Residents invited to share input on West Homewood odor issue
As odor problems continue to plague West Homewood residents living near the Dean Foods/Mayfield Dairy plants, the city council recently hired an environmental consulting firm to help.
The firm, Volatile Analysis, has promised to determine the source of foul odors that have not diminished over the past several months, despite the plant replacing equipment and trying new techniques. The first step for Volatile Analysis is to try to identify a pattern for when the smell appears and is at its strongest.
To do this, the firm has distributed a questionnaire for West Homewood residents, the council and the plant owners to share their own experiences with the smell. The portion related to resident experience is below. If you have noticed the odor before, please fill out the below survey and send it to Ward 2 Representative Vance Moody, vance.moody@triconwearsolutions.com.
Moody said there is no deadline, but sooner is better as it will enable Volatile Analysis to begin their next steps more quickly.
Background Questions:
Odor History:
1. Have there been similar odor issues in the past in this area?
2. What was the odor/aroma in the area (if any) before it became problematic? For example did residents notice butter or cheese odor, or a barnyard odor previously?
Odor Locations & Definition by Location
1. Please provide any complaint ledger that outlines any of the following for each complaint:
- Locations of perceived odor
- Dates
- Time of day
- Weather conditions (Temperature, humidity, wind speed/direction, precipitation)
- Description of odor(s)
2. A map has been provided with several areas where the odor has been perceived.
- Number the sites
- Please provide a listing of what each site is and information related to that site that may be helpful.
- Please provide the most up to date map.
3. Is there a map of pH of the sewer system by manhole location in the affected area? If so, please provide.
4. Are any complaints being generated from the Highland View Apartments area, Mason City/Powderly, or anywhere east of I-65?
Odor Variables
1. Is the odor perceived stronger when the wind blows from a certain direction?
2. Does the odor ever go away or is it always present (at some level)?
3. Does the odor appear to be affected by the weather?
4. Does the perceived odor appear to change from the initial odor descriptor on any given day to another odor descriptor on the same day perceived by the same person?
5. Does the odor observed in a crawl space transfer onto an individual’s clothing?
Reference was made to a new sewer treatment facility for Mayfield/Barber that was coming on line at or near the beginning of March, 2016.
1. Has there been any effect on the odor problem?
2. Why was the treatment facility’s operation expected to resolve the odor problem (as per February 29 communication above)?
3. Has there been any other changes to sewage treatment protocol or operations that corresponded with the date when an odor problem was first perceived?
4. If changes were made, have there been any tests done, such as resetting operations to before the odor problem?
5. Have sewage treatment plant personnel perceived any differences in odor at their plant?
6. Have sewage treatment personnel noticed anything different in wastes received from Mayfield/Barber or any changes that correspond with the odor problem?