When communities consider the issue of odor control, wastewater is typically the biggest culprit. Wastewater treatment facilities increasingly treat not only the water, but also the wastewater smell. For odor control, wastewater treatment plants are now implementing measures as a priority rather than an afterthought.

Most wastewater odor, generated by hydrogen sulfide, is a compound that not only produces an unpleasant odor but can also corrode and damage wastewater treatment equipment. There are two main types of odor control for wastewater: vapor technologies and liquid technologies.

1. Learn about municipal wastewater odor control measures already being used in your area.

2. Employ vapor technologies to control odor to ventilate and prevent unpleasant odors from leaking out.

3. Employ liquid technologies to prevent the release of odorous compounds into a vaporous form.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn about your local efforts at odor control for wastewater

Many wastewater treatment facilities have programs in place for wastewater odor control, but many may not be up to date or maximally effective. Find out what type of system your treatment plant is using and when they put it in place.

I recommend: If your treatment facility isn't using a comprehensive environmental plan that includes odor control, wastewater may be a nuisance and a hazard to the longevity of the treatment facility. A treatment facility that only masks or hides the odor needs to employ more effective measures.

Check out septic odor control that targets water vapor

With a wide variety of vapor-targeting methods of odor control, wastewater treatment facilities have a host of options to choose from to contain unpleasant odors and keep them from leaking out into the community. Many simply use ventilation hoods to contain the odors, but other actually clean the vapor to remove the odor.

I recommend: Wet-air scrubbing is one of the most reliable and effective types of septic odor control targeting water vapor. Treatment facilities should use this technology for stages of treatment where vapor is common, but not rely exclusively on vapor technologies to eliminate the odor entirely.

Target liquids in wastewater odor control

When working with sewage odor control, most water treatment facilities are unable to eliminate odor entirely during a single stage of treatment. Liquid-targeting technologies work to combat the compounds that create odor, making septic odor control much easier. Liquid technologies can be both chemical and biological.

I recommend: Check out both biological processes for wastewater odor control, like bioxide, and chemical ones, like permanganate, to decide which will work best for your wastewater odor control plan.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Conduct a survey or hold a community forum to find out who would benefit most from sewer odor control. Find out where the unpleasant odors are most notable so that water treatment authorities know where to apply localized vapor-targeting efforts for septic odor control. Follow up with community members after control measures are in place to find out if they are effective.