Sewage Treatment Plant Odor
The Northglenn sewage treatment plant located on the county line between Adams and Weld Counties and just east of Interstate 25 has been a real stinker recently. Hot weather, gentle breezes and poor operation by the City are to blame.
The treatment lagoons utilize various types of bacteria including aerobic, facultative and anaerobic. The odors came from the anaerobic bacteria that usually thrive near the bottom of the lagoon and the residue they leave. When they and their by-products float to the surface because of operational neglect, they leave their aromatic signature for all to enjoy.
The State has a special form called the Annual Biosolids Disposal Report. Note the word Annual. When a resident in the general vicinity of the sewerage plant sent a letter to the local paper on August 24th, he complained that he could not obtain a reason or explanation for the odor. He tried to get answers from the City of Northglenn, the Weld County Health Department and three State agencies all to no avail.
As a frequent critic of the current Northglenn staff and council, I chose to file a formal request for information utilizing a State law on open records. The response was as I and another had expected. The city did not remove and dispose of the anaerobic sludge from the bottom of the lagoons in 2002, 2003, 2004 or 2005 per official records. I still have to verify whether or not sludge was removed this year. I doubt it.
By neglecting to remove the sludge on a timely basis, the city appears to have allowed it to accumulate to a level higher than the pipelines from the high volume vane air pumps. The forced air is what keeps all aerobic bacteria in the upper levels of the lagoons reproductive and hungry. When the anaerobic bacteria and sludge levels are above the air supply lines they are forced upwards toward the lagoon surface bringing the foul odors with them.
The former, experienced staff that operated and supervised the sewage treatment plant operated it according to the standard operating practices and State Law. However, many knowledgeable employees were laid off or moved on during the reign of the former City Manager. With the incompetent or inexperienced staff that Phil Nelson hired all that remains, it is no wonder that the sewage plant, our streets and our reputation has hit a new low not seen since the fiasco on the water system purchase and fallout.
It is well past time for the City Council to get some answers on this and resolve other problems with the staff before the new City Manager is hired. I pity the poor soul who takes the manager position. May he possess the necessary skills to clean up this mess. It will be a tough road and a real measure of his ability.
The treatment lagoons utilize various types of bacteria including aerobic, facultative and anaerobic. The odors came from the anaerobic bacteria that usually thrive near the bottom of the lagoon and the residue they leave. When they and their by-products float to the surface because of operational neglect, they leave their aromatic signature for all to enjoy.
The State has a special form called the Annual Biosolids Disposal Report. Note the word Annual. When a resident in the general vicinity of the sewerage plant sent a letter to the local paper on August 24th, he complained that he could not obtain a reason or explanation for the odor. He tried to get answers from the City of Northglenn, the Weld County Health Department and three State agencies all to no avail.
As a frequent critic of the current Northglenn staff and council, I chose to file a formal request for information utilizing a State law on open records. The response was as I and another had expected. The city did not remove and dispose of the anaerobic sludge from the bottom of the lagoons in 2002, 2003, 2004 or 2005 per official records. I still have to verify whether or not sludge was removed this year. I doubt it.
By neglecting to remove the sludge on a timely basis, the city appears to have allowed it to accumulate to a level higher than the pipelines from the high volume vane air pumps. The forced air is what keeps all aerobic bacteria in the upper levels of the lagoons reproductive and hungry. When the anaerobic bacteria and sludge levels are above the air supply lines they are forced upwards toward the lagoon surface bringing the foul odors with them.
The former, experienced staff that operated and supervised the sewage treatment plant operated it according to the standard operating practices and State Law. However, many knowledgeable employees were laid off or moved on during the reign of the former City Manager. With the incompetent or inexperienced staff that Phil Nelson hired all that remains, it is no wonder that the sewage plant, our streets and our reputation has hit a new low not seen since the fiasco on the water system purchase and fallout.
It is well past time for the City Council to get some answers on this and resolve other problems with the staff before the new City Manager is hired. I pity the poor soul who takes the manager position. May he possess the necessary skills to clean up this mess. It will be a tough road and a real measure of his ability.
posted by Gene Wieneke at
3:45 PM
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