The Town of Amherst is actively working to mitigate odor issues in the area surrounding the Wastewater Treatment Plant on Tonawanda Creek Road. This web page provides residents with information related to this issue. Residents are asked to use this online form to report odor issues or send questions about the Plant's operations. A dynamic Track Us portal is also integrated, allowing Town administrators to publish relevant and timely content related to this issue.
Please be advised that the Town of Amherst provides the phone numbers below for residents to report odor issues at the Wastewater Treatment Facility located at 455 Tonawanda Creek Road. We also encourage you to report issues via our online form below.
24 Hour (nights, weekends and holidays) (716) 691-9771 ext. 8015
*Please dial (716) 550-9518, if you cannot reach someone at the number above.
Link to online complaint/question form
Water Pollution Control Facility Overview
Historical Announcements
Viewing all announcements posted in 2022 for Wastewater Treatment Plant Odor Issues
Click here to view current announcements for Wastewater Treatment Plant Odor Issues
Scrubber System Out of Service
The main odor control scrubber at the treatment plant is out of service until end of business 11/23. A critical electrical component failed on 11/21 and a replacement has been sourced and is expected on 11/22. Thank you for your patience.
Posted on Nov 21, 2022 by the Engineering Department.
Update - September 2022
The Treatment Plant staff and management are aware of the odor complaints coming in from the subdivisions west and south of the facility. In most instances (65%), the prevailing wind pattern is from southwest to northeast pushing any odors that emanate from the treatment plant away from your homes. However, during certain meteorological events (winds out of the north or east, low heavy overcast conditions with moisture laden air and calm winds) your subdivision may experience odors. In most cases, odor is generated when the facility dewaters the sludge prior to offsite disposal. That operation begins on Sunday, second shift and goes to first shift Friday, every week. Sludge boxes are filled onsite and staged in a newly constructed storage building prior to being trucked for disposal. In addition, odor can be generated by a sustained dry period, followed by wet weather conditions which wash settled septic sludge to the plant through the interceptor system. The facility has installed and maintains several systems to treat odors from the odor generating sources. Additionally, the facility is looking to improve its odor control systems and will be starting a study within a month or so to determine the effectiveness of the systems. Also, we will be reviewing the sanitary sewer system in your neighborhood to make sure that the odors are not emanating from the manholes within the subdivision.
Posted on Sep 01, 2022 by the Engineering Department.
Upcoming Wastewater Treatment Plant Project
We are currently cleaning lines at the Wastewater Treatment Plant for an upcoming project. Odor issues may result over the course of the next week or so.
Posted on Aug 15, 2022 by the Engineering Department.
Water Treatment Plant ongoing project 2022
The Water Treatment Plant has been undergoing numerous updates throughout the facility. The current project may create some additional noise during the early morning and possible odors. The early morning start time is coordinated to take advantage of "Low Flow" conditions that will allow us to complete the project safely and have very little effect on the town residence. Beginning on Tuesday August 16th at approximately 2:30 AM, you may hear pumps running and continue to run throughout the day. The pumps are necessary to complete the project as well as dry weather conditions. If we don't have the correct conditions we will be forced to set another date unknown at this time. Your patience is appreciated as we try to move forward with very little disruption to our local neighbors. Thank you
Click to view documentPosted on Aug 05, 2022 by the Engineering Department.
Clarifier Out of Service
A second stage clarifier (near western property line of plant) is out of service due to a mechanical issue and is in the process of being cleaned for repair. Odors may be generated along the plant's western boundary due to this work.
Posted on Jul 21, 2022 by the Engineering Department.
Short term partial wastewater plant shut down
Portions of the wastewater treatment plant are being shut down for a day with potential odor causing impacts through the end of the week (6/15-6/17). Most likely location of odor impact is neighborhoods to the east of the plant.
Posted on Jun 15, 2022 by the Engineering Department.
Potential Noise or Odors
The plant is conducting cleaning/maintenance on one of their buildings this morning and it is going to produce some noise & odors in the surrounding neighborhood. If there are any concerns they can contact the plant via the main number or the odor complaint line. (716) 691-9771 ext. 8015 or (716) 550-9518, if you cannot reach someone at the first number.
Click for website linkPosted on May 10, 2022 by the Engineering Department.
Sludge Processing
The Wastewater Treatment Plant began processing sludge Monday, April 18, 2022. Odors generated will be intermittent as sludge boxes are trucked off site.
Posted on Apr 18, 2022 by the Engineering Department.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Update
Issues with the oxygen feed to the first stage reactor have caused a slightly detectable musty/moldy smell. The oxygen feed has been corrected and should mitigate the issue.
Posted on Apr 14, 2022 by the Engineering Department.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Update
Overnight (4/12-4/13) there was an equipment failure with the main scrubber at the treatment plant. The plant maintenance department is working on getting scrubber back online with an estimate of early afternoon 4/13. Thank you.
Posted on Apr 13, 2022 by the Engineering Department.
Wastewater Treatment Plant
The treatment plant backed sludge up internally last week ( 4/4/22 - 4/11/22 ) due to lack of outlets for disposal. As that issue has subsided, the plant will be working to dispose of all sludge by the end of the work week. Please note that a significant volume of sludge will be trucked from the plant site this week and odors will be generated as sludge boxes leave the plant site. The plant and engineering department management are working to remediate this issue as expeditiously as possible.
Click for website link