Ashbridges Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant –
Odour Control
The goal of eliminating odours coming from the Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant is getting closer. The comprehensive air management strategy developed by the City in 2007 is now being implemented.
The project will involve at least six construction contracts. Construction began in 2009 and is expected to be complete in 2019. The long construction period is necessary to ensure normal and efficient operation of the ABTP during construction.
The following two construction contracts are in progress:
- Improvements to ventilation and odour control systems at the M and T pumping stations (construction 2009-2011)
- Improvements to the D building preliminary treatment and grit/screenings handling process and installation of a new biofilter with a dedicated stack (construction 2010-2013)
- Improvements to the collection and dispersion system of the odourous air emissions from the aeration tanks
Subsequent contracts will include a replacement of the existing biofilter, aeration tanks upgrades, and major improvements to P building preliminary process areas including the replacement the existing chemical scrubber with a biofilter.
More detailed information has been presented to the Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant Neighbourhood Liaison Committee:
- March 3, 2005 (PDF)
- April 12, 2007 (PDF)
- November 19, 2009 (PDF)
Study recommends keeping the odours at bay
A City-commissioned study confirms that the Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant is a source of nuisance odours to the surrounding community. The most important finding: that the largest source of odour is the aeration system. That’s why the study outlines a plan to reduce odours emitted from the plant so that they are not noticeable beyond the plant fence line.
The key component of this plan is the construction of a central air collection and treatment system using a biofilter. A biofilter uses naturally occurring micro-organisms to convert odorous compounds to odour-free compounds, mostly carbon dioxide and water. A biofilter has been successfully used for several years at the biosolids loading facility at ABTP. Smaller, stand-alone odour control systems will also be constructed for the sewage pumping stations north of Lakeshore Boulevard.
The final report on the Comprehensive Odour Study of Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant was completed in December 2002.
