Stanley Hou, 35, is currently fighting charges over the alleged operation, and on Thursday was committed to stand trial for manufacturing and trafficking MDMA, and possessing precursors, drug-making equipment and instructions.

The discovery was made after workers at the Jerrabomberra sewage station were overcome by chemical odours and hospitalised in February last year.

ACTEW Water began investigating and, six months later, a trade waste officer door-knocked Hume businesses.

Hou answered at one of the units, allegedly coming out of the door and closing it behind him.

The waste officer said Hou's eyes were red and he had difficulty understanding what was being said to him.

The officer became suspicious and told Hou he would come back later, before calling police and WorkSafe ACT.

When the authorities went through a door marked "staff only", they allegedly found drugs in the process of being manufactured.

Police say they found a laboratory, along with MDMA, drums of precursor chemicals, and drug-making equipment.

The search allegedly uncovered breathing apparatus, face masks, beakers, funnels, cylinders, flasks, commercial-grade heating mantles, commercial stirrers, and two chemical suits, among other things.

It is also alleged Hou's fingerprints were found on the outside of a locked briefcase containing a document titled "Complete synthesis of MDMA" and a phone bill in his name.

A laptop police allege was linked to the accused was found to have been used to search for terms such as "how to grow MDMA crystals", "lab supply", and "recrystallisation of MDMA".

Police say Hou's DNA was also strongly linked to that found on face masks, safety glasses, and chemical suits.

Hou is facing a string of charges but plans to fight them at trial.

He appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court, represented by lawyer Kamy Saeedi, on Thursday.

Magistrate Bernadette Boss committed him for trial in the ACT Supreme Court.

He will appear in the higher court later this month.