St. Cloud Residents Raise a Stink About Lingering Sewer Gas Odor Inside Their Homes

(KNSI) — Residents in St. Cloud’s Point Pleasant neighborhood are dealing with a situation that’s anything but pleasant and raised a stink about it at the city council meeting Monday night.

Neighbors say they’ve been dealing with an overwhelming sewer gas odor for nearly a month. Murray Muff took to the podium during the open forum portion of Monday night’s city council meeting to deliver a petition signed by 15 people dealing with the noxious fumes.

Muff told KNSI News he’s concerned about the potential health effects of breathing in the sewer gas, adding it’s making life unbearable for him and his neighbors. “The gas that we’re getting in our house is excessive and it’s sometimes for eight hours at a time. We can’t live in the house with that smell in there, and it’s thick in there, and it’s day after day after day.” He doesn’t know how much longer he can take it. “When you can’t live in your home, what purpose is there of having the home? I mean, it’s just ridiculous, and the gas is just, it’s horrendous. Absolutely horrendous.”

Public Works Director Tracy Hodel told the council that they became aware of the problem on February 11th and began investigating. Engineers say it is an air pressure issue due to a recent change in how Foley pumps its sewage to the city, but haven’t determined exactly what’s causing it.

Muff contends the job should have been done right the first time. “This should have been engineered appropriately in the first place to take care of it. In my mind, somebody should have thought through this a little bit better. Instead, we’re left to deal with it.”

He said the neighborhood is considering a lawsuit if the problem continues.

In the meantime, the city has opened up vents to get more air circulation in the system, and Foley suspended its pumping operations on Friday but plans to resume them this morning. The city will also resume its search for the cause of the unpleasant odor.

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