Sanitary district says it’s working to reduce odors in Montgomery
By Judy Pochel For The Beacon-News October 23, 2012 12:56PM
Updated: November 25, 2012 11:37AM
MONTGOMERY — The Fox Metro Water Reclamation District is taking action on complaints from Montgomery residents of odors coming from its plant along the Fox River.
Tom Muth, manager of the plant that treats sewage for Aurora, Montgomery, North Aurora and other areas, said odor control monitoring has been increased since May.
He said new measures are under way that call for the tanks to be cleaned within 24 hours of the dewatering processes. Those tanks are doing their job during normal conditions, he said.
“We have had challenges over the past four years with the immense amount of rain and then this past year with the dry weather,” Muth told the Montgomery Village Board this week.
He said when the district was formed in the 1920s it was designed to serve some 130 square miles. Today, the population the district serves numbers 300,000 people, and it has 238 miles of sanitary sewers.
“It seems like we have a lot of odor control problems. You still have an odor problem, how do you address (that) besides what you just went through,” asked Trustee Andy Kaczmarek.
Muth agreed that any odors coming from the plant are problematic and said residents can lodge complaints at any time by either phone or e-mail.
“I took the occasion to drive by the plant tonight just before the meeting. I detected a slight odor. As you know I have detected strong odors that reached as far as Walmart, this is a great concern to me,” said Trustee Stan Bond.
Muth outlined several new procedures that are under way at the plant including using new chemicals and strong evaluation guidelines of any odor coming from all new capital projects at the facility.
Rusty water
Water issues are still at the front of village business as trustees also heard from a resident who said his water quality is questionable and is now buying new water filters weekly for his home.
David Kennedy, who lives on Jefferson Street, brought some of his used filters to show trustees the amount of rust that is going through his copper pipes.
“I was told the problems are with the pipes, but copper doesn’t rust,” he said.
Mike Pubentz, public works director, said the pipes in Kennedy’s area are flushed about once a week.
“Your line is being flushed and one of the residents down from you has the opposite problem,” Pubentz said.
Mayor Marilyn Michelini said the water issues are being looked at by staff and she hopes for a complete update in the next several weeks.
In other action, resident Scott Carpenter, a specialist in the U.S. Army, was presented with a village flag to take with him as he heads off to Afghanistan.
Sgt. Adam Kuncl, who was injured when struck by a car while responding to the scene of a shooting last month, also was on hand at the meeting, as was his neighbor Vivian Rabiola. Rabiola was presented with an award of appreciation after she created a large get-well card from the community and made other efforts to help Kuncl’s family.
