Vineland residents say a loud humming noise is keeping them awake at night, and they blame a data center that is being built there for the disturbance.

Several people who spoke with NBC10 said they have lived in the South Jersey community for years and have only begun hearing the noise recently.

Although the noise is worse at certain times than others, residents said it has made them uneasy and even impacted their sleep.

“You can’t sleep. You can’t fall asleep right away. It wakes you up,” said Scott Montgomery. “We like to sleep or be here with windows open because it got nice out. It was a brutal winter. And you could just feel it pulsating through the house.”

Theresa Lewis, who lives within eyesight of the data center, said the noise sounds like an airplane.

“Flying low, but it’s consistent. It just doesn’t stop,” she said.

Several residents said they have reported the noise to the health department. A spokesperson sent the following statement to NBC10 on Thursday.

“The Cumberland County Department of Health is aware of community concerns about an ongoing “humming” noise being heard in the residential areas of Vineland between Lincoln Avenue and Hance Bridge Road in proximity to the Pennsylvania Ave intersect. We understand that ongoing noise can be frustrating for residents, and we take these concerns seriously.

The Cumberland County Department of Health does not play a role in planning, zoning, or approving construction projects. While our office was not involved in the approval or construction of the facility, we remain responsible for enforcing the New Jersey Noise Control Code, N.J.A.C 7:29, on behalf of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.  This code establishes limits on how loud noise from commercial properties can be in residential areas, helping to protect the quality of life for nearby residents.

Under our enforcement of the Noise Control Code, our inspectors are trained and certified to use calibrated equipment to measure noise levels and determine the noise source if a violation exists. If our inspectors find that noise levels are higher than those allowed under the code, we follow the enforcement guidelines under which a penalty may be issued if compliance is not obtained within a certain timeframe. While the Cumberland County Department of Health does not have the legal authority to shut down a facility, we do work collaboratively with those involved to resolve any confirmed violations of the Noise Control Act.

We have responded to many concerns and have made several visits to the area in question to measure sound levels.  While complainants have shared where they believe the noise is coming from, our staff are working to confirm the exact source of the noise.

For us to investigate effectively, complaints must come from residents who are directly experiencing the noise at their property at the time of their complaint. This allows our inspectors to take accurate sound measurements and determine whether the noise limits are being exceeded. Focusing on complaints from residents who are directly affected helps ensure our inspectors can respond quickly and evaluate each situation accurately and within the confines of the law.

While we understand the community’s concern, multiple calls that are not tied to a specific location where the noise can be measured are generally not helpful to our investigations. These types of calls may also delay responses to other public health concerns.  We sincerely appreciate residents bringing their concerns forward and thank the community for their cooperation as we continue to investigate and monitor the situation.”

DataOne, the company that owns the data center, also provided us with this statement:

“We appreciate the support of city leaders and the patience of the Vineland community during the temporary construction phase of our new data center. While this remains an active construction site, we understand concerns about ambient noise in the area.”

“Based on recent inspections and acoustical monitoring conducted by the Cumberland County Health Department, our site is operating in full compliance with Vineland City noise ordinance limits. We take our role as a community partner seriously and will continue deploying sound reduction measures to minimize any impact on our neighbors.”