A smelly problem in Morphett Vale in southern Adelaide is being dealt with. Intermittent smells from the sewers will soon be snuffed out for southern suburbs residents, with a new $6.7 million odour control unit to be installed at Morphett Vale to improve the management of localised sewer network odour.
The unit – an intricate system of filters, pipes, and valves – will connect to the sewer network through an existing pipe near Timothy Road, where it can extract and treat odorous gases such as hydrogen sulphide.
South Australian Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Nick Champion, said, “Our sewers play an essential role in protecting public health and every effort is made to ensure the operation of this infrastructure happens as seamlessly as possible without impacting the local community.
“The new odour control unit to be installed at Morphett Vale is a great example of SA Water investing in a fit-for-purpose solution, which is in direct response to ongoing feedback from its customers.”
While safe at the low levels emitted by sewers – which is necessary to ventilate the network and reduce the risk of corrosion – the gases are responsible for creating the unpleasant odour residents have noticed at times.
The odour control unit will remove the gases using two large extraction fans and treat them through a biofilter and activated carbon filters.
Biofilters harness air to help microorganisms break up organic material in sewage gases, while carbon filters neutralise smells by trapping molecules through adsorption – eliminating around 99.9 per cent of odour.
Once treated, clean and odourless air will be released from the unit by a 15m-tall vent stack.
Member for Reynell, Katrine Hildyard, said, “The new odour control unit is welcome news for Morphett Vale community members. I am pleased that this problem is being fixed.
“Many local community members and visitors to our area know how off-putting this smell can be. I am proud that our State Government is listening to people and has found a solution that eradicates this odour.”
Following feedback from residents, SA Water tracked odour movement within a targeted area of Morphett Vale. It pinpointed the source of elevated odours to a specific trunk main responsible for transferring large volumes of sewage.
The change in topography and resulting grades in this section of the sewer network causes turbulence and faster hydrogen sulphide release.
The unit will be strategically built on a section of land between Timothy Road and Yeldham Drive, due to its proximity to this pipe and ability to ventilate upstream and downstream sections – treating the odour before it’s noticeable to residents.
Detailed design work for the new odour control unit is now underway, with SA Water expected to commence construction in early 2025.
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