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SFPUC reports odor‑control unit heating at Oceanside plant; units taken offline for inspection
Summary
An odor‑control fiberglass tank at the Oceanside wastewater plant began heating after a media change, prompting two fire‑department responses; SFPUC staff flooded the unit to cool it, have taken similar units offline and are investigating samples with the manufacturer.
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission heard an operational briefing July 24 on an unusual odor‑control unit reaction at the Oceanside wastewater plant that required fire‑department assistance and shut down of similar units.
Brian Henderson, acting assistant general manager for wastewater, said one fiberglass odor‑control tank began heating a couple of weeks after a media replacement and staff called the fire department when the unit reached an elevated temperature. Henderson said crews flooded the unit to cool it; the fire department demobilized after staff monitored the unit and it later heated again, prompting a second response and a full flood.
"We immediately called the manufacturer and monitored the situation very closely," Henderson said. "We've taken a bunch of samples. The manufacturer has never seen one of these happen to one of these units either." He said staff removed from service all units where media had been replaced until they determine the cause and develop a response plan.
Staff described the media and condensate samples taken and said the manufacturer had dispatched personnel to the site. Commissioners asked about hazmat risks and whether the substance (potassium permanganate) posed a hazard; Henderson said potassium permanganate is a strong oxidizer but, once stable, is not dangerous, and that only the units where media had been replaced were taken offline.
Next steps: staff will continue sampling, work with the manufacturer to diagnose the reaction and develop a mitigation plan before returning units to service.
