SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT'S EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT

[construction786]

This hospital project has a Sewage Treatment Plant that treats raw sewage for use in irrigation.
The large paddles in the batch reactor process churn the water in the open holding tank (before it is decanted and routed to the chlorination tank) which generates a fair amount of vapor of foul smell in close proximity of the hospital which is also a nuisance for the nearby neighborhood.
I wonder that on the one hand we take so many measures about cross contamination control, but at the same time allow the mist from STP to escape into the atmosphere. Are there any solutions? Are there any codes preventing the open to atmosphere process tanks ?

 

[bimr]

If one followed good engineering practice, you would not locate a treatment plant in close proximity to a neighborhood or business. 200 feet is probably an adequate buffer distance.

There are no absolute codes to enforce a buffer distance.

 

[micalbrch]

I would call 200 feet a minimum distance. 600-1000 feet is more common pratice - at least in Central Europe.

 

[JedClampett]

You can cover the basins, ventilate and odor control the gas. This costs lots of money and is a potential maintenance nighmare.
But we do it all the time.

 

[bimr]

Good point JedClampett.

Another point is that the emissions are not generally hazardous to your health. Emissions from wastewater treatment plants are considered a nuisance and aesthetic problem, not a hazard. Studies of treatment plants have not shown employees to be at undue risk.

 

[Lan123]

Hospital waste can contain harzadous materials. If the treated water is used for irrigation (without removing the harzadous material), the public will be at risk.

 

[bimr]

Hospitals are not supposed to be dumping hazardous materials into the sewage system.

Water used for irrigation is generally required to be filtered and disinfected so that there should be no undue risk to the public from recycled irrigation water when wastewater plants are following and being operated in accordance with regulations.