Equipment issues, hot weather create repeat of odour issue at Revelstoke’s sewage lagoon

The city of Revelstoke says equipment issues, contractor timing and the recent heat wave are all factors in causing a repeat of the sewer odour issue in recent days.

A public notice released by the city this afternoon said two blowers have only been working intermittently for the past week, meaning less air is getting into the ponds. To help mitigate the problem chemical dosing and manual management of the blowers has been implemented. External testing has been completed to determine the issue and staff are looking at options for repair and replacement.

Upgrades to the aeration system in pond one were originally slated to begin on July 9, however that work did not begin until Tuesday, July 17. The upgrades should be completed by Thursday.

“Some odour as a result of this work will occur as it does involve pulling existing equipment from the bottom of the pond and replacing it with more aggressive aeration and mixing,” said the notice. “The city is working very hard to remedy these issues and apologizes to residents affected by the odour.

Recent city council and community stakeholder meetings about updating Revelstoke’s development cost charge bylaw have also brought the issues plaguing Revelstoke’s sewer treatment plant to centre stage. In an email to the Mountaineer director of engineering Mike Thomas said the sewer treatment plant is the biggest individual project identified.