THE ODOR ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN

WHAT COULD BE CAUSING THE SMELL?

Elected officials and residents have been exploring the cause of the odor that affects the far west side of Pearland for several years.  Several theories as to the cause have been the Reflection Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Akzo Nobel Chemical Facility, and the Blue Ridge Landfill.

WHAT IS BEING DONE?

Several representatives have been looking into this issue to include City of Pearland staff members, City of Pearland council members, County Commissioners and active residences and community leaders.  In preparation for the expansion of the wastewater treatment facility, Pearland city staff has been able to eliminate it as a likely cause of the smell.  Akzo Nobel and the Blue Ridge Landfill both have State mandated procedures in place that are supposed to suppress odors caused by their operations.  The landfill for instance has stated that they cover all new garbage with 6 to 12 inches of fresh soil each night and spray odor neutralizer regularly in an effort to eliminate any smells.  Akzo Nobel also has odor eliminating procedures that they follow and recently explained these procedures in detail to a Pearland Council Member.  Since the odor is still very present it would appear as if the procedures of one of these companies may not be working as well as they hoped.

Pearland Council and staff are currently working aggressively to try to establish a monitoring program that would help to better pinpoint where exactly the odors are be coming from.  Since the Akzo Nobel and Blue Ridge facilities are located outside of Pearland city limits and within Fort Bend County there is little the City can do to enforce a remedy without some help.  Help could come from the State though the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality (TCEQ) or from the courts if necessary.  Staff and council are currently exploring those options.

MY THOUGHTS

I would like to join the effort as a council member to aggressively find and eliminate this problem.  It is unacceptable for residents to have deal with an unpleasant odor in their home.  Those that must deal with this problem daily are owed some relief as soon as it can be delivered.