Due to complaints from residents of the Mijaczów district about the nuisance of the odor from the sewage treatment plant, the Mayor of the City of Myszków, Janusz Romaniuk, has instructed his subordinate services to urgently clarify the situation at the facility and take action to minimize the impact of the technological processes of the treatment plant on the environment.
As a result of the inspection at the facility, it was determined that the sewage sludge drying process in the “sunny dryer” in May and the first decade of June was disrupted due to unfavorable atmospheric conditions. Intense and prolonged rainfall, high relative humidity, almost complete lack of sunny days, and low atmospheric pressure had a significant impact on the non-compliant drying process, leading to the activation of putrefaction processes, which in turn were responsible for the intense and unbearable odor for the surroundings. The facility staff, after consultation with the dryer technologists and designers, have already taken action to remove the putrefied sludge from the dryer area and subject it to the disposal process.
At present, the facility is undergoing cleaning and disinfection. It has been agreed with the mayor’s services that the further drying processes of subsequent batches of sludge will be closely monitored and adjusted to the predicted atmospheric conditions in order to minimize the release of odors to the environment and to prevent the recurrence of putrefaction of sewage sludge in the future.
Below is an explanation from the President of ZWiK sp. z o.o. in Myszków, Ryszard Woszczyk, regarding the situation.
Information regarding the sewage sludge drying technology:
Due to the increased nuisance of the odor from the sewage treatment plant, we would like to inform that:
1. The sludge for the sunny sewage sludge dryer has been introduced during its technological start-up since November 2009. The sludge batch from November was dried in the dryer to 59.4% dry matter and removed from the dryer in April. After testing by OBiKŚ in Katowice, it was handed over for disposal to the KTM Bierutów Company. 34.98Mg of dried sludge was obtained from the 100Mg. By the end of April, no complaints regarding the odor from the sewage treatment plant were reported.
2. The second batch of sewage sludge was introduced into the drying hall depending on the technical conditions until the end of April 2010.
In May, problems occurred with the odor emitted by the dried sludge. The drying process is carried out according to the instructions of the County Sunny Sewage Sludge Dryer, which, among others, specifies that:
– The sludge should be systematically turned and simultaneously aerated during drying to prevent putrefaction and emission of odors outside the drying hall,
– Air exchange in the dryer should be as large as possible. The gates at both ends of the hall should always be open. They should only be closed during frost or heavy rainfall.
Due to unfavorable weather conditions in May and June, such as very high humidity, heavy and intense rainfall, low atmospheric pressure, and mainly a lack of sunny days, despite the process being carried out according to the instructions, the sludge putrefied and as a result began to emit odors.
Currently, regardless of the degree of drying, the sludge has been removed from the hall and stored in the storage yard. After necessary tests by OBiKŚ in Katowice, it will be handed over for disposal according to the test results. After the hall is cleaned and prepared, a new batch of sludge will undergo drying according to the designer’s recommendations.
Myszków, June 15, 2010.