The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

CITY officials are insisting that the wastewater treatment plant is not the cause of the foul odour in Chesapeake and are linking the smell to a nearby natural pond. They are inviting residents to visit and tour the plant, off Midshipman Road.

Last week, Shuffel Hepburn claimed that the awful odour has been an ongoing problem for residents since the plant’s construction in 2001. He says it is a threat to their health and that officials have ignored their complaints.

The plant, which is capable of treating 1.2 million gallons of raw sewage daily, handles sewage from the hotels on the Lucaya strip. The treatment consists of a five-stage process and a local sanitation firm is overseeing operations at the plant.

According to Arthur Jones, vice president and director of Building and Development Services, the plant is safe and poses no health risk to residents. “There is absolutely no risk from this plant,” he said. “We operate a very safe plant here; we are very satisfied with operating procedures.”

The operation of the treatment facility, he said, is in full compliance with international operational procedures laid out by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Ezekiel Hall of the Grand Bahama Utility Company, took reporters through the entire treatment process. The preliminary stage involves screening of raw sewage for debris, which is collected on screens. The sewage goes into container tanks where it is treated. The treated sludge is safe and odourless, and is pumped to an open containment area. When it is dried, it is stockpiled at a site on the property. He said it was used for agricultural purposes and persons collect it from the plant, at no charge, and use it as fertiliser.

Grand Bahama Port Authority environmental manager Nakira Wilchcombe said they received complaints some years ago and conducted checks in the environment surrounding the plant and tested a nearby pond in the area.

“We invited the Department of Environmental Health Public Analyst Lab, and found the pond had a high sulphur content,” she reported. “This is a phenomenon that is very common and frequent with ponds around the entire country.” She explained that anaerobic conditions cause the release of sulphur gas, which when mixed with hydrogen produces a hydrogen sulfide gas or “rotten egg” smell.

According to officials, Mr Hepburn’s residence is immediately adjacent to the northwest section of the natural pond, and is a third of a mile from the plant. Mr Hepburn has also claimed that there are raw sewage spills daily at the plant: however Mr Jones reported that no spills have occurred at the plant in the past two years.

“I must say we had an incident where there was some raw sewage spilled about two years ago, and that was the last time,” he added.

“You will find at any treatment plant things can go wrong. We have programmes in place so that things do not go wrong. If an incident happens we address it right away, and there is never sufficient time for anything to go septic,” said Mr Jones. “We do respect the community of Freeport/Lucaya, and their concerns are our concerns as well. We think we have best operated facility, and odours are not emanating from here,” he said.