Tackling the Foul Odor in Waterbury

May 28, 2024
I am working with the Waterbury Department of Public Works and its partners to remedy the smell emanating from the city’s waste treatment plant. Several neighborhoods recently complained about the foul odor, just as they did several years ago. Crews tell me they’re addressing the ongoing issue head-on once again.
The City of Waterbury put Jacobs Engineering in charge of managing the plant a few years ago, and the air quality improved quickly in the south end. The city has made multi-million dollar investments to improve equipment on the site. Despite the upgrades, some constituents can smell that foul odor again at different points in the day and evening.
I recently toured the plant with my colleague Rep. Ron Napoli and the mayor’s office to get a better understanding of what it takes to reduce pollutants in wastewater. We saw new scrubbers, several upgraded tanks, overhauled stacks for air emissions, aeration tanks, and much more. We got an up-close look at the UV system, which disinfects and removes bacteria from the water before it can be discharged into the Naugatuck River.
Jacobs Engineering told me it is committed to improving the odor coming from the waste treatment plant and will continue to upgrade equipment to achieve that goal. I pledge to keep monitoring the situation to ensure that we are all breathing safe air in Waterbury.