Sewage Plant Upgrade Causing Horrible Smell For Residents In East Edmond

Residents in east Edmond have been complaining since late last year about a horrible smell around the city. They said it all stems from the Coffee Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant on Midwest Boulevard. 

Residents north of the plant said when the winds are from the south the smell is unbearable. Many have complained of headaches and nausea from being outside in the smell for an extended period of time. 

“My wife and I sacrificed for over twenty years, living below our means so we could live in a nice neighborhood,” homeowner Glenn Miller said. “We want to be able to enjoy company and entertain in our house and we can’t really do that. It’s embarrassing. I have to explain what that smell is all the time.” 

Some locals have said the smell stays with you even when you go in the house.

“The smell itself is just like something died for about three or four days,” Lee Newell who lives in the Thunder Canyon edition said. 

Newell said his granddaughter has allergies and her reaction to the smell is a lot worse than his other grandchildren.

 “When you walk outside it makes your head hurt,” he said.   

Casey Moore with the City of Edmond explained there are two reasons for the expansion project.

“For one to meet regulations from DEQ. and the EPA. and two, as a growing community there’s more stuff to be treated.” 

The plant was initially built in a part of the city away from residents and businesses. Now with growth and expansion that area is now booming. 

Because the city has seen so much growth, the expansion project has gotten bigger.

“This entire project is major.” Moore said. “It’s roughly a $170 million project. This expansion will take that facility forward for the next 50 years. 

The city is very sympathetic to the problems and is trying different solutions to keep the smell down.

One option is to circulate the ponds between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. to keep the smell minimized during the day. 

They are also coordinating an email list to keep residence in the area informed. 

“It is temporary, obviously it is unfortunate, and we don’t want people to have to deal with this,” Moore said.

The project is expected to be completed by March 2022. However, residents should see an improvement in the smell by December, officials said.