PLEASE VISIT EVOQUA.COM FOR OUR LIVE WEBSITE.
Wastewater odor is a nuisance and can be a danger to public health. Odor originates as the organics in the wastewater breakdown, releasing a smell like rotten eggs, decaying vegetation, ammonia and more. Evoqua provides a broad range of solutions for effective wastewater odor control.
The chart below provides details of the most common odorants found in wastewater. While organic and amine odors can be a nuisance, the primary wastewater odor of concern is hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S). Concentrations of H2S as low as 0.0005 ppm can trigger odor complaints from the surrounding community.
| Substance | Characteristic |
|---|---|
| Allyl Mercaptan | Strong garlic, coffee |
| Amines | Fishy |
| Ammonia | Ammoniacal |
| Amyl Mercaptan | Unpleasant, putrid |
| Benzyl Mercaptan | Unpleasant, strong |
| Crotyl Mercaptan | Skunk |
| Diamines (cadaverine) | Decayed flesh |
| Dimethyl Sulfide | Decayed vegetables |
| Ethyl Mercaptan | Decayed cabbage |
| Hydrogen Sulfide | Rotten Eggs |
| Methyl Mercaptan | Decayed cabbage |
| Propyl Mercaptan | Unpleasant |
| Skatole | Fecal |
| Sulfur Dioxide | Pungent, irritating |
| Tert-Butyl Mercaptan | Skunk |
| Thiocresol | Skunk, rancid |
| Thiophenol | Putrid, garlic |
The good news is that all of these wastewater odors can be controlled with the right treatment plan. Evoqua offers a wide range of solutions and services that can be optimized to prevent and eliminate odors in your wastewater. As a result, you can effectively eliminate odor complaints and protect the public health.
