ODOR EMISSIONS OF WASTE-WATER TREATMENT PLANTS - RECENT GERMAN EXPERIENCES

Odorous emissions from wastewater treatment plants can cause serious annoyance in the vicinity. According to recently issued federal regulations, when designing new WWTPs or expanding existing ones, expert opinion has to be taken into account. Also problems arise with existing plants thar have to be solved. It is necessary to understand the basics of odour and odour-related annoyance as well as the use of appropriate measurement technique in order to describe the problem correctly. Then problems can be detected and solved properly by using appropriate measures. There are many measures to be taken against odour emissions, depending upon the type of plant, process design, way of operation and others. If, however, these measures are not able to guarantee a sufficient emission level, then collection of waste air and subsequent deodorization must be chosen to solve the problem. Different technologies for deodorization are known today, and available data concerning these techniques at Germany's wastewater treatment plants are shown later. Among the possible technologies developed in recent years biological methods are gaining more and more attention, as they are efficient, cost-effective and environment-friendly.