After six months of meetings, Lexington's Solar Working Group is recommending new protections for farmland, stronger decommissioning rules, and a new pathway for solar on brownfield properties.
In Tuesday, March 3rd's Environmental Quality and Public Works Committee meeting, Lexington officials told the committee that the city is making progress in its efforts to reduce sewer odors that have led to complaints from some residents.
Councilmember Jenniffer Reynolds told the committee that, since 2023, residents of the 4th and 11th districts have continuously dealt with odors coming from Lexington’s wastewater treatment plants, pump stations, and other infrastructure. She expressed confidence that the city has made progress in combating odor and introduced Charles Martin, director of the Division of Water Quality, for more details.
Martin said the city is using a two-pronged approach, using odor-limiting infrastructure and odor-preventing chemical additives. At the Town Branch wastewater treatment plant, the city has installed a bioscrubber and activated carbon system, with additional odor-control systems planned, Martin said. Similar measures are underway at the West Hickman treatment plant.
Martin described “wins” the city has achieved in combating odors across Lexington. The city reclad problematic junction chambers in Veterans Park, preventing foul odors in the area. It also added carbon inserts in some manholes across Lexington and has planned an additional activated carbon system in the South Elkhorn area near a pump station responsible for area odor.
In looking ahead, Martin recommended the city provide FY27 construction funding for a solid waste processing building at the Town Branch plant and described the city’s next steps for implementing a chemical additive. The city is now advertising for bids, and any additive will require a season-long demonstration to validate performance and cost.
Lexington residents can call 311 to report odor issues.
This update was prepared by Jack Bizzell, League of Women Voters Observer Corps. Learn more about the Lexington League of Women Voters at www.lwvlexington.com. For information about Observer Corps, contact Sharon Stewart at sharon.stewart@lwvlexington.com.
LWV Observer Corps is a program designed to keep government transparent by sending League members to attend and document government meetings and check whether those meetings are conducted in an open and transparent way.
After six months of meetings, Lexington's Solar Working Group is recommending new protections for farmland, stronger decommissioning rules, and a new pathway for solar on brownfield properties.
If approved and constructed, the solar installation could produce enough electricity to power about 5,300 homes. Council has expressed concern about the bid in past meetings.
