Headworks Odor Control and Ventilation – A Practical and Regulatory Compliant Approach

Odors are present in some form at all wastewater facilities, but particular problems are encountered at treatment plant headworks facilities. This is due in part to the multiple odor sources contained in a typical headworks facility (screens, screenings conveyors, washers, grit basins, grit classifiers, residuals containers, etc.) and the often complicated multiple-source air handling and ventilation requirements inside a headworks building. The ventilation of headworks buildings becomes even more complicated when you consider the overlapping regulations, building codes and ventilation standards that are applicable to headworks facilities.This paper presents an innovative but “common sense” solution to these problems based upon the results of several headworks building odor control and ventilation upgrades. An engineering analysis of the needs of operators, designers and regulators provided a unique, cost-efficient approach to the simultaneous solution of their collective problems. An example of a before and after headworks ventilation and odor control upgrade is presented.