This article leads the reader to believe that this style of sewage digester is under construction in Boston. Actually, the MWRA's Deer Island sewage treatment plant has been operational for a few years already. I look at this thing all the time, and to be honest, I don't find it all that attractive. I suppose it could be worse, but it's certainly no brilliant aesthetic achievement. The egg shape is pure function--minimizing surface area at the top keeps the amount of liquid exposed to air down, thus reducing the amount of scum that develops.

A much better tactic would be to reduce the amount of sewage and stormwater coming into these things, which is the topic of another article.

To find out more, check out: http://www.mwra.state.ma.us/03sewer/html/sewditp.htm