Keeping it Within the Fence: Dispersion Modeling, Piloting, and Innovation Help the City of Bryan, Texas Control Dewatering Odors

The story of the Burton Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in Bryan, Texas is not uncommon: once located in a relatively remote location, the 7 million gallon per day (MGD) WWTP is now surrounded by developments ranging from restaurants and apartment to a park. Odors from the plant have earned the street leading to the facility (Spring Loop) the dubious moniker “Poop Loop”.To address odor concerns at the plant, the City of Bryan (City) commissioned a comprehensive study to: quantify site odors; determine the offsite impact of those odors via odor dispersion modeling; assess odor control options; and develop a plan to reduce offsite odor impacts. This paper will address each of these project elements, and describe dewatering odor control facilities constructed in response to study findings.