Bureau of Wastewater Treatment and Collection
Sewer Odors
It is a fact of life that sometimes sewers will give off a bad odor. The Department
of Watershed Management has instituted odor control at all of its wastewater
treatment facilities, and the rehabilitation of the sewer system will eliminate
the overflows and sewer main breaks that give off a strong sewage smell. Sewer
odors may also come from your household system.
Here are some tips for reducing household sewer odors:
• The “p” trap under every sink, tub and floor drain is a water
barrier that keeps sewer odors from coming back into your house.
Normal use will keep the “p” traps full of water. Don’t make any
plumbing hook-up straight into the house side sewer—always install
a “p” trap.
• Periodically run water through drains that aren’t used often,
such as floor or garage drains or utility sinks. Make sure all
plumbing vents go outside the house. Standard plumbing per code
will ensure proper venting.
• The Department of Watershed Management is committed to odor control.
However, we cannot guarantee that there will never be odors in
our system. Occasionally, equipment will need to be shut down for
clean up, preventive maintenance or repairs.
If you experience strong sewer odors, contact 404.624.0751 (you
may dial 0752 through 0756 if busy).
|