A neighborhood lift station in Southwest Arizona went from steady odor complaints to none after one compact Vapex NANO was installed.
Lift stations are essential, but they are rarely welcome neighbors. When they sit in the middle of homes, even a modest odor problem becomes a daily frustration for residents. It also becomes a steady stream of calls for the utility.
This is how one Arizona utility fixed that problem quietly, with a small unit and no chemicals.
The Challenge: Odor Complaints from the Neighborhood
The site was a pump station wet well located inside a residential neighborhood. Residents were complaining about foul odors coming from the station.
Wet wells collect wastewater that can turn septic. That process releases hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and other odor compounds that drift out of vents and hatches. Close to homes, the smell quickly becomes a community relations issue.
The utility needed an odor fix that fit a small residential site, ran reliably, and did not bring chemical deliveries into the neighborhood.
The Solution: A VAPEX NANO with One LV Nozzle
On September 25, 2018, the utility installed a VAPEX NANO hydroxyl radical generator with a single low-volume (LV) nozzle.
The NANO is designed for confined wastewater spaces such as lift stations, wet wells, manholes and junction boxes. It generates hydroxyl radicals that oxidize H2S, mercaptans, amines and other odor compounds at the source. Its auto-draining moisture removal keeps maintenance low.
Key NANO specifications:
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum oxidant output | 20 g/hr |
| Maximum nozzles | 2 |
| Maximum treatment volume | 10,000 ft³ (application dependent) |
| Max distance, nozzle to unit | 300 ft |
| LV nozzle air output | 1.5 CFM |
| LV nozzle water use | 1.5 gal/hr |
| Power | 208–240 VAC, 30 A, single phase |
With a single LV nozzle using about 1.5 gallons of water per hour, the system was a light-touch fit for a residential site.
The Results: Zero Further Complaints
Once the NANO was running, the utility received no further odor complaints from the neighborhood.
| Before VAPEX | After VAPEX | |
|---|---|---|
| Odor complaints | Ongoing from residents | None |
| Equipment | — | NANO + 1 LV nozzle |
For a lift station surrounded by homes, silence is the best metric there is. Residents got their neighborhood back, and staff stopped fielding odor calls.
What This Means for Your Utility
Not every odor problem needs a large system. This project points to a few practical lessons:
- Match the unit to the site. A NANO with one LV nozzle was enough to end complaints at this residential lift station.
- Treat at the source. Hydroxyl radicals work inside the wet well, before odors reach the street.
- Keep neighborhoods chemical-free. No tanks, deliveries or dosing to manage near homes.
- Room to grow. The NANO supports a second nozzle, and larger Vapex units like the MICRO are available for heavier loads.
Getting Odor Complaints Near Your Lift Station?
If residents are calling about smells from a nearby station, VAPEX can help you size a quiet, chemical-free fix.
For this project, the local manufacturer’s representative was John Deogracias of Goble Sampson — (480) 220-2327, jdeogracias@goblesampson.com. Outside Arizona, use the VAPEX Representative Finder or the Municipal Contact Form to get started.
