Residents of Dundalk, Maryland, a riverfront suburb, are enduring a pervasive and overpowering stench attributed to operational failures at the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant. The persistent odor has become so severe that locals report being unable to leave their homes or consume locally caught crabs, which they fear are contaminated by the putrid-smelling water.
During a town hall meeting on Thursday night, residents expressed intense frustration and anger over the sewage odor. John Zaganas, a local resident, described the smell as akin to a severe bathroom backup, stating it was so potent it prevented his family from sitting outside. Another resident, Tracey McCullough, noted that the issue significantly marred the recent Labor Day weekend.
Failures at the wastewater treatment plant, including the improper storage of excess sludge in lagoon tanks and high pollutant discharge levels, have been cited as causes for the odor, according to a Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) inspection report. Residents voiced concerns that the issue has been ongoing for years and that authorities are not adequately addressing the problem, leaving them uncertain about the air quality and potential health implications.
The MDE had previously mandated that the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant implement improvements, such as removing accumulated waste material and all sewage sludge by September 1. The Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) has stated that a comprehensive odor control plan is being developed, with results from an ongoing analysis of the plant's odor control systems expected by the end of the year or early January. Baltimore County DPW officials confirmed they are meeting twice weekly with the city and MDE to monitor the situation.
Delegate Robert Long, a Republican Maryland House Representative for the area, has suggested that affected residents appeal their property tax bills as a form of protest. He also encouraged local and state officials, including the mayor and governor, to visit Dundalk to experience the severity of the odor firsthand. Long has also sought assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency's Philadelphia regional office.
The Baltimore City DPW confirmed that an engineer is analyzing the plant's odor control systems, with results anticipated by year's end or early January. In the interim, Baltimore County DPW has stated that localized monitoring at nearby sewage pumping stations has not identified any odor issues. The MDE has indicated it will continue to monitor the facility and investigate residents' concerns to ensure compliance with environmental standards.