OLD ORCHARD BEACH — The town has approved the purchase of an odor control system to help mitigate some of the unpleasant smells coming from the town’s wastewater treatment plant.The Wastewater Treatment Plant is located at the end of Manor Street, in the Ocean Park section of town. The facility processes wastewater from the town’s sewage system.

Neighboring Ocean Park residents have long complained about unpleasant odors coming from the facility, and town officials have met with residents to discuss the complaints.

The Town Council on Tuesday approved spending about $105,000 for an odor control system and cover for the primary sludge holding tank. There may be additional costs for installation of the system.

The system will be purchased from the Maher Corporation and will use activated carbon to absorb odors.

Councilor Michael Tousignant said during a January Town Council meeting that he’s heard for years that there was no solution to the odor problem, and he questioned whether the system the town was considering would work.

Wastewater Treatment Manager Chris White said the combination of the cover and the odor control system has proved to be effective in other communities.

The odor control system will not reduce all odors for the whole wastewater treatment plant, but will mitigate odors from the primary sludge holding tank.

“This has been labeled the most offensive tank by multiple people, including staff and some of the residents who have come down to do a sniff test,” said White.

Mead said he expects that once the odor control system is installed, nearby residents will notice a change.

“This won’t solve things forever and ever or be the be all and end all but the expectation is that it will make a very significant, noticeable improvement to the situation,” said Mead.

— Liz Gotthelf can be reached at 780-9015 or by email at egotthelf@journaltribune.com.