In this episode of The DooDoo Diva Smells Like Money podcast, host Suzan Chin-Taylor speaks with Jim Dodenhoff, founder of Silent Running, about the critical need for resiliency in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). As extreme weather events become more frequent, Jim explains why traditional backup plans are no longer sufficient to protect public health and operational integrity.
Host: Suzan Chin-Taylor | Guest: Jim Dodenhof
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Key Discussion Points:
- Defining Resiliency: Resiliency is the ability to be prepared for and have feasible, available options to respond to the unexpected.
- The Generator Fallacy: Many facilities rely on diesel or gas backup generators, but these are not fail-safe solutions. They often lack fuel, fail due to insufficient testing, or become inaccessible during disasters like hurricanes or wildfires.
- Infrastructure Vulnerability: WWTPs are often located at the “end of the electricity line,” making them susceptible to poor power quality and surges that damage modern control systems and motor-driven equipment like pumps and aerators.
- The Power “Domino”: Electricity is the most common energy resource threatened; when it fails, it triggers a domino effect that can lead to discharge permit violations and public health crises.
- Communication Resiliency: True resiliency includes the ability to communicate with team members and emergency authorities, even when primary systems are down.
- A Shift to Governance: Resiliency is shifting from a purely engineering concern to a governance issue. It must be incorporated into long-term capital expenditure plans to avoid “front-page” failure events.
Notable Quotes
“Resiliency for a wastewater treatment plant… is really the ability to be prepared for and to have feasible and available options to respond to the unexpected.”
“The more you can be self-reliant, the better off you are.”
“These wastewater treatment plants are incredibly public facing, especially when they fail… you can’t afford not to be thinking about resiliency.”
Connect with Jim Dodenhoff:
Founder/ Silent Running
Email: james.dodenhoff@gmail.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimdodenhoff/
Website: silentrunning.biz
Conclusion
The episode concludes that resiliency is no longer an optional luxury for wastewater treatment plants but a fundamental requirement for modern operations. Jim Dodenhoff emphasizes that relying solely on traditional backup generators is insufficient because they are not fail-safe and can lack fuel or proper maintenance during a true crisis. Furthermore, because these plants are critical public infrastructure, failures often lead to high-profile “front-page events” that impact public health and trust. Ultimately, the conversation highlights that resiliency must transition from being a reactive engineering task to a proactive governance priority, where energy and communication stability are integrated into long-term capital expenditure plans to ensure continuous service.
Until next time—keep growing, and keep it flowing. 💧
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