Posted By Nick House
The local sewage treatment works has recently undergone a multi-million pound upgrade. This was (in part) to ensure that the odour from the open treatment tanks (which as you can imagine, at this time of year was far from pleasant) was eliminated. To enmsure this, the tanks were fully enclosed.

However, the new plant has been up and running for some time now, and although most of the time, the odour is not noticeable, over the past couple of months, the odour has been becoming ever more present.

The local Borough Council have been bombarded with complaints, but seem reluctant to do more than tell the Water Authority to pull their socks up. When complaints are directed at the Water Authority, they admit to having had problems, but continue to say that they will have all problems resolved 'soon'.

My question is this: Is there anything that can be done to force their hand, i.e. get them to resolve the matter once and for all?

Although we are in a fully airconditioned building, there needs to be at least one vent into the system left open at all times, so although the level of odour within the bulding can be reduced, it canot be eliminated.

Your help on this one would be greatly appreciated, as this one is fast becoming the bain of my life (constant complaints from my colleagues, and protestations about why is nothing ever done). As you can imagine, this also affects staff morale.

Regards

Nick.

Posted By Dave Wilson
1. This may be a 'Statutory Nuisance' under the EPA and your Local Env Health dept has a legal duty to investigate.

2. The WA must have a Permit / Authorisation under WRA and IPC/IPPC and control of smell and odours should be contained in that, contact the Env Agency and they could give you a copy.

3. you may take out an in injunction / abatement for a private nuisance and get the courts to resolve but suggest item 1 first.

4. Speak to the WA and get an explanation of why, it may be a broken bit of the system as these should not give of odours.

5 finally POETS

Posted By Ron Hunter
Sorry to be a bit vague, but I do remember reading somewhere of a court case where it was established that sewage treatment works were not "premises" as determined/defined with in the EPA?
We have a similar problem in our area wich is proving difficult to resolve. In particular, the powers of our LA planning authority semm to be somewhat restricted!