ANTIGONISH: The Town of Antigonish is continuing efforts to tackle an ongoing odour issue from its sewage treatment plant, with council receiving a detailed update during a special meeting held Friday afternoon.
According to staff, the unpleasant smell – most noticeable since early July during a prolonged heatwave – has been traced to lower oxygen levels in the plant’s lagoon system, affecting the performance of bacteria that break down organic waste.
A 2024 engineering report outlined seven mitigation strategies to address the issue. Among the recommended actions were increasing airflow through additional blowers, removing built-up sludge (which was completed in January), installing a temporary air supply system, and implementing a permanent influent screening system to prevent debris from entering the plant.
Mayor Sean Cameron, who vacated the mayor seat during the meeting, so he could ask staff questions, said design work is now underway with engineering firm CBCL for both the influent screening system and significant upgrades to the plant’s aeration system.
In the meantime, the town has taken several interim steps to manage the odour, including the addition of cool water to the lagoon, use of deodorizing agents, and clearing obstructions in the aeration equipment.
“We’ve been very active on this,” Cameron said, noting that staff recently sourced and will install an additional blower by September. “We also installed a pipeline to pump more oxygenated water from the end of the lagoon to the front, where oxygen levels are much lower.”
Cameron added that the town is exploring the option of drilling a well near the plant to provide a dedicated water source for the system, ensuring that municipal drinking water is not affected by these operations.
“I called a special council meeting to address the issues of smells from our sewage plant,” he said. “Great information and questions exchanged by both council and staff.”
He committed to requesting weekly updates moving forward.
Residents are encouraged to report strong odours to the town to help staff monitor problem areas and guide mitigation efforts as the town works toward longer-term solutions.