Sewage Odour Control – Using Carbon Vent Filters

Sewage and wastewater systems are an essential part of modern infrastructure; our society simply can’t operate now without them. However, you’ll be very aware that they can also be a significant source of foul odours. And that doesn’t go down well with anyone.

Whether you have a domestic septic tank or manage an industrial pump station or municipal treatment plant, uncontrolled emissions of hydrogen sulphide, ammonia, and other volatile compounds are a nuisance that can trigger complaints and even raise health concerns. Effective sewage odour control is therefore essential for keeping your neighbours happy, not to mention complying with environmental regulations and protecting the integrity of infrastructure.

One of the most reliable solutions for managing these odours is the use of carbon vent filters. At Odour Filter Solutions, we specialise in supplying McBerns carbon vent filters that are designed to capture and neutralise odorous gases efficiently and safely. If you’d like to find out more, give us a call.

How Carbon Vent Filters Provide Sewage Odour Control

Carbon vent filters provide a simple, low-maintenance, and highly effective method of controlling odours from sewage and wastewater systems. The core of these filters is activated carbon, which has an extremely high internal surface area often exceeding 1,000 m² per gram. This allows it to physically absorb a wide range of odorous compounds and providing successful sewage odour control.

McBerns carbon vent filters take this a step further by combining activated carbon with specially formulated natural minerals and a small quantity of oxidising chemicals. As odorous air passes through the filter, contaminants such as hydrogen sulphide undergo a chemical reaction that neutralises their smell. The result is clean air released back into the atmosphere, eliminating odours before they can affect people or the environment.

These filters operate passively, requiring no external power supply or water, although optional wind-assisted fans are available for higher airflow scenarios.

Applications of Carbon Vent Filters in Sewage Systems

Carbon vent filters are versatile and can be used across a wide range of sewage and wastewater infrastructure:

Manholes & Sewer Vents: Reduce odour emissions in urban or residential areas, helping prevent complaints from nearby communities.
Pump Stations: Treat emissions from wet wells, dry wells, and valve chambers, making confined spaces safer for maintenance personnel.
Overflow & Holding Tanks: Capture odours released during intermittent discharges from stormwater or surcharge events.
Small Treatment Plants & Septic Systems: Provide cost-effective odour control for domestic and commercial installations.

By tailoring the size and configuration of the filter to the specific application, operators can achieve reliable sewage odour control across both small- and large-scale systems.

Benefits of Carbon Vent Filters for Sewage Odour Control

Using carbon vent filters offers several advantages:

Rapid Odour Elimination: Filters neutralise foul gases before they escape into the environment.
Low Maintenance: Passive operation reduces operational costs, and media cartridges are easy to replace.
Adaptable: Filters can be fitted to a wide range of vent pipe sizes, from small domestic stacks to large industrial vents.
Environmentally Friendly: No power or water is required for passive filters, and spent media can be safely disposed of.
Compliance and Safety: Helps operators meet environmental regulations, protect public health, and maintain infrastructure.

Maintaining Your Carbon Vent Filter

All carbon vent filters have a finite lifespan, as the activated carbon becomes saturated with contaminants over time. Replacement is essential to maintain performance and prevent odour breakthrough.

Typical replacement timelines include:

Passive vent filters (e.g., manholes, overflow tanks): every 6–12 months
Active or fan-assisted systems (e.g., pump station ducting): every 12–24 months

Regular inspections, either through visual checks or gas sampling, are recommended. McBerns replacement media cartridges (such as VF100MC, VF150MC, and VF300MC) are designed for quick and safe servicing, ensuring minimal downtime.

Choosing the Right Carbon Vent Filter

McBerns offers a range of vent filters to suit different airflow requirements and applications:

VF50: Ideal for small domestic systems with low airflow.
VF100: Suitable for domestic and commercial situations with moderate odour loads.
VF150: Versatile for larger commercial setups, grease traps, or small pump stations.
VF300: Designed for industrial applications with medium to high airflow.

For sites requiring faster extraction, wind-assisted fans can be fitted to enhance airflow without relying on mains power.

How to Achieve Effective and Sustainable Sewage Odour Control

Carbon vent filters are a reliable, low-maintenance solution for managing odours from sewage and wastewater systems. Whether you’re addressing domestic septic tank emissions or controlling odours at a commercial or municipal facility, McBerns carbon vent filters provide efficient, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective protection.

At Odour Filters Solutions, we offer a comprehensive range of carbon vent filters and replacement media cartridges to suit almost any application. Explore our full range of products or contact us today to find the right solution for your odour control needs.