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District engineers: recurring smell tied to deep geothermal activity; agencies found no safety risk
Summary
District engineering staff told the board that multiple agencies inspected a recurring odor at a site, found no safety concerns, and that staff and consultants continue investigation; staff suggested the smell likely results from naturally occurring gases released through deep geothermal wells.
Board members heard a technical update on a recurring odor problem at a site. John Swadler, identified in the meeting as secretary of engineering, said staff and outside consultants have investigated and that multiple agencies, including the Simpsonville Fire Department and water/sewer representatives, ‘‘found no safety concerns.’’ Speaker 7 (agency representative) reiterated that emergency management and fire personnel saw no safety issues.
Swadler and staff described mitigation attempts and diagnostic steps: repeated site visits, contractor investigations, consideration of closed pumping containers, temporary deodorant material placed in drains, and sampling. Staff said the issue is not a single broken pipe but ‘‘naturally occurring’’ gases that may surface where deep geothermal wells—drilled 300 to 400 feet—provide a conduit. A speaker summarized the technical explanation: while hydrosulfide in solution has no odor, exposure to air converts it to a sulfur-like smell.
Staff emphasized ongoing work: ‘‘we're not giving up. We're gonna figure out a way to fix it and that's why we have John and Dwayne on it,’’ a board member said. The board did not take formal action in the transcript; staff said they would continue investigations and consult agencies as needed.
