Patrick Nicol
April 09, 2013 - 3:13 PM
Thousands of dollars are being funneled into a Vernon biosolids plant in hopes of mellowing out its odour.
City council decided Monday to spend $127,500 on an upgrade to the water system at Vernon's biosolids composting facility on Commonage Road.
"It's gives off a woody smell," Coun. Patrick Nicol says of the plant, which turns sewer biosolids into Ogogrow fertilizer.
Some residents wouldn't describe the fragrance so mildly. Complaints about the smell are common, from a few residents in particular.
"Those people have kept our feet to the fire," Nicol says of regular phoners making a stink about the situation.
Nicol says odour control can largely be combatted by keeping the material properly moistened, which is where the water system comes in. Presently, water access is somewhat limited. Under the new system, reclaimed water from McKay reservoir will better meet the demands of the plant, and if all goes well, poor water on the stinky situation.
"We're hoping it improves the odour problem," Nicol says. "This is a really well run facility, and (over the years) we have dramatically improved it. So this is just one step further with that."
Without the upgrade, Nicol says the facility also risked violating provincial permits.
The facility is jointly owned by Kelowna, who will be providing $297, 500 for the new water system.
"This is a great facility, because it creates a product. We use Ogogrow on the gardens outside (city hall)," Nicol says. "I do hope this (upgrade) will make a difference for people living there."
To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call (250)309-5230.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013