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a question about a funny smell
02/10/2006 7:25 AM by John M
A reader asks: “I live over at 25th and Franklin, I was wondering if you guys knew why it smells of sewage here every 2 weeks. Like this morning it really stinks of sewage again and it kind of thickly hangs in the air throughout the morning and afternoon. Has anyone ever mentioned this before?”
TAGGED: St.John's District
I work in the Bottom, on E. Cary, and that particular smell is really a constant. In fact, I’ve been joking for over a year that they call it “the bottom” for a reason.
I know what you mean about the smell down there. I used to work at a certain restaurant on Main Street and some summer nights the odor wafting in from the open doors was definitely a little funky. I’ve never smelled it up here though, but we are a bit further back.
“That” smell can be smelled any time of the year from Shockoe Slip to the edge of Church Hill. It is especially “nice” on a warm sunny day. It is believed by most locals to be eminating from the canal or from the sewer system which the city has been promising to clean out since before Gaston.
One theory is it is naturally occuring sulfur in the groundwater. Deep well water has the same stink. The same smell can be detected in the spring-fed canals around the falls of the Potomac.
My company has done surveys for Gaston damaged sites, and I’ve heard from some of out field personell that there is an exposed sanitary pipe at the foot of Church Hill leaking sewage. I’m not sure exactly where, and it has been about a year since I first heard the info, but it wouldn’t surprise me to find out the city hasn’t moved on it. I think it was near Gillies Creek, but I’m not sure.
I guess everyone knows the sewage disposal plant is located directly across the James River from Church Hill. Maybe we need a hotline number and have everyone call in a time and odor location when this happens. Nothing will be done unless we have documentation.
Also, and no offense to Bob at Captian Buzzy’s, but sometimes when he roasts coffee beans, there is a smell in that area. Bob usually roasts on Tuesdays and/or Wednesdays. I like the smell but some people may not.
roast coffee beans do *not* smell like sewage no matter how you slice it. . .
Listen up. Read TommyT’s comment about the sewage disposal plant located direcly across the river. This is where the smell is coming from, certainly not Buzzy’s, which happens to be my favorite coffee house. LJ
TommyT, do you have a number we could call? Might as well give it a try.
Here is a phone # for the sewage plant environmental compliance officer: 646-8940
Did anyone notice the smell was back a few days ago? Late Sunday into Tuesday is what I noticed.
I’ve received this info through the contact form on this site:
Here is the info on contacting the city about the smell if people are still interested in trying to log when and where it appears. Naturally, the city does not think it is responsible. Keep up the good work with the website.
*****
I am the Operations Supt. here at the Richmond Wastewater Treatment Plant.If at all possible can you give me the following information 1. days of occurence 2. time of day 3. wind direction if known The odor we believe was not coming from the plant. There are other odor sources near the plant and we are investigating any odors from the plant proper.
Please feel free to give a call and we can talk about your concerns.
Thank you
Clair L. Watson
Supt. of Plant Operations
City of Richmond/DPU/WWTP
1400 Brander St
Richmond Va 23224
804-646-8903
804-646-0081 fax
watsoncl@ci.richmond.va.us
I don’t believe the smell comes from the plant. It seems to come from the sewer drains.
I did a google search on what the hell is the funk hanging in the air next to my house here and magically found this old forum. It really stinks like sewage tonight. I notice the winds are from SSW at 7mph, guess that sewage plant is still going strong!