Hyperion Odor Control

HYPERION WATER RECLAMATION PLANT
ODOR CONTROL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
September 2022

LA Sanitation and Environment (LASAN) operates the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant (Hyperion) located in Playa Del Rey, California. Hyperion treats sewage from over four million people within the City of Los Angeles and from nearby cities including El Segundo, Culver City, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, San Fernando, Glendale and Burbank.

LASAN has met for over a decade, on a quarterly basis, with residents of the City of El Segundo to receive input on planned capital improvement projects and address community concerns, with the most recent meeting on July 21, 2022.

We take community input seriously. In fact, community input from El Segundo residents has resulted in significant improvements in odor control equipment and systems at Hyperion. To that end, LASAN will work with AQMD to continue deployment of best available odor control technologies, and improve operations and maintenance best practices at Hyperion in compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.

LASAN has made or is in the process of making improvements to address and minimize odor emissions at Hyperion at a substantial investment of over $102 million dollars. These improvements are as follows.

Completed Projects:

Headworks Biotrickling Filters (BTF) for Odor Control ($14 million)

In April 2022, LASAN completed the Headworks BTF Odor Control facility at a cost of $14 million. This BTF replaced aging odor control equipment that used chemicals to treat foul air. BTFs use microorganisms to remove pollutants from the foul air stream and have final stage carbon polishers, which remove any remaining trace odors. This project is a great example of LASAN implementing community input from El Segundo residents regarding implementation of environmentally sustainable projects to phase out the use of chemicals where feasible without sacrificing the plant’s obligations to comply with applicable regulatory requirements.
Intermediate Pumping Station BTF for Odor Control ($7.5 million)

In April 2022, LASAN completed the Intermediate Pumping Station BTF Odor Control facility at a cost of $7.5 million. This BTF replaced aging odor control equipment that used chemicals to treat foul air. This project was also implemented with input from El Segundo residents regarding implementation of environmentally sustainable projects to phase out the use of chemicals where feasible without sacrificing Hyperion’s obligations to comply with applicable regulatory requirements.
Tarp Installation on Primary Treatment Sedimentation Tank Covers

LASAN has installed tarps over primary sedimentation tank covers as a temporary measure to minimize odor emissions until ongoing work to install new primary sedimentation tank covers is complete.

Ongoing Projects:

Hyperion Continuous Fence Line Monitoring System ($723 K)

Installation of Continuous Fence Line Monitoring Systems is not a requirement for wastewater treatment plants such as Hyperion. These systems are typically installed at refineries regulated under AQMD Rule 1180 requirements.

LASAN is installing three Continuous Fence Line Monitoring Stations at the eastern boundary of Hyperion (Imperial Hwy to W. Grand Blvd.) and the city of El Segundo at a cost of over $723,000. The South Continuous Fence Line Monitoring Station for hydrogen sulfide which is in the vicinity of W. Grand Blvd. is installed and was operational on May 11, 2022. The North Continuous Fence Line Monitoring Station for hydrogen sulfide, which is in the vicinity of Imperial Hwy, is installed and was operational on August 30, 2022. LASAN worked with AQMD to identify a temporary site for installation of the continuous Central Fence Line Monitoring Station and the station will be relocated to its intended permanent location upon the completion of the Hyperion Perimeter Road construction. The continuous Central Fence Line Monitoring Station equipment is in storage awaiting installation pending completion of engineering design, and installation of foundation and electrical equipment. Continuous fence line monitoring data is available at: www.lacitysan.org/hyperionair.
Primary Treatment Sedimentation Tanks Cover Replacement ($14.5 M)

HWRP has 27 rectangular primary treatment sedimentation tanks divided into four batteries that are utilized to settle and remove solids in wastewater. Primary Batteries A, B, C and D have a total capacity of 36 million gallons.

LASAN is working to replace primary sedimentation tank covers at a cost of over $14.5 million. Primary tank covers provide access and safety for Hyperion operations and maintenance staff working on and around equipment. Primary sedimentation tank covers also contain foul air, which is collected and treated in the odor control system.

Replacement of aging tank covers will minimize emissions of hydrogen sulfide from primary tanks and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of primary odor control scrubbers which will significantly reduce odor emissions at the Hyperion fence line.

Replacement of primary tank covers will proceed one battery at a time in each of the plant’s four primary sedimentation tank batteries to ensure there is capacity to adequately treat wastewater in compliance with regulatory requirements including discharge into the Santa Monica Bay.

LASAN is implementing this project as fast as possible but global supply chain issues associated with manufacturing, in addition to labor shortages are impacting the pace of this work.
Primary Treatment Chemical Scrubbers Refurbishment ($1 M)

LASAN is working on refurbishing primary treatment centralized chemical scrubbers at a projected cost of $1 million. This project will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the primary odor control scrubbers which will reduce odor emissions at the Hyperion fence line. These Primary Treatment Chemical Scrubbers will eventually be replaced by a BTF system that will use microorganisms to remove pollutants from the foul air stream.
Primary Treatment Sedimentation Tanks Refurbishment ($20 M)

LASAN is currently implementing two capital improvement projects at a cost of $20 million to improve primary sedimentation tank equipment functionality and reliability thereby reducing odor generation that result from equipment breakdowns.
Truck Loading Facility Odor Control System Project ($7.8 M)

LASAN is in the process of completing the Truck Loading Facility Odor Control System Modernization Project at a cost of $7.8 million. This project is scheduled to be completed by December 2022 and will contribute to improving odor control at Hyperion.
Primary Treatment Biotrickling Filters ($37 M)

This project is intended to replace the existing primary treatment chemical scrubbers with a biotrickling filter (BTF) system with a total of 120,000 cubic-feet of air per minute at an estimated cost of $37 million with construction in fiscal year 2024-25. The BTFs will use microorganisms to remove pollutants from the foul air stream.

Click here to receive email notifications for elevated levels of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) at the fence line of the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant.