West Hollywood : Sewage Plant Battles Odors
Los Angeles sanitation officials are trying to clear the air after Culver City residents raised a big stink over the stench that has been permeating parts of the city for almost a year.
Sam Furuta, assistant director at the Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation, said a task force has found that excess hydrogen sulfide was causing the “fugitive odors” escaping from the North Outfall Treatment Facility into the Carlson Park neighborhood and the nearby Raintree condominium complex.
Hydrogen sulfide, which smells like rotten eggs, is a by-product of the chemical breakdown of sewage sludge. The normal presence of the gas is 10 to 20 parts per million, yet sanitation officials said up to 500 parts per million have been measured at the facility.
Furuta said the odor may be reduced this week when ferrous chloride will be added at the plant to neutralize the hydrogen sulfide. Plant officials also replaced the carbon filters on the plant’s scrubbers and have examined manholes to make sure they are sealed tight.
Furuta sent a letter of apology to Raintree residents explaining the problem and the actions taken to purge the area of the stench.
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