Caledonia residents struggle with ‘rancid smell’ from aged waste treatment plant

Some residents in Caledonia say the smell coming from the wastewater treatment plant is unbearable, and getting worse every year, believing it’s because of the growing population.

Vincent Starrs has lived in Caledonia for 14 years and his property backs on the wastewater treatment plant, and he says this past summer was almost unbearable.

“This summer was so strong, we couldn’t go out and enjoy our backyard — we cancelled birthday parties,” said Starrs.

He described the odour as “an overpowering, rancid smell.”

Starrs says the current infrastructure is outdated, and can’t keep up with how fast Caledonia is growing.

He even put up a sign on his lawn directed at Veolia, the private company that runs the water treatment plant.

“It affects your breathing and my kids had breathing problems this year, and I think it impacts most people in this neighbourhood,” said Starrs.

His neighbours agree, and also say sometimes the stench is overwhelming.

“A lot of days, it’s just horrible,” said Doug Anguish, who lives in Caledonia. “We can’t even sit out and enjoy our pool, or let our grandkids enjoy the pool.”

“It’s not every day, but when it is apparent, it does smell like raw sewage,” said Dane Broomfield, who lives in Caledonia.

WATCH MORE: Port Weller neighbourhood suffer through stench from waste treatment plant

Ward Three Councilor Dan Lawrence also lives near the water treatment plant, and said, “the heat definitely, this year, because it was so hot, aided to it.”

He said the population growth is not the reason for the smell, but rather the aging infrastructure.

“It’s a plant that is now 30-plus-years-old. It does need some upgrades to it, some TLC to it in the future, but with regards to the growth and overpopulation: nope.” said Lawrence.
“We are assured by our staff and Veolia — it’s far from it.”

Lawrence says city staff are working with the treatment plant on upgrades that will be part of next year’s budget.

But for now, as Anguish put it, “the smell is just horrific.”

CHCH News reached out to Veolia for comment, but the company has not yet responded.

Haldimand County did tell CHCH News that they are working with the company on upgrades and exploring mitigation strategies.

They do expect the smell to cool down, as we head into the colder months.

WATCH MORE: Legal battle underway as Pelham neighbourhood fights chronic ‘weed smell’