Survey of Odor Containment and Control Methodologies at Wastewater Treatment Plants

Residents near wastewater treatment facilities who have experienced odor problems often expect Public Works officials to cover and treat every unit process at the facility. However, that can be costly and is not always required for successful odor control. Public Works officials often prefer a phased approach which deals with the worst sources first and then assesses public acceptance before spending more. To establish baseline information on how wastewater treatment facilities are addressing odor control, an internet and telephone survey was performed to gather information on odor control from 31 wastewater treatment facilities in the United States. Many of the wastewater treatment facilities surveyed were located in California where population density generally requires a high level of odor control. Additional information was obtained at facilities in Arizona, Nevada, Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Colorado, and Pennsylvania. This summary of odor control information from wastewater treatment facilities serves as a handy reference for Public Works officials both in planning odor control improvements and in communicating the practicality of their decisions to the public.