The residents of Saint-Hubert, a borough located just outside of Montreal, are trapped in an olfactory nightmare. For over a decade, a persistent and pervasive sewage smell has plagued their neighborhood, turning the simple act of opening a window into an unpleasant experience. The stench, described as raw sewage, hangs heavy in the air throughout the year, regardless of season or weather conditions. Homeowners like Francine Morissette are forced to keep their windows sealed shut, sacrificing fresh air for respite from the noxious odor. The pervasiveness of the smell has transformed this residential area, normally a peaceful haven of single-family homes, bike paths, and bordering forests, into a zone of olfactory distress. The mystery surrounding the source of the odor only adds to the residents’ frustration.
For fifteen long years, the source of the stench has remained elusive, despite numerous complaints lodged with the city. The affected area stretches for several blocks along Kimber Boulevard, a residential street lined with homes. Curiously, the district is devoid of any industrial activity, commercial establishments, or farms, ruling out the usual suspects for such a pervasive odor. When questioned about the potential origin of the smell, residents express a shared bewilderment. Speculation abounds, with some pointing fingers at an exposed culvert in a nearby open field. Others note that the smell intensifies significantly after periods of heavy rainfall, suggesting a potential link to the sewer system.
Adding to the mystery, two years prior, the city undertook extensive repairs and replacements of the sewage lines and water pipes along Kimber Boulevard. Paradoxically, instead of alleviating the problem, the work seems to have exacerbated it, according to residents like Morissette. The intensification of the smell following these repairs has only fueled residents’ suspicions that the issue lies within the city’s infrastructure. The enduring nature of the problem and the lack of a clear solution have left residents feeling neglected and unheard, especially given their continued payment of property taxes. They express a sense of unfairness, believing they are not receiving the basic services they are entitled to.
The sewage smell is not merely a nuisance; it represents a potential health hazard for the community. Residents like Lasene Ould Yones worry about the long-term health implications of constant exposure to this foul odor. Their concerns are not unfounded. Exposure to sewage gases can lead to a range of health problems, including respiratory issues, headaches, nausea, and even more serious conditions depending on the specific gases involved and the duration of exposure. The residents feel their health and well-being are being jeopardized by this unresolved issue.
In a desperate attempt to find a solution, residents, including Morissette, brought their concerns to the attention of the town council during a meeting held the previous year. The mayor, acknowledging the seriousness of the complaint, assured the residents that the city was actively working to identify and address the source of the problem. However, a year later, the situation remains unchanged, and the persistent stench continues to plague the neighborhood. This lack of progress has understandably amplified residents’ frustration and eroded their trust in the city’s ability to resolve the issue.
Finally, after years of complaints and unanswered questions, the city of Longueuil has officially acknowledged that the source of the persistent odor originates from the sewage system. In an email response to Global News, a city spokesperson confirmed the findings and outlined the steps being taken to rectify the situation. A consulting firm has been hired to conduct a thorough investigation into the problem and propose viable solutions. The results of this investigation and the proposed solutions are expected to be presented to the affected residents in January 2025. While this development offers a glimmer of hope, the lengthy timeline for a resolution is met with frustration by residents who have endured the stench for far too long. The two-year wait for answers and potential relief feels like an eternity for those living with the daily reality of the pervasive sewage smell. For residents like Morissette, the city’s response, while welcomed, is tainted with a sense of exasperation and a lingering distrust born from years of unfulfilled promises. The long-awaited solution, while on the horizon, remains distant, leaving residents to continue their olfactory struggle in the meantime.
