WCW24

Odour and corrosion are long-standing concerns for all municipal collection systems. If a utility is not receiving any odour complaints, then there is a tendency to think that everything is good. Unfortunately, this is not always the case as even low levels of untreated hydrogen sulphide in a collection system are a human safety problem and can lead to corrosion concerns. In this presentation we will present the background information that all operators need to understand why odours are generated in a collection system, why they are a problem and how we can best treat the odours. In addition, we will discuss how untreated odours can lead to corrosion and how we can monitor the collection system to understand the source and magnitude of the problem. The first portion of the presentation will focus on the background theory of what is happening in a collection system to create untreated hydrogen sulphide. This is material that all operators are already likely to be familiar with, but we will provide a complete A-to-Z of collection systems showing the causes of odour generation and all options available to treat these odours. The second portion of the presentation will work through specific case studies from at least two collection systems in Alberta and BC, providing the details of the comprehensive monitoring and treatment programs that are in place at these systems.