Wild temperature swings this month have intensified an odor problem that occurs every year at the end of winter, emanating from the Festus West City Park sewage lagoon, Festus officials say.
“The lagoon has ‘turned over,’” Festus street foreman Shain Dollar said. “That means the bottom is on top – and it will stink.”
City Administrator Happy Welch said he has received some complaints, mostly from residents of West Ridge subdivision near the park, but expects to hear from others.
“It depends which way the wind is blowing,” he said.
Blame Missouri weather, Welch said.
“When the weather warms us, the sludge on the bottom floats to the top, causing the smell,” he said. “It will start to break up and float back down. The weather keeps going warm-cold, warm-cold, adding to the problem.”
He said the city has limited options to deal with the situation.
“You don’t want to do anything like adding chemicals, because you don’t want to kill the bacteria that eats (the sludge),” Welch said.
He said city employees will attempt to break up the sludge blocks by spraying them with hoses.
“We’re looking at spraying it down and maybe it will float down and get rid of the smell problem,” he said.