Before wastewater can be safely returned to the environment, organic and chemical contaminants need to be removed to protect the integrity of our natural resources. During the treatment process, however, unpleasant odors can be released into the areas surrounding the treatment plant and waft into public spaces and neighborhoods, resulting in complaints from residents.

The source of these odors can vary, but they are frequently caused by the collection and treatment of solid waste, chemical sludge, decomposition of organic matter, and inadequate odor control of these processes in the wastewater treatment plant. Any treatment plant, whether physical, chemical or biological, with a poorly designed or operated aerobic or anaerobic process is susceptible to generating bad odors. A popular method for treating odors is chemical cross-current scrubbing. In this process, the odor substances are absorbed into a scrubbing liquid, which is then dosed with chemicals.

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