Borough of Conshohocken Authority Aims to 'Significantly Decrease' Odors Stemming from Wastewater Treatment Plant

By summer 2016, the Borough of Conshohocken Authority – the entity which owns and operates the Conshohocken Wastewater Treatment Plant – intends to dramatically reduce odors coming from its facilities.

Following an odor control study undertaken in summer 2014 to determine the cause and strength of odorous compounds, the Borough of Conshohocken Authority is finalizing a contract with nationally recognized Webster Environmental Associates, of Louisville, Ky., to “significantly decrease” offsite odors, according to Jim Ross, the company’s project manager.

Ross said Webster Environmental Associates, an industry leader in odor control solutions, intends to complete the design phase within six months and finish construction eight months afterward. Timing is close, but Ross said the plan is for the project to conclude prior to summer 2016.

Last summer’s air sample collection and testing from each process at the wastewater treatment plant warranted the need for improvements, Ross said. Samples were evaluated by a lab to determine the strength of odorous compounds.

Results of the study were input into an EPA-approved air dispersion modeling program to identify the processes that most needed odor control.

Ross said the Authority is going “above and beyond” his firm’s recommended treatment.

“Not every project does the air dispersion modeling,” Ross said. “It takes more effort. What they are implementing exceeds our expectations.”

Stephen Clark, the Authority’s Executive Director, said the planned improvements are the Authority’s way of being a good neighbor.

“We take odor complaints seriously,” Clark said. “We are committed to mitigating the odors coming from our wastewater treatment plant and ensuring we are in compliance with all DEP and EPA regulations.”

Felix Raimondo, Borough of Conshohocken Authority Chairman, said the Authority’s board has been planning for some time to put improved odor control safeguards in place.

“We, as a board, decided to remedy the situation in the best ways possible,” Raimondo said. “Following protocols lauded by the Environmental Protection Agency ensures that our community will benefit from the best outcome.”

About the Borough of Conshohocken Authority

The Authority provides wastewater treatment to 3,000 residents of Conshohocken and surrounding communities. For more information, visit http://www.conshohockensa.com/ or call 610-828-0979.