TRAVIS COUNTY (KXAN) -- A neighborhood just west of Austin is breathing safely again. Over the holidays, neighbors complained about foul odors plaguing the Lake Pointe community.
The cause? An aging wastewater treatment plant built in the middle of their neighborhood.
"They were having all these problems, and it smelled horrible. I mean, it was like gag-worthy smell levels," said Amanda Wilton-Green. She lives just a few yards from the plant.
Built alongside the neighborhood in the 1990s, the plant services not only Lakepointe, but also shops in the Galleria in Bee Cave, Texas. Over the years, the plant has aged and needed multiple repairs.
Plans are in place to convert the plant into a lift station, which would help carry the waste downstream, while an expansion to the nearby Boles plant would take over the responsibilities of the Lakepointe plant.
That expansion is awaiting approval from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Dealing with a stinky problem
Meanwhile, neighbors in Lake Pointe have to deal with smells. "Occasionally you'd smell it, and then it would pass, and it wasn't a big deal. But the last two years have been really bad," Wilton-Green said.
‘Fart smells’ emanate from aging wastewater plant located in Texas neighborhood"When the odors were bad last fall, we had a lot of neighbors write in and complain," said HOA President Pat Sinnott.
Sinnott said the operators of the plant, the West Travis County Public Utility Agency (WTCPUA), have made several changes that have brought relief.
Lake Pointe HOA President Pat Sinnott said recent changes at the nearby wastewater treatment plant have brought relief. (Todd Bailey/KXAN)"They've put lights and cameras through the lines, different lines that are close to the plant and close to where the odor was a problem, to see if they can find any issues," Sinnott said they did not.
Additionally, the WTCPUA has buried exposed pipes and cleaned two of the treatment tanks. The WTCPUA told KXAN that they've also brought new staff on board.
"They both have extensive experience with wastewater treatment plant, so I'm hopeful that they'll really take a look at this with fresh eyes, because it's an old plant, and see what we can do with that," Sinnott said.
Breathing easy
Wilton-Green said that as a result, things have drastically improved.
"We've had a few days of big smells, but overall it's been much more pleasant. I walk the dog twice a day. I'm not smelling it most weeks, so I'm really happy about that," she said.
The Lake Pointe wastewater treatment plant treats 675,000 gallons of water per day. (Ed Zavala/KXAN)Sinnott said that the plant's permit with the TCEQ is currently up. The HOA is working with an attorney to ensure the new permit includes language to protect the neighborhood and ensure that the plant stays operational until the Boles expansion is complete.
"I think we need to stay very vigilant as a neighborhood to make sure that the work continues," Wilton-Green said.
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