Berwyn Public Works addresses sewer gas odors

BERWYN – After receiving many complaints about sewer gas odors in neighborhoods across Berwyn last week, the city's Public Works Department flushed fire hydrants to help move decaying solid waste in the sewers to the water treatment plant.

Public Works Director Robert Schiller said the lack of rain has caused the sewer waste to stay in the pipes and decompose, causing the unpleasant odor. It was strongest in the evening, after the waste heated up during the day, and when the temperatures dropped at night, the warm odors escaped into the atmosphere.

“This happens from time to time, mostly in the fall because of the warm days and cool nights,” he said. “We’re trying to reduce the effects, but the only way to solve this is to get some rain.”

If it doesn’t rain this week, the department will evaluate the need to continue flushing the hydrants.

Schiller said the city has received calls from residents who said the odors have decreased significantly after the hydrant flushing.