Why Does it Smell? Atlanta's R.M. Clayton Water Treatment Plant
If you’ve ever visited Standing Peachtree Park or driven along Atlanta Road near the Chattahoochee River, you’ve likely encountered an unmistakable odor. That distinctive smell comes from the R.M. Clayton Water Reclamation Center, Atlanta’s largest wastewater treatment facility. While the plant plays a crucial role in the city’s infrastructure, recent issues have brought it into the spotlight for both its olfactory impact and environmental concerns.
A Brief History
The R.M. Clayton plant has been treating Atlanta’s wastewater since the 1930s, when it was built to address the growing city’s sanitation needs. The facility was named after Robert Milton Clayton, a pioneering figure in Atlanta’s early water infrastructure development. Over the decades, the plant has been expanded and upgraded multiple times to keep pace with Atlanta’s growth and evolving environmental standards.
A significant milestone came in 2000 when the city completed a $13.7 million odor control project. The improvements, implemented by Western Summit/CJB Contractors, were well-received by nearby residents who had long complained about the plant’s impact on their neighborhood. This project demonstrated an early recognition of the need to balance the facility’s essential function with quality of life concerns for surrounding communities.
Today, the facility processes millions of gallons of wastewater daily from homes and businesses across Atlanta. Its location near the Chattahoochee River was strategically chosen to allow treated water to be safely discharged into the river, following the natural topography of the area.
What Causes That Smell?
The distinctive odor around wastewater treatment plants like R.M. Clayton primarily comes from the biological processes involved in treating sewage. The main culprit is hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a gas produced when bacteria break down organic matter in the absence of oxygen. This process, known as anaerobic digestion, is a crucial part of wastewater treatment but results in the characteristic “rotten egg” smell.
While humans can detect H2S at extremely low concentrations (as low as 0.5 parts per billion), the levels typically found around properly functioning treatment plants are well below harmful thresholds. However, H2S can be dangerous at higher concentrations, potentially causing respiratory issues, headaches, and more severe health effects. This is one reason why proper odor control and monitoring systems are essential for wastewater treatment facilities.
Other compounds contributing to the smell include:
- Mercaptans (organic sulfur compounds)
- Ammonia
- Various volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
These odors typically become more noticeable during certain conditions:
- Hot, humid weather (which accelerates bacterial activity)
- Temperature inversions that trap odors close to the ground
- Wind patterns that carry the smell toward residential areas
- During specific treatment processes or maintenance activities
Recent Challenges and Environmental Concerns
These challenges are not new to the R.M. Clayton facility. In 2010, residents of the Adam’s Crossing neighborhood reported persistent odor issues described as “barnyard smells,” which were particularly noticeable during warm weather. At that time, the issues were attributed to damaged solid waste digesters that had been destroyed during flooding in September 2009, with repairs expected to take several months to complete.
In more recent years, the plant has continued to face operational difficulties. In June 2023, the facility experienced a significant operational issue when a power outage caused untreated wastewater to overflow into the Chattahoochee River. The Department of Watershed Management reported that a Georgia Power outage led to equipment failure, resulting in approximately 1.3 million gallons of untreated wastewater being discharged into the river. This incident highlighted the vulnerability of the facility’s infrastructure and the need for improved backup systems.
A similar power-related incident occurred in December 2023, when a glitch at a Georgia Power substation caused the plant’s odor control units to malfunction. While this incident didn’t result in wastewater discharge, it did cause unpleasant odors to affect nearby residents until plant operations could return to normal.
The plant has also faced other significant operational challenges. According to the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, who filed a federal lawsuit in September 2024, the facility has been violating its wastewater discharge permit and the Clean Water Act since at least January 2023. Water quality monitoring has detected dangerous levels of bacteria and nutrients being released into the Chattahoochee River.
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division’s inspection reports have revealed issues at all stages of treatment, including problems with the secondary clarifiers that were exacerbated by heavy rain events in early 2024. These operational issues not only impact water quality but can also contribute to increased odor problems in the surrounding area.
What’s Being Done?
The City of Atlanta’s Department of Watershed Management has acknowledged these challenges and is working on several fronts to address both the operational issues and odor concerns:
Infrastructure Upgrades: The city has outlined plans for major upgrades to the facility’s treatment systems, though the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper argues these improvements aren’t being implemented quickly enough.
Odor Control Measures: Modern wastewater treatment plants employ various technologies to minimize odors, including:
- Biofilters that use bacteria to consume odor-causing compounds
- Chemical scrubbers that neutralize offensive gases
- Covered treatment tanks and improved ventilation systems
Looking Forward
While the R.M. Clayton plant’s odor issues and recent operational challenges have raised significant concerns, they also highlight the critical importance of maintaining and upgrading our urban infrastructure. As Atlanta continues to grow, dramatically, ensuring the proper functioning of facilities like R.M. Clayton becomes increasingly crucial for both environmental protection and quality of life in nearby communities.
The ongoing legal action by the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper may help accelerate needed improvements at the facility. In the meantime, residents can report strong odors to Atlanta’s Department of Watershed Management and stay informed about water quality issues through the Riverkeeper’s monitoring program.
References
Atlanta Department of Watershed Management. (2023). News Release: DWM Reports SSO at RM Clayton Water Reclamation Center
Atlanta Department of Watershed Management. (2023). News Release: RM Clayton Water Reclamation Plant Operation Returning to Normal
Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. (2024). Water Quality Unsafe Downstream of Atlanta Wastewater Treatment Plant
City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management. (2024). R.M. Clayton Water Reclamation Center
Georgia Environmental Protection Division. (2024). Inspection Reports - R.M. Clayton Water Reclamation Center.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2024). Wastewater Technology Fact Sheet: Odor Control in Wastewater Treatment Plants
WSB-TV. (2010). Sewage Smell Stinks Up Atlanta Neighborhood
Atlanta Business Chronicle. (2000). Partnership makes neighborhood smell better
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2024). Hydrogen Sulfide Hazards
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. (2016). Hydrogen Sulfide - ToxFAQs