Background

The El Dorado Hills Wastewater Treatment Plant (EDHWWTP) is located east of Latrobe Road within the community of El Dorado Hills.  When the plant was originally constructed in 1962 the area was very remote.  Since then the facility has consistently been encroached upon as the community has expanded south of Highway 50. Most recently, the Blackstone residential community was developed that included some residential lots located within 300 feet of the plant. As part of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the Regional Water Quality Control Board to operate the facility, the District is required to prevent objectionable odors from leaving the District’s property. Additionally, terms of the Permit to Operate issued by El Dorado County Air Quality Management District (AQMD) prohibit the discharge of objectionable odors from our facility. The EDHWWTP has received a number of odor complaints from residents as well as notice from the AQMD regarding concerns over potential odors emanating from the facility. 

To mitigate foul odors, staff has consistently performed regular maintenance on the existing odor control devices; however, maintenance is costly and the District still receives foul air complaints from surrounding properties. Therefore, staff has proposed further upgrades to improve odor control capabilities and maintain compliance concerning odor emissions. 

Staff identified two portions of the treatment plant that are potentially significant contributors of detectable foul odors. 

1. The equalization tanks that contain incoming municipal wastewater. 
2. Headworks area which marks the beginning of the treatment process.

Although each of the equalization tanks has an existing carbon scrubber odor control unit, these scrubbers have proven to be problematic as each of the units has suffered internal structural failure. Additionally, the carbon media requires routine replacement, costing approximately $50,000 annually. The headworks area is currently served by two biofilters via foul air ducting; however, more inlets are needed to improve capture of foul odors.

Staff has proposed that the two existing carbon scrubbers be replaced with a single biotrickling filter that will serve both equalization tanks and additional foul air ducting for the headworks area. We anticipate the biotrickling filter commissioning to take place mid--December 2019.

At the conclusion of construction of the odor control upgrades, the plant will undergo a comprehensive air balance of the foul air removal system effort in attempts to identify and control any additional locations of foul air emission.

Environmental Review

The District, acting as the Lead Agency, must comply with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements for the project. Staff has determined that the proposed project falls within a Class 1 CEQA Categorical Exemption as the maintenance and repair of existing facilities involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency‘s determination (CEQA Guidelines §15301). Staff has prepared and filed a Notice of Exemption from CEQA with the El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk's office.

Funding and Award of Contract

Funding for this project was identified in the 2019 CIP. The funding source is 100% wastewater rates. This project and its funding was identified in the 2019-2023 CIP that the Board approved on January 28, 2019.

The Board awarded the contract to Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. as the lowest responsible bidder at their the April 8, 2019 regular Board meeting.

Ways to Stay Informed

• E-News: Sign up for eNews and receive periodic updates on this project by email. Under the News and Calendar options select “EDHWWTP Odor Control Project”.
• Phone or Mail: Contact the project manager/engineer, Liz Carrington, by phone at (530) 642-4077, orby email at lcarrington@eid.org.