Case Study: Surge & Equalization Tanks Odor Control

A privately operated municipal wastewater treatment facility was experiencing odor complaints from the residential subdivision surrounding the facility.
In an effort to become a good neighbor to the community, the facility installed a water-based aerosol odor control system.

Five surge and equalization tanks were contributing to the odor problem.  Each tank was 25 feet in diameter and 16 feet high.

The water-based system quickly became problematic with excessive maintenance and operational down times due to clogging nozzles, feed pump losing prime, and water leaks.

In addition, the system used approximately 1,000,000 gallons of water over the course of a year at an operational cost of $12,000.

An equipment distributor who was installing some new flow controls saw the problem and suggested they consider converting to a waterless, air-driven odor control system.

After reviewing the air-driven odor control information, the site manager ordered a system for each of the five tanks.  A three-man team installed all five systems in one day.

The air-driven odor control units were supplied at no charge under an annual chemical supply program.  Each unit would use one 5-gallon pail of odor neutralization product per month.

The conversion cost was minimal and the odor neutralization process was simplified down to pouring a 5-gallon pail of product in the machine once a month-eliminating the pumps and the water.