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El Segundo staff report surge in odor complaints at Hyperion; staff to draft letter for abatement
Summary
City staff reported about 60 odor complaints over two weeks linked to Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant, said three notices of violation were issued, and that staff will draft a letter for the next public hearing. Officials also noted unusually high storm flows and an independent liaison and survey from Heal the Bay.
City staff told the El Segundo City Council that the city has received about 60 odor complaints in the past two weeks related to the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant and that the city issued three notices of violation tied to public-nuisance claims. Staff said they are drafting a letter for the next public hearing to continue the abatement order.
The staff report said the plant handled peak storm flows of about 570,000,000 gallons per day during a February rain event and that average flow at the facility is about 260 million gallons per day; the plant was designed for roughly 440 million gallons per day. City staff described much of the excess water as intrusion through manholes and other inflow that the system is not designed to carry.
Staff also said Meredith McCarthy of Heal the Bay will serve as the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant independent liaison for the coming year, with a stated role of improving transparency and communication among residents, plant operators and local stakeholders. Staff said Hyperion developed an online survey for residents and workers to report awareness and impressions of quality-of-life issues; the survey went live March 3 and staff said the city will link it on its website.
Council discussion touched on staffing at the plant. A city staff member said hiring for plant manager positions has lagged and that the opening has been active for nearly a year. A councilmember cited a pay gap, saying the pay structure for the plant manager role is markedly lower than comparable positions such as at DWP (Department of Water and Power), and suggested addressing the issue with the City of Los Angeles.
No formal vote was recorded on the matter during the discussion. City staff said they will return with a drafted letter at the next public hearing and will post the Hyperion survey link on the city website.
