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The Dodd Building houses many functions that are critical to the daily operation and maintenance of the Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant (CBWTP), which is the largest wastewater treatment plant in Oregon. Approximately 75 essential employees work in the Dodd Building, ensuring the 24-7 continuity of treatment operations. The Dodd Building is essential to delivering the levels of service required by BES as a public utility dedicated to environmental protection and public health and safety.

Specifically, the Dodd Building houses:

• The Communication Center, which contains the computer equipment for controlling the CBWTP, Tryon Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, pump station and CSO systems. Proper operation and maintenance of this equipment is required to protect public health, water quality and the environment and to meet requirements of the City’s NPDES and Air Quality permits.
• The Storeroom, which provides parts for the repair and maintenance of essential machinery and personal protective equipment (PPE) for operations staff.
• The Electrical and Instrumentation shop, as well as workshops for automation, operations and mechanical maintenance staff, who ensure that treatment processes and pumping systems are working properly to meet regulatory requirements.

The Dodd Building roof is from the original construction in the early 1990’s and has been repaired numerous times. Despite these repairs, the roof is now leaking in multiple locations. Recent facility inspections revealed unforeseen leakage from the roof into the outer walls. Water is being trapped behind the outer facia, forcing leakage around window casings and through interior walls into workspaces. This leakage can present slip and fall hazards, electrical hazards, unsanitary workspaces and can create ideal conditions for mold growth within wall cavities, creating substantial threats to the health and safety of BES employees. If mold is detected, effective mitigation cannot occur until the source of moisture is eliminated by repairing the roof, fascia and windows.  The current leakages are also posing a substantial risk of loss, damage and interruption of services due to water entry into the Communications Center. Leaks from the ceiling are in close proximity to the computer mainframe and pose a serious risk to equipment that controls City-wide treatment and pumping systems that protect public health, water quality and the environment. The Electrical and Instrumentation Shop is also experiencing significant leakage, posing risks to staff and critical operations.

Immediate attention is required to resolve these emergency conditions, especially in consideration of potentially long lead-times for construction materials due to supply chain shortages. Therefore, BES requested proposals from three contractors and plans to select Weatherproofing Technologies, Inc. to perform the work based on their site-specific experience and approach. Upon approval of this emergency declaration, BES will immediately begin working with this firm to replace leaking roof, windows and facia of the Dodd Building.