City of Vernon continues to investigate foul odour at Polson Park

VERNON – City staff are following their noses when it comes to an odour problem at Polson Park.

It seems some of the smell could be coming from the North Okanagan Regional District’s sani-dump on Polson Drive, but there are likely other factors at play, according to a staff report to Vernon City Council.

“City of Vernon staff have also been investigating surrounding areas that have been deemed odourous,” the report says.

An odour was detected at two main areas near The Shops at Polson Park and the Japanese Gardens.

“Further investigation has revealed the source as being a culvert that picks up water from the mall site via a catch basin and discharges underneath the tracks to Polson Park,” the report says.

City crews will confirm the source of the water and the level of contamination through water sampling.

The sani-dump’s operations manager has previously said the facility has an odour treatment system and he doubts any odours are travelling far from the property. He said decomposing matter from an old sawmill might be creating a smell and releasing it through storm drains in the strip mall parking lot.

City staff note some odours originating from the facility were definitely noticed at the Kal Tire Office and the car wash south of 14 Avenue, and recent odours were due to the facility being left open for an extended time during the centrifuge process. They have made several recommendations to mitigate odours at the plant, including an odour suppression system such as an Odordestroyer.

Vernon council intends to work with its counterparts at the regional district to further address odour issues and investigate possible improvements to the treatment facility.

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