Below is the response from Water Resources to the increased reports of odors in the vicinity of the SWWRF:

As part of the current facility improvements at the Southwest Water Reclamation Facility (SWWRF), there will be small unavoidable periods of time that the contractors will require tanks to be taken out of service, causing an increase in unpleasant odors. Various tanks will be drained and cleaned prior to allowing the contractors access to perform the work. Over the next 3-4 weeks there may be several days at a time during the cleaning of those tanks that odors will be more prevalent.

We are using methods to reduce those odors and will continue to seek better methods to reduce the odors. Some of those methods are:
• cleaning tanks as quickly as possible,
• using odor control scrubbers, and
• two types of odor masking or neutralizing systems.
One odor control system uses misters that combine compressed air and a masking agent to mist fine particles into the air. The second is a patented system that uses essential oils to help mask or neutralize the odor.

Additionally, in the next couple of weeks we will be switching from one solids dewatering system to a new system that will require us to haul a biosolids product that is less stabilized. This may result in an increase in odors produced. However, during this period we will be requiring extra cleaning of the trucks that haul the biosolids and additional odor neutralizing disbursement to try and control the odors produced.

As we finish construction at the facility expect to see odor control improvements at all new key processes. We will continue to look for ways to reduce the odors that effect the surrounding neighbors. Our goal is to be as odor free as is technologically and economically achievable.