Odor Control Covers

Odor Control Covers

Plastic Fusion Fabricators installs odor control covers for wastewater treatment lagoons, industrial process basins, pump stations, and any facility where hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), ammonia, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), or mercaptan emissions create nuisance odors, air quality violations, or community complaints. Our geomembrane floating covers create a gas-tight barrier across the liquid surface — containing odorous gases at the source before they reach the atmosphere.

Odor complaints are the fastest path to regulatory action and community opposition at wastewater and industrial facilities. An odor control cover eliminates the problem at the source by sealing the air-water interface where gases escape. Unlike chemical scrubbers, biofilters, or misting systems that treat odors after they’ve entered the air, a floating cover prevents emissions from leaving the basin in the first place — delivering complete source containment with no ongoing chemical costs, no maintenance-intensive equipment, and no power consumption.

Plastic Fusion’s odor control covers are custom-fabricated geomembrane systems deployed directly on the liquid surface, anchored at the perimeter, and sealed for gas-tight performance. With 40+ years in floating cover and environmental containment installation, we deliver covers that solve odor problems permanently — not temporarily.

Applications

• Municipal wastewater treatment lagoon odor containment
• Industrial process wastewater basin odor control
• Sludge holding and thickening basin covers
• Pump station and wet well odor containment
• Food processing wastewater odor control
• Agricultural waste lagoon odor management
• Rendering plant and animal processing basin covers
• Pulp and paper mill wastewater lagoon covers
• Chemical processing basin VOC containment

Odorant Tank Containment

Plastic Fusion also designs and installs containment systems for odorant tanks — the pressurized vessels at natural gas distribution facilities that store mercaptan (the chemical added to natural gas for leak detection). Mercaptan is extremely odorous even at parts-per-billion concentrations, and a spill or release from an odorant tank without secondary containment creates immediate community impact and regulatory response.

Our odorant tank containment systems include:

• Secondary containment liners around odorant tank farms
• Chemical-resistant geomembrane materials selected for mercaptan compatibility
• Gas-tight pipe boot penetrations and anchor systems
• SPCC-compliant documentation for regulatory files
• Custom containment designs for non-standard odorant tank configurations

Why Source Containment vs. Air Treatment

Traditional odor control approaches — chemical scrubbers, biofilters, activated carbon, misting systems — treat odorous air after it leaves the liquid surface. They require ongoing chemical or media costs, mechanical maintenance, and power consumption. They also only treat the air that passes through the system — fugitive emissions bypass them.

A geomembrane odor control cover eliminates the emission source entirely. No chemical costs. No media replacement. No blowers or ductwork. The cover seals the basin and contains all gases at the liquid surface. If the captured gas needs to be treated (for permitting or reuse), it can be routed from beneath the cover to a treatment system at controlled flow rates — making the treatment system smaller, more efficient, and less expensive than treating uncontained ambient air.

Why Engineers and Facility Owners Specify Plastic Fusion

• 40+ years installing floating cover and containment systems
• Gas-tight geomembrane covers that contain odors at the source — no ongoing chemical costs
• Certified thermoplastic welders with full QA/QC seam testing and documentation
• Custom fabrication to any basin or tank geometry
• Odorant tank containment systems for natural gas distribution facilities
• In-house HDPE fabrication for cover components, penetrations, and gas routing details
• Nationwide mobilization with experienced odor control project crews
• Direct coordination with engineers, facility operators, and air quality regulators

Industries Served

Plastic Fusion installs odor control covers for municipal wastewater utilities, industrial wastewater treatment operators, food and beverage processors, agricultural waste operations, rendering plants, pulp and paper mills, chemical processors, petroleum refineries, and natural gas distribution utilities. We work under state air quality regulations, EPA NSPS, and local nuisance odor ordinances.

Odor Control Cover FAQs

What is an odor control cover?

An odor control cover is a gas-tight geomembrane barrier installed on the surface of a wastewater lagoon, process basin, or industrial tank to contain odorous gases — primarily hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), ammonia, and VOCs — at the source. By sealing the air-water interface, the cover prevents emissions from reaching the atmosphere and eliminates odor complaints without ongoing chemical treatment costs. Covers can be designed to route captured gases to treatment systems (scrubbers, biofilters) at controlled flow rates for facilities with air quality permit requirements.

How do odor control covers compare to chemical scrubbers or biofilters?

Chemical scrubbers and biofilters treat odorous air after it leaves the liquid surface — they require ongoing chemical/media costs, mechanical maintenance, power, and ductwork. They also only treat air that passes through the system; fugitive emissions bypass them. An odor control cover eliminates emissions at the source — no chemicals, no media, no blowers. If captured gas still requires treatment for permitting, a cover reduces the air volume the treatment system handles, making it smaller and cheaper to operate.

What is odorant tank containment?

Odorant tank containment is a secondary containment system installed around mercaptan storage tanks at natural gas distribution facilities. Mercaptan — the chemical that gives natural gas its distinctive smell — is extremely odorous at parts-per-billion concentrations. A spill or release without containment creates immediate community impact. Plastic Fusion installs chemical-resistant geomembrane containment liners, pipe boot penetrations, and SPCC-compliant documentation for odorant tank facilities.

Can odor control covers be integrated with gas collection systems?

Yes. When odor-causing gases have energy value (methane from anaerobic processes) or require treatment before discharge, an odor control cover can integrate with biogas collection piping to route captured gas to a flare, scrubber, or energy recovery system. The cover contains the gas, and the collection system manages it — a dual-function approach common in wastewater and agricultural facilities.

How long do odor control covers last?

A properly installed geomembrane odor control cover typically delivers 20–30+ years of service life. Longevity depends on the gas environment (H₂S concentration accelerates degradation of some materials), UV exposure, wind loading, and seam welding quality. Plastic Fusion selects cover materials matched to your specific gas chemistry to maximize service life.

Request a Quote

If your facility has an odor problem — community complaints, air quality violations, or regulatory pressure — Plastic Fusion installs gas-tight floating covers that solve it at the source. Contact us for project-specific pricing, material recommendations, and installation timelines.