£4.5million could be spent on reducing the smell if a new sewage treatment plant at Bellozanne in Jersey.
Planning permission for the new facility was refused last October, but is now subject to an appeal process.
Deputy Andrew Lewis called on the States to agree to additional spending to reduce the risk of nasty odour if the plant gets the go ahead.
Resident living in the area raised multiple concerns about the prospect of living near a smelly site, as shown on this odour map of the area:
Deputy Lewis said: “In the 1950s, the government built the current sewage treatment works, promising the concerned residents that there would be no smell. According to some residents, the release of odours often occurs at night, which in summertime, when residents often need to sleep with their windows open to alleviate the heat, results in their homes being filled with the stench of sewerage.”
Infrastructure Minister, Deputy Eddie Noel, said: “First Tower may be a source of odour, as it is the main collection pumping station for the Island and pumps nearly all the Island’s wastewater to Bellozanne. As a result, it receives flows from across the Island, most of which is also pumped from approximately 100 other pumping stations, and peak flows are received in the early morning and evening, which correlates with comments of when odours in the area are usually most prevalent.”
The States voted through the proposition with 36 votes in favour, none against, and just one abstention.
