Ludington taking steps to reduce wastewater plant odors.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

LUDINGTON — The city has announced that it is taking more steps to alleviate the odors originating from its wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) on Sixth Street. Two weeks ago, several residents contacted MCP with concerns about the odors from the plant. See related story here.

Since that time, a Facebook page has been set up called “Concerned Locals” to allow residents to air their concerns about the issue.

City Manager John Shay said part of the reason for the odor is that the plant’s aeration system has reached the end of its life expectancy and the plant is having trouble providing enough air into the sewer lagoons to prevent the odors.

“The program is a two step process,” Shay said about resolving the odor issue. “First, the city has requested the appropriate industrial users to reduce the amount of biological oxygen demand waste that they send to the WWTP. All have agreed to cooperate with the city in this regard.

“Second, the city has consulted with an engineering firm to provide recommendations on short-term repairs to the aeration system at the WWTP. The repairs are intended to improve the WWTP operation until such time that the WWTP is completely upgraded in about two years.”

Shay said the city is taking the following steps based on the engineer’s recommendations:

The city is contacting a contractor familiar with working on city utilities to excavate and make temporary repairs to the aeration system. The system consists of a series of pipes. Air is pumped through the pipes to the wastewater lagoons to provide oxygen to the biological process used to treat the wastewater.

“The ability to return the proper amount of air into the lagoons will have a direct impact on mitigating the odors at the WWTP,” Shay said.

The city is also obtaining information from private companies that provide odor management services.

“These services could either be used in conjunction with the temporary repairs to teh aeration system or used in the event that such repairs do not completely resolve the odor issue,” Shay said.

The city is also evaluating other ways to maintain the wastewater lagoons in an effort to reduce the potential for conditions that caused the odors to occur at the plant.

Shay said the city will continue to keep the public informed as the program develops.

“We sincerely appreciate the community’s patience and understanding while we work as quickly as possible to resolve the odor issue.”