More than 24 odour complaints spur action at wastewater plant

Oxford County is taking action to address odours from a wastewater treatment plant in Tillsonburg after receiving more than two dozen complaints.

Don Ford, Oxford County’s manager of water and wastewater services, said staff are working to minimize the foul smells from the plant in the town of about 20,000 people that is 50 kilometres southeast of London.

Staff have “looked at ways to optimize” how the plant works to reduce odours, such as increasing the frequency of screenings – a process that separates larger objects and debris from wastewater flow – from bi-weekly to weekly, he said.

The wastewater treatment facility is located in a low-lying area in Tillsonburg’s south end. Ford said he’s heard from county staff of at least 26 complaints from residents since May about the smell fr