I. Metshin: “We managed to solve a problem that has been relevant in Kazan for the last 45 years”

(KZN.RU, May 16, Ksenia Shvetsova). The project to eliminate the technological smell of biological sewage treatment plants of the MUP “Vodokanal” was successfully completed in Kazan. To do this, they were caver by the special metal caps. The total area of buildings covered with caps is 20 thousand square meters. This is the distance equal to three football fields. Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, noted that thanks to the efforts made, it was possible to solve a problem that has been relevant in Kazan for the last 45 years. Journalists of the media were able to get acquainted with the results of the work carried out today during the press tour to the facilities of the enterprise.

The project to overlap individual structures with specialized structures that neutralize the technological smell started in 2017, reminded Andrey Egorov, the director of the MUP “Vodokanal”. 573 million rubles were allocated for its implementation. 326 million rubles from the republican budget, 203 million rubles from the city budget, 44 million rubles from the “Vodokanal” investments. The project did not impact the bills of the population. Today, the work is fully completed, all the facilities that emanate a technological smell are closed.

The water coming from the sewage goes through 3 stages of purification: mechanical, biological and chemical, explained the experts of the “Vodokanal”. First, the water enters the receiving chamber, where the debris and small fractions that fall into the sewer system are sifted out. After that, it is settled in the primary septic tanks. They caused an unpleasant smell, which in windy weather reached the residents of nearby settlements. After that, biological treatment of water follows; it mixes with bacteria at this stage. The final stage is chemical, after it purified, clear water enters the Volga.

In total, a territory of 20 thousand square meters was covered. Today, there is no unpleasant odor on the territory of the treatment facilities even in the immediate vicinity of the settling tanks. Despite the fact that the weather was hot, windless and very humid when journalists visited the sites.

“Ecological services checked twice, did air sampling. According to the results, we are outside the critical zone, there is no smell both around the enterprise and inside it”, noted A. Egorov.

The problem with an unpleasant smell from wastewater treatment plants has been relevant for Kazan since 1974, noted Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of the city. Residents of settlement Otary, Petrovsky, and Mirny, Tankodrom, and Pavlyukhin Streets and others suffered from the smell. “We had two serious “stinkers” on both sides of the city. On the one hand, there is the treatment plant, and on the other, the Samosyrovskaya landfill”, said the Mayor. “Thank God, thanks to timely efforts and decisions, with the support of the President of the RT and the Government, we managed to solve a problem that has been relevant in Kazan for the past 45 years”. Last year, the technical stage of reclamation was completed at the Samosyrovskaya landfill.

When developing the treatment plant project, the best experience of large Russian cities, primarily Moscow and European cities, was taken as a basis. Despite the fact that funding in these cities is significantly higher than in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan has managed to achieve equally impressive results, said the Mayor. “I am glad that the time has come when we can solve such strategic issues. Earlier we just patched the holes, changed the pumps, ranged from one problem to another, and solved critical issues as part of the overhaul. Today we can solve strategic plan issues”, said I. Metshin.

The construction of a workshop for the thermomechanical processing of the sludge was also launched this year on the territory of the biological sewage treatment plant (BSTP). 340 tons of sludge will be processed there every day, making up to 100 tons of granulated material after thermal disposal. Journalists were also able to familiarize themselves with the first works during the press tour.