LOUISVILLE, Ky. — As Louisville grips with a heat wave for the next several days, the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) is notifying residents the pungent stench of sewage in their neighborhood could worsen.
In a letter to residents, Louisville MSD Executive Director Tony Parrott said the department is preparing for "odor season," which typically runs from June through October.
These warmer, drier months increases the smell of sewer odors across the community. Officials said the stench begins when the 160-year-old combined sewer system and catch basin inlets begin to dry up and let odors escape.
Parrott said residents will likely see more MSD crews in areas experiencing odor problems.
To get rid of the sewage smell, Louisville MSD crews will clean and deodorize catch basins, put water in the system, with water trucks, and work with Louisville Water to turn on fire hydrants if needed.
According to Parrott, Louisville MSD is also looking at long-term investments to help alleviate the odor problems as well.
Louisville's combined sewer system has more than 24,000 catch basins, many of which don't have "traps." These traps are similar to the curved pipe under your kitchen sink which helps prevent odors from escaping into your home.
"MSD is investing $4 million to replace 295 catch basins across the California, Park DuValle and Shawnee neighborhoods by May 2025," Parrott said. "MS has identified another 874 catch basins for replacement across the Chickasaw, Russell and Taylor Berry neighborhoods. Work for these projects is in various stages of budgeting and contractor procurement."
Parrott added that Louisville MSD plans to install a state-of-the-art biosolids processing facility at its Morris Forman WQTC, which includes upgrading existing odor mitigation equipment there.
If you are experiencing a sewer odor problem, which typically smells like rotten eggs, contact Louisville MSD at 502-540-6000 or visit their website by clicking here.
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