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Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Environment - Northwest ethanol smell still lingers
"Northwest ethanol smell still lingers" is the headline to a story today in the South Bend Tribune. Some quotes:
The smell originates from the organic waste produced by the New Energy plant. The effluent is treated and goes into the city's combined sewer and storm overflows. But treating the effluent so it doesn't make people ill has been an ongoing challenge.Jack Dillon, city director of environmental services, said a pump problem at the ethanol Friday has been repaired. For a few days at the beginning of December, the city also ran out of ferrous chloride, an iron salt that has been successfully used to control effluence odors in other cities. * * *
The city began adding ferrous chloride to the effluent coming from the plant in November. It's a pilot program that the city is still experimenting with, Dillon said. The amount of ferrous chloride put into the treatment process is constantly adjusted to find which rate works best. Tests are performed each day, and so far the new chemical has been working, Dillon said. Environmental services is continuing to order more of the iron salt as needed. * * *
The New Energy Corp. plant, which opened in 1984, has caused odor problems for years. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found the plant was emitting toxins into the air in 2002. The plant added a $2.7 million regenerative thermal oxidizer to minimize toxins and control the odor. Once the oxidizer collects the emissions it burns them, creating water.
Dillon said city officials are planning on meeting with New Energy in January to discuss the ferrous chloride results and the company's role in solving the problem.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on December 14, 2005 12:41 PM
Posted to Environment