S15 E5: Turning Over Every Rock with John Soulliere

What happens when a small, economically challenged community faces a $70 million wastewater crisis? In this episode of the Smells Like Money Podcast, host Suzan Chin-Taylor sits down with John Soulliere to uncover how Desert Hot Springs turned an impossible infrastructure challenge into a success story.💧 John shares how his municipal career led him into wastewater management and the pivotal role he played in protecting Desert Hot Springs’ pristine aquifers. From the city’s economic struggles and septic tank risks to navigating California’s Prop 218 funding hurdles, John explains the creative strategies his team used to secure state and federal support.Through education programs, community outreach, and reframing clean water as a community value rather than a government cost, John and his team built trust, overcame resistance, and secured critical buy-in. His story is packed with lessons in persistence, innovation, and leadership that any community can apply when facing aging infrastructure with limited resources.👉 Key Topics Covered in This Episode:- John’s background in municipal leadership and wastewater management- Desert Hot Springs’ economic struggles and reliance on pristine aquifers- The dangers of widespread septic tank use- Prop 218 and how it changed infrastructure funding in California- Funding strategies: securing grants, legislative support, and partnerships- Reframing infrastructure as a consumer investment in clean water- Education and outreach programs that built long-term buy-in- Larger lessons for communities tackling aging infrastructure✨ Takeaway: Adversity sparks creativity. With persistence and fearless outreach, even the toughest challenges can be transformed into opportunities.Contact Information:John SoulliereEmail: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-soulliere-7356b7229Don’t forget to subscribe to the Smells Like Money Podcast for more insights and innovations in the wastewater industry. Follow us on creativeraven.com/smells-like-money-podcast for updates and more episodes.I hope you find this episode as informative and as exciting as we have.Please let us know your thoughts about the episode!Connect with Suzan Chin-Taylor, host of The DooDoo Diva's Smells Like Money Podcast:Website: www.creativeraven.com | https://thetuitgroup.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/creativeraven/Email: [email protected] Telephone: +1 760-217-8010Listen and subscribe here to your favorite platform:Apple Podcast - Google Podcast - Cast Box - Overcast - Pocket Casts - YouTube - Spotifyhttps://creativeraven.com/smells-like-money-podcast/ Subscribe to the Podcast:https://creativeraven.com/smells-like-money-podcast/Be a guest on our show:https://calendly.com/thetuitgroup/be-a-podcast-guestCheck Out my NEW Digital Marketing E-Course & Coaching Program just for Wastewater Pros:https://store.thetuitgroup.com/diy-digital-marketing-playbook-for-wastewater-pros#SmellsLikeMoneyPodcast #WastewaterManagement #WaterInfrastructure #CommunityDevelopment #Prop218 #CleanWater #AgingInfrastructure #PublicWorks #SustainableCommunities