Predicting the likelihood that odour from a wastewater treatment works could reach a new residential development
The Hailsham South Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW) provides services to a catchment population of approximately 30,000 people in southern UK.
Photos
Services provided
The Challenge
Our client, a developer, was planning to build for residential land use on Old Swan Lane in Hailsham, which is located by the WwTW. There was concern about odour from the works potentially reaching the new residents.
Our Approach
RWDI’s team of air quality experts:
- Conducted an odour assessment using the AERMOD dispersion model to present the extent of odour annoyance by determining concentrations based on typical emissions data.
- Prepared contour plots to graphically represent the dispersion of odour across the area.
The Outcome
Our model predictions revealed that a small portion of the proposed development closest to the WwTW could be exposed to offensive odours and therefore be subject to possible odour annoyance. As a conservative approach, our report suggested receptors were not introduced within the affected area until improvements were made in the WwTW site.