Sewer Plan Malfunction Wafts Stench To Davis Islands

Published: May 23, 2007

TAMPA - Malfunctioning equipment at the city's sewage treatment plant caused a weeklong stink for Davis Islands residents.

A sludge digester at the Howard F. Curren Wastewater Treatment Plant on Hookers Point broke down May 14 and had to be emptied so repairs could be made, said Ralph Metcalf, Tampa's wastewater director. Sludge is the solid component of sewage. The digester uses microscopic organisms to break down the sludge. The water is squeezed out, and the dried product is palletized for use as fertilizer.

Metcalf said the drained sludge was not thoroughly digested by the organisms when it was placed in the open on drying beds. "Normally this stuff would dry quickly in this weather," he said. "But it was thicker than anticipated. The winds out of the northeast provided the perfect conditions to get it over there."

Sewage treatment employees waited until the end of the week to apply chemicals to cut the smell, Metcalf said. Residents started complaining as the smell hung heavy through Monday night.

"We should have done something before the people started complaining," Metcalf said. "Frankly, we dropped the ball on that."

Mike Salinero