Sewer Odor Mystery Persists After Year of Investigation

Mentor — Residents in the Woodhill subdivision have endured a year of persistent sewer odors with no resolution in sight, Councilperson John Krueger told council Monday during a meeting that also saw action on short-term rental regulations and infrastructure funding.

Lake County Sanitary Department has been investigating the problem since last October, with involvement from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and Lake County General Health District. Despite extensive testing and remediation efforts, the source remains unidentified.

City Manager Kenneth Filipiak provided an update on the county’s efforts. The sanitary sewer has been completely flushed and televised with no obstructions found. Smoke testing identified leaking manholes, which have been repaired and sealed. Manhole scrubbers designed to remove odors have been installed throughout the area.

Air quality testing is being conducted twice daily in the area, with all readings normal as of last week. The county has doubled the dosage of ferric chloride upstream to prevent the release of hydrogen sulfide gas, typically the culprit in sewer odors. Sewage testing, including waste from the Hardy Road industrial site, has shown normal strength sewage consistent with residential waste.

The county has hired an outside industrial waste specialist who began work Monday. Air monitoring is ongoing at both the Hardy Road site and the Woodhill subdivision, with odor surveillance continuing.

Filipiak said officials are becoming suspicious the issue may not be strictly related to the sewer system. He plans to contact Lake County Sanitary Engineer and the health district about investigating other potential sources. According to a city employee who lives in the neighborhood and keeps a log of incidents, the odor appears most consistently in early morning and evening hours.

Krueger expressed frustration that after a year, the county has not resolved the problem. He suggested bringing in an outside contractor if the utilities department cannot identify the source.

Council President Blake agreed, noting that if the odor is strong enough to cause nausea, it should be possible to pinpoint its location using detection equipment.

In related news, council approved an amendment to the city’s 2024 Community Development Block Grant plan, shifting two projects into the 2025 fiscal year. The amendment includes funding for a three-phase generator replacement at the Mentor Headlands community center and accessibility improvements to the trail network at Wildwood Nature Preserve. Councilperson Dowling praised the generator project, noting it will serve as an emergency heating and cooling station for the entire community during disasters.