Meadowbrook-Limestone Improvements
Project Highlights
Odors are a common issue at wastewater facilities and, for the past decade, WEP has initiated capital projects at all of its facilities without odor control systems to be a better neighbor. WEP’s odor control project at the Meadowbrook-Limestone Wastewater Treatment Plant (MBLS) started in 2021 with a study to locate sources of odor. The Odor Evaluation, completed in 2022, is the basis for our MBLS Odor Control capital project and identified causes of odors and outlined solutions to reduce the unpleasant smells.
Evaluation Highlights
Two sources of odor were identified:
• Thickened digested sludge holding tanks
These tanks hold the organic solids removed from wastewater until they are hauled to the Metro Syracuse plant for further processing.
• influent structure
After traversing the sewer system, this is the first stop for wastewater at MBLS.
Odor issues at both sources are largely due to increased levels of Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S), the colorless gas known for a pungent rotten egg smell. H2S is generated naturally in the sewer system by bacteria in areas with low or no oxygen in the sewage.
From this report, WEP has been building a game plan to tackle odor issues at MBLS, which will include covering the sludge holding tanks and installing odor treatment systems that will remove the H2S and other odor compounds from air exhausted from the tanks and influent building. This is a modification of the treatment plant operations which is subject to review and approval by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). We hired a project design engineer in 2023 to prepare all the documents needed for regulatory and funding approvals.
Projected Schedule
Summer 2024 |
Design Engineer submits Basis of Design report to NYSDEC for review and approval |
FalL 2024 |
Legislative project authorization, as part of Onondaga County’s 2025 Budget and the 2025 – 2030 Capital Improvement Plan |
june 2026 |
Drawings and specifications for construction are expected to be complete by June 2026. These documents have been reviewed by NYSDEC and are anticipated to receive final approval in June 2026. |
june 2026 |
Legislative authorization for construction funding |
fall 2026 |
Start of construction |