Dive Brief:
- A City of Houston Department of Health and Human Services official slapped Dr. Pepper Snapple with a nuisance ordinance violation last month due to a sewage stench from the company's BioViper wastewater treatment plant.
- According to a Nov. 21 Complaint Investigation Report by the Bureau of Pollution Control and Prevention's Diane Williams, the odor was strong, she felt sick for two hours after 40 minutes of exposure during an October investigation.
- Following a Nov. 8 meeting with Dr. Pepper plant manager Stan Fehr, Williams returned to the plant, once again reporting the odor and witnessing "foam shooting out of one of the tanks."
Dive Insight:
Williams' initial investigation was prompted by a local resident's complaint of a "sewage odor" that has allegedly been an issue since the BioViper was flipped on in April. The company has reportedly installed a carbon adsorption system, though a local resident reports that the only noticeable difference was more PVC piping and a device resembling an "air intake-type valve" on the tanks.
