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Officials report hydrogen sulfide testing near Airplane Park shows largely low ambient levels
Summary
County staff updated the advisory board on odor complaints near Airplane Park and said weekly monitoring shows ambient hydrogen sulfide readings near zero after manhole resealing; manhole readings are higher but staff use confined‑space procedures for workers.
Orange County staff told the Sewer District No. 1 advisory board on March 18 that weekly hydrogen sulfide monitoring around the South Blooming Road/Airplane Park area has shown ambient readings generally in the range of 0 to 1.5 and that recent manhole resealing and municipal pump‑station repairs have helped reduce detectable odors.
Eric Kennedy, commissioner of the Department of Public Works, and Bob Grama, deputy commissioner, described a program of weekly letters to municipal operators and ongoing ambient and manhole testing. Bob Grama noted the manhole concentrations can be substantially higher than ambient air and that staff follow confined‑space procedures and purge manholes before entry. “If we get a positive reading at the manhole, we’ll get — that’s like within 2 feet of the height of the manhole and then go up 5 feet,” an official said while describing the testing protocol.
Why it matters: nearby residents and municipal officials have raised odor concerns. County staff said current ambient monitoring shows only sporadic smellable levels and no threat to the general public based on the readings and procedures in place.
Testing and responses
Staff said recent ambient tests have generally been near zero and that resealing manholes and municipal pump‑station repairs in Chester and other nearby systems have helped. The county is also coordinating with the village of Chester, which has completed some equipment repairs, and with outside sewer system owners who plan separate pump‑station upgrades.
When asked whether the Department of Environmental Conservation would be notified in the event of dangerous levels, staff said they would notify the town and DEC as appropriate and that contractors and county staff use protective breathing equipment when required.
Next steps
County staff said they will continue weekly monitoring, issue updated testing reports by mid‑April and keep municipalities informed. The advisory board took no formal action on the odor testing report at the meeting and moved on to other agenda items.
