Odour emission estimates and control strategies using models and sampling for East Bay Municipal Utility District's collection sewage system and wastewater treatment plant

Abstract

For several years, public complaints regarding odours generated by East Bay Municipal Utility District's (EBMUD's) wastewater treatment plant and sewage collection system (SCS) have been increasing. In response, an Odor Control Master Plan was completed to develop near- and long-term odour abatement strategies for their wastewater system. The plan's strategies include using an advisory committee to assist in setting odour threshold levels, prioritizingodour sources, issuing an odour-status newsletter, and reviewing odour control options. The objective is to provide an odour-free community environment at least 99 percent of the year. This paper provides innovative approaches to estimate odour emissions and identify viable odour control options for SCSs through complete wastewater treatment. This paper also presents a CH2M HILL SCS odour model comparison to a comprehensive EBMUD sewage system corrosion study, illustrating that areas having high predicted odours also have high corrosion rates.