For months, Sanford residents have griped about an awful stench \u2014 think spoiled eggs and raw sewage \u2014 that has permeated the downtown district and made it almost impossible to breathe without a wince.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes it smells like a big pile of fish stacked outside of your door,\u201d said Denny Gibbs, a downtown resident for more than 20 years. \u201cIt comes and goes. But when it comes, it really blankets the whole area. It\u2019s nauseating.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now some relief from the noxious odors is on the way, according to Sanford officials.<\/p>\n
In a message posted on the city\u2019s website<\/a>, and social media accounts, City Manager Norton Bonaparte Jr. on Thursday said the smell appears to be emanating from the city\u2019s wastewater treatment plant off East Seminole Boulevard.<\/p>\n To quench the stench, city crews have started replacing one of the \u201codor control units,\u201d which is essentially an exhaust system, and\u00a0upgrading a \u201csludge drying system\u201d at the plant overlooking Lake Monroe.<\/p>\n \u201cWe understand this is not just an inconvenience \u2014 it affects your daily lives, and we take that seriously,\u201d Bonaparte said in the message to residents. \u201cWe appreciate your continued patience as we work toward a full and lasting resolution.\u201d<\/p>\n Because the new exhaust system needs to be custom built, it has taken some time to arrive and install, Mayor Art Woodruff said.<\/p>\n The project should be completed by late November.<\/p>\n In the meantime, city crews will install by next week a temporary \u201cnon custom-made fan\u201d and exhaust system that may provide noses some relief, Woodruff said.<\/p>\n Even so, residents have been raising a stink online.<\/p>\n \u201cI have to hold my nose when I ride by on the lakefront,\u201d a woman said on a Facebook page devoted to Sanford. \u201cIt smells like baby diapers.\u201d<\/p>\n Another resident posted: \u201cThe city needs to buy some Febreze in bulk.\u201d<\/p>\n Woodruff said he\u2019s received a lot of complaints. And as a downtown resident he understands.<\/p>\n \u201cSome days it can be really bad, depending on which way the wind is blowing,\u201d Woodruff said. \u201cBut some days, I\u2019m downtown and there wasn\u2019t anything at all\u2026But I know, it can be really bad.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s not the first time Sanford has faced a mishap at the aging plant, officially known as the North Water Reclamation Facility.<\/p>\n