Corrosion and odor management in sewer systems

•Understanding of in-sewer processes has significantly improved in recent years.•Tools and methods for analyzing the odor and corrosion problems are available.•Cost effective management of sewer problems requires optimization of options.•Sewer networks are now considered as an integral part of an urban water system.•New areas of concern in sewer management have been identified.

Sewers emit hydrogen sulfide and various volatile organic sulfur and carbon compounds, which require control and mitigation. In the last 5–10 years, extensive research was conducted to optimize existing sulfide abatement technologies based on newly developed in-depth understanding of the in-sewer processes. Recent advances have also led to low-cost novel solutions targeting sewer biofilms. Online control has been demonstrated to greatly reduce the chemical usage. Dynamic models for both the water, air and solid (concrete) phases have been developed and used for the planning and maintenance of sewer systems. Existing technologies primarily focused on ‘hotspots’ in sewers. Future research should aim to achieve network-wide corrosion and emission control and management of sewers as an integrated component of an urban water system.

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