museum of Industrial History in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.   Paul Petersen, former president and CEO of Trident Technologies and current leader of the Industrial Water Task Group, joins Trace Blackmore to explain why preserving the industry's history matters. His vision is not simply a static display of old equipment. Instead, the goal is to create an educational thread throughout the museum that helps visitors understand how water, steam, analytics, field testing, and professional water treaters have shaped industrial progress.   Why Industrial Water Belongs in an Industrial History Museum Paul's idea began during a visit to the National Museum of Industrial History, where he saw a strong celebration of American industrialization but noticed a missing piece: the role water treaters played in making that progress possible.  The museum's location strengthens the story. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, sits in the Lehigh Valley, a region Paul describes as closely tied to industrialization, steel production, legacy water treatment companies, and heavy industrial water use. The former Bethlehem Steel site offers a fitting backdrop for explaining why water management is central to manufacturing, power, construction, and modern technology.   From Water Wheels to Boilers, Steam, and Field Analytics  The exhibit concept begins with water's physical role in early factories, then follows the shift toward boilers and steam-producing systems. Paul explains that steam boilers do not serve their purpose without water, and they do not operate safely without proper water management.  That opens the door to stories professionals know well: scale, corrosion, pitting, boiler failures, and the consequences of poor control. Paul also highlights another important industry contribution: field analytics. Industrial water treaters were early practitioners of field testing, using water analysis to confirm conditions and adjust treatment programs directly in the field.   Helping the Public Understand What Water Treaters Do  For many professionals, explaining industrial water treatment to people outside the field is a lifelong challenge. Paul sees the museum as an opportunity to make that explanation tangible.  Rather than assuming visitors understand boiler rooms, cooling systems, data centers, sterilization, or process water, the exhibit can connect water treatment to outcomes people recognize: safe facilities, sterile surgical instruments, food quality, operating data centers, and reliable industrial systems.   Preserving Artifacts, Stories, and Career Pathways  Paul is asking the industry to help preserve its history. Companies and individuals may have photographs, reports, testing equipment, boiler failure examples, corrosion artifacts, pitting samples, or stories that can support future exhibits.  The project also has a workforce purpose. By raising the visibility of professional water treaters, Paul hopes the exhibit can help people see industrial water treatment as a meaningful career path that combines chemistry, math, physics, engineering, communication, maintenance, construction, and hydrology.  The industry's history is not just a look backward. It can help explain the value of the work, attract new talent, and strengthen public understanding of why industrial water treatment matters.  Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps  02:30 — Trace opens the episode by framing Paul Petersen's work as important not only to industrial water treatment professionals, but also to people outside the field who need to understand what the industry makes possible  03:20 — The 2026 American Chemical Society Fall Conference is highlighted as a major chemistry gathering with relevance for water treatment professionals, chemists, chemical engineers, and technical leaders.  05:00 — Trace previews The Hang on July 9 at 1 PM Eastern, emphasizing peer connection, practical networking, and a more accessible time for participation.  06:30 — Industrial Water Week is announced for October 5–9, with each day focused on a core area of the industry: pretreatment, boilers, cooling, wastewater, and careers.  08:50 — James McDonald returns with Words of Water  10:30 — Trace introduces Paul Petersen, former president and CEO of Trident Technologies, and his current work leading the Industrial Water Task Group's museum exhibit initiative  11:15 — Paul shares how growing up in Tucson, Arizona, shaped his appreciation for water and helped set the foundation for a career in industrial water treatment.  12:10 — Paul describes his early work as an analytical technician, where testing cooling tower, boiler, and process water built his practical foundation in water chemistry  14:00 — Paul explains the growth of Trident Technologies, including work in Southern California, Mexico, Latin America, and the company's eventual sale in 2009.  15:20 — Paul reflects on how technology changed the industry, from cell phones and email to automation, AI, and the broader availability of technical information.  17:00 — Trace and Paul discuss AI's potential value in reporting, trend identification, interpretation, and communication, while reinforcing the need to validate outputs.  18:00 — Paul explains how a 2019 visit to historic sites and the National Museum of Industrial History led to the idea for an industrial water treatment exhibit.  20:00 — Paul identifies the missing piece in the museum's industrial story: the role water treaters played in supporting the success of industrialization.  21:40 — Paul explains why the museum concept may become a thread throughout the museum rather than one standalone exhibit, helping visitors see water's role across industries.  22:50 — Paul explains why Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the Lehigh Valley, and the former Bethlehem Steel site provide a natural setting for telling the story of industrial water.  26:40 — Paul describes how modern museum visitors expect interactive learning and why the exhibit must help the public think critically about water beyond everyday household use.  28:10 — Paul outlines the first exhibit themes around steam, boilers, boiler failures, the Sultana disaster, field analytics, and historical testing methods.  31:55 — Paul discusses the lifelong challenge of explaining industrial water treatment to the public and connecting the work to boiler rooms, hospitals, food quality, data centers, and daily life.  34:10 — Paul shares the current exhibit status, including the first phase and a model boiler that will help visitors see what happens inside a boiler.  35:20 — Paul invites water professionals and companies to contribute artifacts, photographs, explanations, stories, and supporting materials that can help tell the industry's story.  36:50 — Paul addresses a key misconception: water should not be taken for granted, and "good water" depends entirely on the application.  39:05 — Paul connects the exhibit to workforce visibility, explaining how it can help present industrial water treatment as a meaningful career path.  40:40 — Paul describes his long-term vision for visitors to see how water supports industries from steel and papermaking to microprocessors and modern technology.  42:40 — Paul explains that the project needs financial support, sponsorship, and leadership from companies and individuals who want to preserve the industry's story.  44:20 — Paul closes the main conversation by emphasizing the importance of preserving industrial water history while the future continues to move quickly.  50:00 — Paul shares what he wishes more people understood about the industry: water is part of nearly every major story, and professional water treaters help keep society functioning.  51:30 — Trace recaps why Paul's museum work matters, how the industry can contribute, and how the exhibit can help the public understand the role of industrial water treaters  55:20 — Trace closes with Paul's advice to seek mentors, learn the business side as well as the chemistry, and never take water for granted    Quotes  "They're really celebrating industrial history in America. But what's missing is the role that we played as water treaters in support of the success of industrialization."  "Here's an opportunity for us to share the knowledge that we have as water treatment professionals with the public to engage their thinking, their critical thinking about water."  "What is good water? And my answer to that is, what do you want to do with it?"  "What we do as professional water treaters is truly an important thing. And, you know, I never forget that."  "I'm part of the past, but I think our rich history should be presented in an exhibit for all to enjoy at the museum."  "I would like to build better bridges, more bridges."  "Just not taking the resource of water for granted."    Connect with Paul Petersen Email:  [email protected]   Website: https://www.nmih.org/     Guest Resources Mentioned   History In the Making - National Museum of Industrial History Water and Steam Boiler Initiative - Industrial Water Task Group - National Museum of Industrial History Hagley Museum and Library  Hagley Powder Yard Trail The Newcomen Society Bethlehem Steel Corporation Duval Sierrita Corporation ChemTreat Danaher ChemTreat Acquisition Announcement Sultana Disaster Museum Pea Ridge National Military Park Presents Program about The Sultana Disaster  National Museum of Industrial History and Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites Launch New Joint Field Trip Exploring Bethlehem's Industrial Heritage    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea    Words of Water with James McDonald Today's definition is the air temperature measured by a standard, dry thermometer exposed to the air but shielded from radiation.  Often associated with cooling towers in our line of work.    2026 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.    This episode made possible through our valued partners at: