Odor Control

Odor Control Systems

Since 1996, the District has been operating wet chemical scrubbers and biological odor control systems to reduce odors at the source. In addition, the District has placed covers over many process tanks to eliminate fugitive odor emissions from escaping into the atmosphere and traveling outside of the facility into residential neighborhoods.

In May 2012, the District embarked on the Nitrogen Upgrade Construction Project that as of July 1, 2015, is 100% complete. As part of the upgrades to the facility new state-of-the-art odor control systems, including carbon canisters and wet chemical scrubbers, are being installed to replace all of the existing aging odor control systems.

The District takes great pride in these new state-of-the art odor control systems, which should greatly improve our ability to ensure that odors are reduced and/or eliminated. In addition, the District will be covering the septage and sludge handling facility to reduce fugitive emissions from these processes.

Recent Odor Issues

The new odor control systems are on-line, and the existing systems have been taken off-line. The District has invested significantly in all fugitive odor emissions since 2014 with new equipment and annual maintenance. The District has the most state-of-the-art Nitrogen removal equipment and as a result we have seen a 94% reduction between 2015 and 2019. Odors have dropped 24% between 2015 and 2023.

Odor Monitoring

In addition to the chemical, biological and enclosed process systems, the District will also be installing state-of-the-art, fence-line Jerome odor monitoring meters, designed specifically for fence-line monitoring applications. Real-time H2S readings are displayed at the Operations Control Room to alert an operator. These, in conjunction with weather data, will be assessed to determine fugitive odor emissions from the facility.

Reporting Odors

Odors can be reported to the District 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at (860) 635-5550, ext 240. Once an odor is reported, the District immediately dispatches a field operator to the reported location to investigate. In addition, our treatment process and activities being conducted are reviewed to ensure that these do not generate odors. CLICK HERE FOR ON-LINE REPORT

The District conducted 131 oder surveys in the period between January 2024 to the end of November 2024, and has found oders in only 10 of those surveys. See the table below.