Residents breathing a little easier lately can probably thank the upgrades at the local Wastewater Treatment Facility. As reported on December 9, the notorious stench that once emanated from the plant has been "substantially mitigated," thanks to a series of interventions aimed at putting a lid on the foul smells.
The City of Atlantic Beach has detailed the progress of its Odor Assessment and Preliminary Action Plan, citing several completed improvements. These include the installation of lightweight covers and functional air lines connected to the BioAir unit at the Influent Screens. Furthermore, the Centrifuge Building BioAir unit has been revived with necessary repairs, and upgrades to the carbon media have been completed. The Davco Biosolids Processing Facility has made strides with a new agreement to remove liquid sludge, with the remaining sludge removal currently underway.
Odor-control measures have not stopped there. Perimeter fencing has been erected for the Dumpsters under Influent Screens and for the Drying Beds — with the latter completed by November 10. In an effort to decrease the stench, the use of the drying beds closest to Donner Road has been discontinued. When the beds are in use, lime is now applied to the solids to manage the odor. Additionally, improvements to the Sludge Truck & Cleaning Area were executed with immediate effect.
However, not all items on the odor mitigation checklist have been crossed off just yet. The Influent Splitter Box remains untouched, and further investigation into peroxide injection, and development of ad hoc ways to pump return activated sludge during waste processing are still pending. Despite this, the tangible progress made elsewhere at the facility has evidently made a difference to the air quality surrounding the plant, much to the relief of local nostrils.
