03-04-2025
$270K study may finally answer: Why does Mount Dora smell funny?
Out in Mount Dora, east of U.S. Highway 441, a strong odor has plagued the nasal passages of area residents for years.
The mystery smell, described by Mount Dora Mayor James Homich as 'more industrial than sewer,' has been a consistent source of annoyance and confusion for those in the city.
Now the City of Mount Dora and Lake County have each pitched in $135,000 towards an odor evaluation study that officials believe could be the first step in identifying – and then, hopefully, eliminating – the stench for good.
The study by the consulting firms Halff and V&A Consulting Engineers will address 'odor conditions and likely odor sources' near Sullivan Ranch, Stoneybrook and areas close to the junction of U.S. 441 and State Road 46.
'Preliminary indications show that they're narrowing down the source and it seems to be pointing in a certain direction, but any conclusion is premature,' Homich said.
Over the years, multiple [culprits have been suspected as the source of the odor, particularly the Mid-Florida Materials landfill on SR 46 and the city's wastewater treatment plant along James P. Snell Drive off U.S. 441.
The city of Mount Dora even took steps to combat the odor over the years, including the installation of a $500,000 carbon biofilter at the wastewater treatment plan in 2022 and the addition of technology to neutralize the hydrogen sulfide levels in sewage in March 2023.
Nevertheless, the smell persisted. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection issued a consent order requiring the city ramp up odor mitigation efforts in November 2023.
The result was a study, authored by consulting firm Kimley-Horn, determining that the odor is 'highly unlikely to be coming from the wastewater and collections system', according to the city's October 2024 update.
Homich said the Kimley-Horn report provided no further information on where the source could be.
'So that's how we got into this study with Lake County, because a section of Lake County is affected by it,' he said. 'Sullivan Ranch is in Lake County, not Mount Dora, so they got on board with us as we really took the lead in trying to find the source.'
Homich said figuring out the source of the odor is paramount for city residents facing health concerns from the smell.
'Breathing, sleeping, they're waking up with headaches, that type of thing,' Homich said, recounting the complaints of residents. 'It's obviously something that needs to be addressed for their health and safety.'
At the onset of the project, V&A will be joined by sensory evaluation lab company St. Croix Sensory Inc. to put together an Odor Investigation Team comprised of local Halff and city staff. The team will be trained in odor characterization, plume tracking and other techniques, including using a tool called a 'Nasal Ranger.'
The team will tour high-complaint areas, forward daily observations and reports to V&A for compilation and collect data to be analyzed in a summary report at the conclusion of the planning period.
V&A has the option to embed one staff member in the Sullivan Ranch community or nearby to participate in the team. The V&A staff member could be housed in a RV in Sullivan Ranch, with the city providing the RV location and utilities hook-ups for power, water and sewer services during their stay.
The cost would be $9,000, or about $1,500 a week for 6 weeks, for an Airbnb or RV rental for the staff member, according to Halff's estimate of allocated resources.
If and when the source of the smell is determined, Homich said he expects there to be a 'tough battle' to regulate whatever is producing it.
'There's going to be additional battles to be waged once we have the final report,' he said. 'Hopefully, once we have the data for [FDEP], they'll step in and do their job of regulating and stopping whoever is producing it.'
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