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Phone: 1-800-383-0834Email: mywater@epcor.com
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We're working to continue to reduce odour emissions from the plant, improve monitoring and report data in a preferred format for the community.
With over $10 million invested in odour reduction, see the results from our investments and future odour projects.
Learn more
Odour at Gold Bar are a natural part of the treatment process; we continue to meet air quality objectives.
View our monthly air quality fenceline monitoring reports and see how annual odour levels have decreased over time.
$10 million in odour mitigation projects has been completed to date at the Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and has significantly helped reduce odour emissions. Some projects include:
Our investments are showing results, and there has been a significant reduction in odours from 2017 to 2018. At the intake part of the plant, in particular, H2S readings are 80% lower than in the previous year.
At the Gold Bar WWTP, we're taking steps to ensure odour levels consistently meet current and future standards and are safe for health and recreation. When it comes to monitoring and reporting odours, we hope to achieve the following:
Additional, continuous air quality monitoring in a place closer to the fenceline;
Real time results that are available in a format that is useful for stakeholders; and
New regulatory monitoring and reporting that gives stakeholders the information they need to assure the air quality is safe for health and recreation.
We'll be carrying out several projects that will further reduce odours coming from Gold Bar WWTP, while also meeting current and future odour level standards:
In coordination with Alberta Environment and Parks, EPCOR is planning to install a new continuous monitoring station between the Gold Bar WWTP and the nearest receptors (homes along 109A Avenue).
We want to hear from you! Where do you think we should install this new air monitoring station?
We believe in listening to and engaging stakeholders. Community input and involvement is an important part of our decision-making and we want to hear what you think about our initiatives.
Phone: (780) 412-3599Email: Goldbarprojects@epcor.com
Our commitments to you
Odours sometimes occur at Gold Bar and are a normal part of the treatment process due to the raw wastewater that flows through the plant. Most of these odours are related to hydrogen sulphide gas (H2S). H2S levels around Gold Bar can vary based on plant activities like maintenance work or from changes in water flow due to melting snow or rain. Most odours at Gold Bar come from the preliminary and primary treatment buildings, with some odour coming from the solid treatment buildings.
If you are concerned about odours near the Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant, contact the City of Edmonton at 311 and leave your contact information.
The City shares these concerns with us and we will follow up within 24 hours to investigate and address the issue.
The safety of the public and our employees is always our number one priority. We are constantly monitoring air quality levels at Gold Bar to confirm our odour-control systems are working properly.
EPCOR actively measures H2S levels at the plant. We're also members of the Strathcona Industrial Association (SIA), which does environmental monitoring across the region, including ambient air quality. While there are occasional times that H2S levels at the plant exceed Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives (such as during equipment maintenance), our H2S levels are much lower than those that can bring health concerns outlined in OH&S legislation.
If the H2S levels ever exceed the OH&S legislation limits, EPCOR will let you know of any concerns and any precautions you should take. One of the ways we will notify you is our through our water outages and alerts page. Any alarms you hear at the Gold Bar plant are specific to onsite workers and don't apply to nearby communities.
As mentioned, EPCOR is a member of the Strathcona Industrial Association (SIA) Ambient Air Monitoring Network. The SIA conducts environmental monitoring across the East Edmonton and Strathcona County region. Their monitoring assesses ambient air quality. There are two monitoring stations near the Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Beverly Station
Goldbar Station
EPCOR consistently monitors 8 locations around the Gold Bar plant fenceline for H2S levels (numbered). The readings at these stations are spot readings which may only exist for a moment in time, so these results are not compared to standards that are quantified in 1-hour, 8-hour or 24-hour averages.
Data from the previous month is posted by the 15th of the following month.
The chart below shows the average H2S levels from spot readings recorded annually at each station.
Average Parts Per Billion (ppb)
