New report lays out timeline for odor control measures in Mount Dora
MOUNT DORA, Fla. - Could there be an end in sight to the funky smells in Mount Dora?
The city hired an independent firm to help study the odor, which has now come up with a timeline for improvements to facilities people have been associating with the stench.
They monitored the smells for six months straight and never went a single day without receiving a complaint on their odor hotline.
The report the city put together for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) examined the hydrogen sulfide levels in the air on the days with the most complaints.
Once in a while, the levels cross the threshold where prolonged exposure, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), may cause nausea, tearing of the eyes, headaches, or loss of sleep. However, residents in Mount Dora say they’re experiencing those symptoms frequently.
"I have a hard time breathing when it’s, you know, when it smells there," said Vickie Hiller, who lives in Mount Dora. "And my sinuses have been, like nonstop, horrific."
FOX 35 Reporter Marie Edinger spoke with Dr. Michael Sparks, a physician who said both things could be true: the hydrogen sulfide levels could be below harmful thresholds, and people could still experience headaches and sinus issues.
"Even as simple as passing by someone wearing a really strong, you know, cologne or fume is enough for some people to get that kind of nauseated feeling and, you know, a headache. Some people are more prone," Dr. Sparks said. "It’s not dangerous, per se. It’s just unpleasant."
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The problem is, the study doesn’t actually make any conclusions about where the smell is coming from.
People have been pointing fingers at the wastewater treatment facility and the lift stations, but the city registered higher odor levels outside those areas.
That’s consistent with what the city has always said. The former mayor told FOX 35 almost a year and a half ago, "It’s not our sewage plant."
The city upgraded the odor control system at the wastewater treatment facility and started using odor neutralizers at that facility and the lift stations.
But residents say it hasn’t helped.
"I did notice a change, but it wasn’t any better at all," said Steve Hellier. "It actually was a little bit thicker, a little bit more disgusting."
So why make those upgrades if those places aren’t the source of the smell?
The city told FOX 35, "The approach was to go above and beyond to demonstrate that odors were not originating from our facility. This was achieved by implementing every possible device and chemical solution to minimize H2S emissions."
Within the next month, the city says it will submit an updated odor control plan to the FDEP. They plan to start looking for contractors to install upgrades within six months and expect the work to be completed within 18 months.
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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the City of Mount Dora, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Dr. Michael Sparks and Mount Dora residents.