Water Treatment Odor
By: Fox Fort Wayne News
Updated: May 8, 2009
You cant see it but boy can you smell it. Twice a year an intense odor fills the air at the Water Pollution Control Plant. According to John Clark of Capital Asset Management this odor is caused by rollover of the water. “When temperatures in the air increase the water at the bottom surfaces to the top. This brings with it solid wastes which causes the odor.”
Clark also says that depending on the direction of the wind it will carry to different parts of the city. It has been reported to even reach around 5 miles from the plant.
Those that work next to the plant know the smell all too well. Employees at Fort Wayne Open MRI say the smell is unbearable to put it lightly.
“It is just awful coming into work everyday smelling that” says Veronica Ponce.
Lee Gemmill feels the same way. “It just burns my eyes” says Gemmill.
Two misting systems surrounding the pond serve as sort of a perfume to cover up the odor. But don’t expect the odor to be gone by tomorrow. It is expected to hang around until at least the end of the month.
City Utilities is currently working on the odor problem. They have Sewer Improvement Projects in place that are set to be complete by 2018.
Even with the projects, the smell will never be completely eliminated.
