Hill Resident Karen McWatters at the Munjoy Hill Tavern Recently.

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 2,716)

In recent weeks residents of the East End of Portland have expressed frustration with the odor that has come from the water treatment plant below the Eastern Promenade.  The noxious order that sometimes wafts up the Promenade is happening during an upgrade of equipment that the plant is undergoing.  But asking a question that hasn’t been asked by anyone yet is Hill resident Karen McWatters.

“Are there any health issues in the air quality or water quality due to the upgrade?” asked McWatters, 55, recently.  One morning she woke up and felt nauseous. Was that connected in any way to the nasty odor from the treatment plant she wondered aloud?

“We are unaware of any health effects related to the odors generated in treating wastewater.  Back in 2012, we hired an odor expert who confirmed there are no health risks associated with the odor.  He explained the levels of chemicals used in the treatment process are so low, they are difficult to measure.  Bob Bowker, the national wastewater odor expert said: ‘there are no health risks associated with the odor. Unfortunately, the human nose can detect very low concentrations.” according to Michelle Clements for the Portland Water District in an email earlier this week to this blogger.