EDITOR,
Re. "Dealing with the tricky business of odour," Chief, June 13.
I was quite taken aback when the above-mentioned article gave the impression the ordour control was getting better for residents around the facility. Just recently, neighbours and I were saying how bad it is getting this year. We have lived here nearly six years. The first two years I wrote frequent letters to council and spoke with plant operations manager. Personally, I can see why complaints may be lower; one just gets tired of nothing really effective being done. Although staff may be trying with their 500-page booklet, the surrounding neighbourhood still is polluted with smells raging from foul water to acid-like methane to raw sewage smell or a combo of all the above. Of these past few months I can say at least once a day we experience odours - Squamish is a breezy place. Unfortunately, when we have it good, the other side of the facility is probably getting doused in it. Yesterday while sitting in my neighbour's iving room after work and unwinding, for nearly two hours the breeze brought in the foul water/sewage smell. You don't have to be living by this facility to know its smells. The traffic that passes by it each day is significant, probably closing their windows and thankful to pass out of its zone. Imagine these smells in your bedroom, kitchen, living room, outside decks, in your yard; having friends over for a barbecue, opening your window for fresh air; having your kids play and live in this environment. Not one person I have asked over the last six years has said that these smells/odours are acceptable in a residential zone - not one person.
So here is the big question all residents should be asking: "If the ordours of a sewage plant are not acceptable in a residential area, why did the city allow rezoning of land to residential around the facility for new developments? No one in the city has been able to answer this, even though a previous mayor and city councillor told me in correspondence this is unacceptable four years ago.
Where do we go from here?
It's interesting: In customer service today, it is noted that one complaint usually represents 10 to 15 people who don't complain. Given that, the previous 32 complaints per month may represent over 480 affected and disgruntled residents.
Many new residents came to Squamish to get away from the big smoke, to take advantage of the fresh air and mountains. You almost got to laugh at the irony, except maybe if you are living it. I wouldn't wish this experience on anyone.
What's it going to take to get real change - a petition? Given the history of complaints, I think it's wrong and premature to conclude you are doing a great job. Maybe going out to the affected neighbourhoods and sitting yourself down for a few hours would be a truer indicator of what's going on.
And given the history and effectiveness of city eouncil, it's probably understandable people are giving up and not reporting the pollution any more.
Kevin Wilson
Squamish
