Source of foul odor remains a mystery

Howell officials and representatives of the Manasquan River Regional Sewerage Authority (MRRSA) are still trying to find the source of a smell that has been plaguing the Freewood Acres section of the community.

Freewood Acres is off Route 9 near Interstate 195.

During the Township Council's Aug. 14 meeting, Planning Board Engineer Ernest Peters and Peter Koscik, of Hatch Mott Macdonald, consulting engineer firm for MRRSA, said they have been unable to find the source of the smell that has been making life miserable for residents.

MRRSA Executive Director Jerome A. Cevetello Jr. told Greater Media Newspapers in a previous interview that the smell is coming from the neighborhood's septic systems.

Mayor Joseph DiBella has compared the residents' dilemma to a patient going to a doctor, having a series of tests performed and receiving no definitive answer as to what is causing his problem.

With numerous tests having already been performed, Peters and Koscik suggested conducting home inspections.

"The only thing we could do is eliminate the things it could not be. If it is not the line, it has to be the connection to the line," Peters said.

Koscik reiterated Peters' sentiments, saying, "We found no sediment, no debris, no blockages. The sewer is fairly clean. We found no odors out there. We are looking into seeing what might be in the system, and right now we have not found any causes. We can do some more evaluation as far as inspection of the homes themselves."

Kenneth Harper, a 15-year resident of Freewood Acres, objected to that course of action.

"I am telling you the problem is not in there [the houses]. We do not want these people in our houses to look around because they are looking in the wrong place," Harper said. "The odor problem has to be dealt with. If it does not get dealt with here [in Howell], we are going to the state. We have no more room for any of this. It is not fair for these people to want to come in and trample into our houses to look at things."

With no definite answer in plain view, officials made several suggestions to address the issue. One suggestion was to implement an 8-inch pipe to the main interceptor (lateral) line. The last and very costly resort would be to move the line.

After a lengthy discussion it was discovered that the main lateral, which carries between five million and six million gallons of sewage daily, 36 inches in diameter, and 15 feet into the ground, was not checked.

Koscik addressed that news saying, "MRRSA owns the main trunk sewer line and Howell maintains those laterals. Technically the laterals on this street are Howell laterals."

At the end of the discussion the question of what is causing the smell still lingered. Freewood Acres residents left town hall with no answers, but were assured the matter would be looked into.

DiBella called on the MRRSA to address the issue immediately.

"This is a science, not an art, so there has got to be an explanation on what is happening," the mayor said.

The MRRSA, which has its headquarters on Havens Bridge Road, Howell, owns pipes that transport sewage to Ocean County for treatment. The MRRSA serves Howell, Farmingdale, Freehold Borough, parts of Freehold Township and Wall Township.