Engineers Analyze Wastewater Plant
Operations to Improve Air Quality
Odor containment achieved through innovative
approaches and technologies
The City of Dallas had long been experiencing significant odor problems in its downtown area and the communities to the southeast due to the operations of the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant. This situation became critical with the planned development of the nearby Trinity River Corridor project. Recognizing the heightened importance of improving air quality in this area, the City contracted with a Texas CEC firm to conduct a comprehensive odor assessment and control study at the wastewater treatment plant. The City wanted a cost-effective and prioritized plan that would contain the odors within the plant boundary. The plan focused on addressing unit operations that had the most significant offsite odor impact first.
Size and Location Create Unique Challenges:
Given the high wastewater flow and large number of unit operations that could potentially impact air quality in outlying areas, many factors needed to be analyzed. Conducting this field work and identifying sources of off-site odor solely from the data results was especially difficult. Offsite, air quality needed to be analyzed for non-plant odors, increasing the scope of study immensely.
Hybrid Biofilter Uses Low Cost, "Green" Materials to Control Odor:
Engineers took a holistic view of the situation and conducted an extensive study to characterize and identify sources of odors. Results were used to develop a preliminary ranking of the on-site odor sources. By using field data, local meteorological data and an odor dispersion modeling tool, engineers developed immediate and long-term odor control plans that were designed to solve the problem. An innovative and original approach was implemented through a biofilter odor control for the headworks that utilized readily available materials (wood chips and compost) along with the best features of vendor-supplied biofilters. This “green” technology utilizes natural forces to control unpleasant odors, eliminating the need for hazardous chemical delivery trucks driving through the surrounding community.
By working with and engineering partner, the City of Dallas realized a cost-effective, long-term solution, provided a major public service and elevated the quality of life for its citizens and businesses.
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