What is it?

Odours and bad smells are part-and-parcel of transporting and treating wastewater. However, sometimes they are stronger and more noticeable than normal.

Odours are present at our treatment works, pumping stations, and sometimes drains.

More rarely they are found at water courses (rivers, sea etc) which could be a sign of a pollution.

When does it happen?

Odours can become stronger for a number of reasons, some are: 

• Higher temperatures – as sewage heats up, it begins to smell more. 
• Wind direction and speed – you may notice smells more if the wind is stronger and coming from the direction of the treatment works
• Blockages or volume of wastewater passing through the network – when sewage flows freely, odours are reduced naturally. However, if sewage is moving slower, or stops moving altogether, odours will build up.
• Pollution events – when sewage ends up in water courses, or in the ground.

What are we doing about odours?

We have odour reducing technology at all our wastewater treatment works to help stop bad smells from travelling outside the site. Part of this technology involves spraying the more smelly processes with a deodorant solution (essentially environmentally friendly Febreeze!).

We also have odour control units which take odours from sealed tanks on the works, neutralise it, and then release the air back into the environment.

What do I do if I notice odours?

If the smell is coming from the wastewater treatment works, it should die down again in a few hours – when the temperature/wind drops, for instance. However, if it doesn’t, please give us a call and we’ll look into it for you.