Residents near the Back River wastewater treatment plant in Baltimore are voicing concerns about persistent foul odors, though the city argues there is no evidence the smells are coming from the facility.
The Maryland Department of the Environment has investigated the issue, noting odors at the plant during at least three inspections this year.
Last month, MDE issued a nuisance odor violation to the city.
However, the Baltimore Department of Public Works denied the violation, stating the inspections only detected smells within the facility and that MDE did not provide evidence the odors were affecting the surrounding area.
| DOCUMENT: Read City DPW’s response to the citation issued by the MDE
Residents remain skeptical of the city’s claims.
“It does smell like the sewers, you know, like, you know, when you leave, like, bathroom poop,” Lavar Hill, who fishes at Back River, told WBAL-TV 11 News.
Santo Wren, who was visiting nearby Cox Point Park, described the smell as “a very funky smell.”
Residents passing by the plant have grown accustomed to the smell and have been vocal about their frustrations.
Mazon, who fishes at Back River, said, “If I lived over there, I’d be either suing or moving.”
On Friday, DPW reiterated its stance, saying reported smells from the community were inconsistent with sewage treatment and suggesting the odors could be coming from other facilities or organic material.
“It’s coming from the plant. Everybody will tell you it’s coming from a plant,” Hill said.
The city says a third-party assessment is tracking potential sources, while a plant fence line and monitoring process are in place.
Officials have also been holding community meetings since last year and the city said it has been completing odor-related assessments as requested by the state.
WBAL-TV 11 News reached out to MDE and DPW for updates on the next steps, but no response has been received yet.
