Traverse City Weighs $80,000 Study to Tackle Wastewater Plant Odors

An engineering team presented Traverse City commissioners Monday with a proposal to spend $80,000 studying intermittent odors at the city's regional wastewater treatment plant on Hannah Avenue, with a formal vote expected next month.

City officials say the plant has produced "significant smells" near the facility on a recurring basis, characterized as a "rotten egg-type smell." The proposed study would measure emissions from the plant and identify the specific sources and pathways responsible for those odors reaching surrounding areas.

Engineers framed the study as a foundation for practical action, stating that the primary goal is to find the most cost-effective odor mitigation solution. A secondary component would involve engaging the community directly in the data-collection process, though no details on how residents might participate were provided at Monday's meeting.

The $80,000 figure represents the estimated cost for the study itself, not for any remediation work that might follow. No funding source for that expenditure was identified in the presentation, and no engineering firm was named publicly in available accounts of the meeting. The scope of work, timeline, and methodology also remain undisclosed.

Engineers told commissioners they hope to return with a formal plan for approval at next month's meeting. If approved at that point, the study would then need to move through whatever procurement or contracting steps the city requires before work begins.

The Hannah Avenue plant serves as the regional facility for Traverse City and surrounding areas, making its operations a matter of concern beyond the city's own boundaries. Whether any state environmental oversight from Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy plays a role in the process has not been addressed publicly.