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Residents press Liberty Hill to fix decade‑long sewer odors near Rancho Sienna schools
Summary
Rancho Sienna residents told the council ongoing hydrogen‑sulfide odors from Lift Station 12A have persisted for about 10 years and urged measurable controls; an environmental engineer recommended sealed biofilters over activated carbon for long‑term odor control.
Residents of Rancho Sienna told the Liberty Hill City Council that strong sewage odors from a nearby lift station have affected homes and two elementary schools for about a decade and that recent monitoring and aeration steps must lead to measurable, long‑term fixes.
Levi Lugo, who serves on the Williamson County MUD No. 12 board, said odor monitoring equipment and proposed aeration systems are positive steps but that residents remain frustrated and expect the city to prioritize resolving the issue. "These odors impact nearby homes as well as Primrose School, Rancho Sienna, and Rancho Sienna Elementary," Lugo said, asking that the city make odor control a top priority for families and schools.
Albert Kennedy, a licensed environmental engineer, described the technical causes of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) production at residential lift stations — low, stagnant flow at night and buildups of fats, oils and grease — and recommended sealed biofilters over activated carbon for treating vented air. Kennedy said carbon can saturate quickly during morning and evening high‑flow peaks and require frequent replacement, whereas sealed biofilters have higher upfront costs but lower long‑term operating costs and can last five to 10 years.
City staff previously described deploying odor monitors and studying aeration options; at this meeting staff expressed willingness to work with residents and to pursue upstream solutions for lift stations that feed into Lift Station 12A. No formal action was taken; the matter remains a community priority and staff follow‑up was requested.
The council did not vote on specific odor‑control equipment at this meeting, but residents’ technical recommendations and requests for measurable improvements were entered into the record.
