Hyperion - What You Need to Know

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Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant, which borders El Segundo, is owned and operated by the City of Los Angeles and is its oldest and largest wastewater treatment facility. 

Latest News

Maintenance on Power Distribution Equipment

Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant (HWRP) is performing regular maintenance of the Plant’s Power Distribution Equipment. This maintenance is an important proactive measure to ensure the reliability and functionality of the Plant’s electrical infrastructure.
 
As a preventative maintenance measure during this work, power to the Air Pollution Control (APC) equipment of two reactors will be interrupted on Tuesday, November 12 from approximately 4:00am - 10:00am

Red Algae Bloom Causes Odors in the Santa Monica Bay 

Hyperion reports that there is a recent, large bloom of Red Algae present in the waters, from Santa Monica Bay to Marina del Rey. This algae can cause odors, particularly during its “die-off” period, and those odors may be detectable at long distances. The bloom can stay anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of months, depending on the wind factor.

While Hyperion will continue to monitor odor levels and take all standard precautions to mitigate odors, please note that odors resulting from this Red Algae are not the result of activity at Hyperion and they may not be entirely alleviated by odor mitigation measures in place at the plant. (Updated October 30, 2024)

Click here to read the full Hyperion Update - Unanticipated Issue Notification, October 30, 2024

High H2S Levels Caused by Gas Purging, and Noise from Digester Mixers

City staff was contacted about Hyperion's high H2S readings for October 22nd, and October 23rd. Staff immediately contacted Hyperion and requested information about these high readings. Hyperion looked into the situation and reported that the purging of gas from one of the biological reactors at the facility caused high H2S readings on both October 22nd and 23rd.  This is a safety feature to release flammable gas within the reactors.  Post purge, the H2S readings have returned to normal. 

 

Further, City staff was also contacted on October 22nd about loud noise from Hyperion throughout the night. Staff contacted Hyperion, who reported that the noise was coming from one of their anaerobic digester mixers. On October 23rd Hyperion staff responded and indicated that they had setup sound insulation around the unit to reduce noise emissions.  Further, their plan is to shut down and switch out the subject mixer on Friday, November 1st.(Updated October 24, 2024)
 

 

City Manager Hyperion Update - November 19, 2024

  • Words "Hyperion Dashboard" with City logo

    A status update of the 33 recommendations issued by the Ad Hoc Committee in response to the July 2021 incident at Hyperion.

Town Hall with AQMD on December 6, 2023

On December 6, 2023, the City hosted a virtual Town Hall with AQMD to discuss air quality and odor issues related to Hyperion. Panelists included representatives from LACDPH, City of Los Angeles, and elected official offices.

Click here to watch the full town hall meeting.

Panelist Contact Information

AB 1216 Wastewater Treatment Plants: Monitoring of Air Pollutants

On October 10, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi's bill AB 1216 Wastewater Treatment Plants: Monitoring of Air Pollutants into law.

This bill states that effective January 1, 2027, wastewater treatment plants in the state of California which meet certain criteria - specifically Hyperion - are required to conduct regular source monitoring for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and monitor at its fence-line for pollutants of concern, including hydrogen sulfide, and to share that fence-line monitoring data with the public in real time.

Read the full press release here.

Updates and Information

Comprehensive Hyperion-Related Activity (Chronological)
City of El Segundo Updates
Hyperion Plant Activity
Air Quality Updates - South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD)
Water Quality Updates - Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
Legislative Updates
Lawsuit
Perimeter Road Improvement Project (Complete)
Reimbursement Program (Closed)

Resources

Hyperion Resource Links & Info
LA Sanitation & Environment/Hyperion
Air Quality - South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD)
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board
LA County Report
Sign Up for Hyperion Updates from the City of El Segundo
Email Updates
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