Logan uses wireless tech to monitor air quality

Portable wireless technology is being used by Logan City Council to monitor air quality around wastewater treatment facilities.

This technology trial is allowing the council to react immediately to any elevated hydrogen sulfide odours.

It also triggers an alarm if predetermined odour levels are exceeded.

The battery-powered device, which is not much bigger than the size of a mobile phone, has been monitoring air quality around Council’s Beenleigh Wastewater Treatment Plant at Eagleby since March this year.

The results from this monitoring have been used to assess the performance of the facility’s odour treatment system and guide improvements to the management of odour around the site.

Previously, air quality around treatment plants was logged by devices that were downloaded manually after a set period of time or by analysing air samples taken by staff, which could take several days.

The new technology allows Council to quickly pre-empt any possible odour concerns raised by residents.

The data can be used in conjunction with wind and weather data to locate the source of any detected odour.

The trial is being conducted in conjunction with Queensland-based gas monitoring company Acrulog.

Results of the trial will be reviewed in coming months before a decision is made on whether to install devices at other council waste treatment facilities.

Image caption: Treatment supervisor William Smith examines the device monitoring odour levels at Logan City Council’s Beenleigh Wastewater Treatment Plant.

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