OCALA, Fl (352today.com) – A wastewater treatment facility in close proximity to an Ocala subdivision has raised some red flags among residents.

The smell, noise, and sight of the facility have drawn a spate of complaints from Oak Run residents. Two residents spoke before the Marion County Board of County Commissioners on Dec. 17 during the general public comments phase.

The existing facility has been there for decades.

Oak Run has 3,750 homes and more than 6,000 residents, and the wastewater facility and the odor that it emits has impacted multiple neighborhoods, says Anna Ortiz, who lives in Oak Run.

However, Marion County has been in communication with those residents to get a better understanding of their concerns and to gather more information, says Tony Cunningham, P.E., Marion County utilities director. The county has also taken a number of measures to address the residents’ concerns.

“The utility is committed to implementing best practices to mitigate and address the odor issue,” says Cunningham.

The county has installed an odor control canister on a force main air release valve to mitigate odor off-gassing. They’re also replacing the current media and accelerating the replacement schedule for future maintenance, helping to keep the components at their best possible level and allowing the county to identify and detect issues before they become a concern for residents.

It’s been those conversations with residents that have led to change, with the county reviewing and revising their standards and protocols for their treatment facility, says Cunningham. The county is also installing a rotary drum thickener.

Residents have a number of questions regarding the environmental concerns:

  • What will the facility’s load capacities be?
  • What type of expansion is under consideration for the facility?
  • How many new communities will be added to the facility in the future?
  • What engineering upgrades are going to be made?
  • What improvements and modifications will be made to the existing infrastructure?
  • Where will the connections be for the outside communities and businesses?

There are also concerns about whether or not a technician was on duty around the clock, the number of lift stations in Oak Run and the surrounding area, whether the lift station is remotely monitored, how often the pump/lift stations are professionally cleaned, how many purge valves are located on the Oak Run property, and where their locations are.

Marion County, after having conversations with a few Oak Run residents, intends to schedule meetings to discuss concerns, improvements, and future plan expansions, says Cunningham.