Bowker & Associates, Inc. Services Qualifications Odor Information
Consulting Engineers

Specialists in Odor Control & Corrosion Control in Sewer Systems & Wastewater Treatment Plants

CONTAINING ODORS

The control of odors from wastewater treatment facilities often requires the use of covers or enclosures to contain the odors prior to treatment and dispersion.  The objectives of odor containment are as follows:

•     prevent the escape of odorous gas to the atmosphere
•     minimize the volume of air to be treated
•     allow reasonable access to process for inspection and maintenance
•     ensure worker safety

The table below provides a summary of various types of containment alternatives applicable to wastewater treatment facilities.  These range from simple, flat plates to large geodesic domes.  Common materials of construction include aluminum, fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP), concrete, and synthetic membranes.

SUMMARY OF ODOR CONTAINMENT OPTIONS
Type	Applications	Advantages	Disadvantages
Flat plates	Channels, grit chambers, effluent launders	Minimizes air volume for treatment	Reduces access; may accelerate corrosion; limited spans
Flat plates with integral or external reinforcement	Longer spans -- e.g. aeration basins, rectangular primary clarifiers	Minimizes air volume for treatment	Reduces access; may accelerate corrosion
Full domes	Circular clarifiers, thickeners, holding tanks	Easily accessible by workers	Results in very high air volumes requiring treatment; high capital cost
Low-profile domes or arches	RBCs, clarifiers, sludge holding tanks, thickeners	Reduced air volumes	More limited access to process
Domes with suspended ceilings	Circular clarifiers, thickeners, holding tanks	Somewhat reduced air volumes; easily accessible by workers	High capital cost
Equipment enclosures	Sludge dewatering and conveyance equipment, screens, mixing tanks, etc.	Minimizes air volumes; improves working conditions	Access to equipment may be somewhat more difficult.

Services Qualifications  Odor Information