Many holidaymakers want to enjoy the West Coast of Sweden, which poses a challenge for Marstrand’s wastewater treatment plant. The high load in summer time led to an unsustainable situation. The stench was difficult, but the solution simple:

“I have no previous experience of ionization, but we didn’t have much to lose from testing. And damn what a difference it made, says Kim Särvegård, operations manager, VA-Drift(water and sewage) in Kungälv municipality.

Marstrand’s wastewater treatment plant installed a large ventilation plant a few years ago, in order to handle the working environment inside the wastewater treatment plant. 

“But despite the fact that the ventilation system is oversized, we still had major problems with odours, especially when it comes to incoming, i.e. the first cleaning step,” says Kim Särvegård.

The scented vapors with hydrogen sulphide in combination with all other sewage smells settled both in clothes and in noses. Even if you get used to it – or rather, have to stand out – the smell finally became such a big health and safety problem that Kim Särvegård had to act. 

“There are many products on the market that promise miracles when it comes to removing fragrances at pumping stations and the like, and I am probably a little generally sceptical about such promises. But our smell problems required immediate action, and the ionization-solution presented by Ekoion’s representative sounded good. We decided to accept their solution. It was a decision that Kim Särvegård has not had to regret:

“The difference is extremely noticable, and it was immediately noticeable. There is still a sewage scent, but it is so incredibly much better than before. It is now possible to stay on the premises.

In the other parts of the wastewater treatment plant, we have a lot of pools, so the air is so fresh that it is basically like being outdoors. The installation itself was surprisingly quick and painless. All the pipes were already in place, and it was easy to switch on the ionization equipment at the existing plant. “Nothing needed to be turned off, and nothing interfered with day-to-day operations. The successful result has meant that one can now imagine going ahead and installing ionization at more pumping stations within the municipality, to address precisely these problems with extreme odour.

Kim also has a partner in the same industry, so there will be some ionization talk even at home. “She works at a larger central treatment plant, and I have tipped her off about the possibilities. She also notices herself that it works because my clothes no longer smell” kim smiles.