$450M plan eyed to tackle sewer odour

After years of enduring summers filled with a foul odour, a southwest Edmonton neighbourhood may get some relief from a plan being presented to a city council committee Monday.

“It’s a lovely neighbourhood, though you wouldn’t know for the smell,” said Monty Nelson, vice-president of the Ermineskin Community League. He’s lived in the area for the past decade.

For most people, summer would be a time when they keep their windows open and let fresh air in, but for the residents of the area around 34 Avenue and 106 Street, keeping windows open is an invitation for the stench to waft inside.

Something may finally be done to stop the odour. A report being presented to the utility committee Monday shows a comprehensive strategy. It includes collection and analysis of odour-related reports from customers, an evaluation of drainage operation practices, an assessment of the waste water collection system and an understanding of how sewer gases move — specifically hydrogen sulphide generation mechanisms.

Ward 10 Coun. Michael Walters said the odour remains a huge issue in his ward.

“And it’s a problem that still needs to be dealt with,” he said. “We’ve been working on it for years trying to find the best way to resolve it.”

The report presented by Epcor to the utility committee says detailed concepts to address odour problems have been identified.

“The general mitigation solutions prescribed focus on minimizing sewer gases from escaping and preventing odour generation and corrosion in the sewer system,” the report states. “These principles require physical system changes, operational reviews and changes, design standard changes, improved construction practices, research and innovation, and longterm system monitoring.”

Eliminating sewage smell in the city’s neighbourhoods could cost about $450 million, according to the report.

The report says a number of changes are needed to reduce the stink.

These include making changes to existing shafts that convey waste water by making them deeper, construction of odour treatment facilities, and installation of vents to divert foul smells for treatment before they are discharged into the atmosphere. Walters said the committee will look closely at that number and create a list of priorities to tackle the odour.

Epcor drainage services has teamed up with Epcor water to build a database by “engaging the water-meter readers as sniffers while they take meter readings in the city.” This began in March earlier this year and will help supplement and update odour emission locations, the report said.

“It will provide an independent perspective regarding the geographic locations and frequency of odour issues across the city,” Epcor said.

“This will enable a more fulsome assessment of odour problems and hot spots, and it will provide a means to assess the success of system improvements.”

Epcor has also acquired a number of odour loggers and monitors that will be installed in the sewer system to get some baseline data to measure hydrogen sulphide, sewer air pressure and waste water quality at strategic locations throughout the city.

Nelson is relieved that the city and Epcor finally have a plan. But he also has a few questions.

“One of the worries is what will happen when Century Park housing towers come up. Will the sewers be able to handle the extra 8,000 residents?” he asked. “What will the effects be? Will we be able to flush our toilets in a few years?”