Odor Control Master Planning for Management of Nuisance Odors at Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant

In 2003, the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) published an Odor Control Master Plan (OCMP) for the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant with the intent of developing a long-term strategy for mitigating odor. While facility modifications have been made over the past ten years, continued concerns of offsite odor impacts prompted a subsequent OCMP study in 2011. The goals of the OCMP study were to estimate offsite impacts and facilitate selection of odor mitigation measures and process changes.Sampling for composite odor was conducted along with other air emissions to obtain process-related data. Liquid testing was performed to develop an understanding of the precursors for odor emissions and process variables that may cause odor.Assessment of impacts on surrounding receptors is being performed using dispersion modeling. The goal of long-term odor mitigation will be to significantly reduce odor emissions using Best Available Technology Economically Achievable within the constraints of the Authority's funding for capital improvements.