THORNTON, Ill. () — Eleven years after the Thornton reservoir began operating, some villagers say the same problem keeps returning: a strong sewage-like odor that drifts through the community when heavy rain is followed by hot weather, at times hanging in the air for days.
By Thursday afternoon, the reservoir stood at 89% capacity, after dropping from a record 94% reached days earlier in the wake of last weekend’s storms. The decline reduced immediate worries about flooding, but residents said the rain revived another long-running concern.
“It’s like rotten eggs, or food or any type of animal that’s been in the sun too long,” said Pamela Price, who has lived just down the block for 27 years.
Price said the smell has become a frustrating seasonal routine whenever heavy rains move through the area.
“You plan around the smell. So, we’re not going to have any outside activities. We’re not going to invite any friends over,” she said.
Thornton Village Clerk Nikki Kitakis said the situation was especially difficult earlier this spring.
“All the parents, we’re trying to enjoy our kids’ T-ball game, and we have our hands over our face. Our shirts covering our noses. It was horrific,” Kitakis said.
Often referred to as the Grand Canyon of the south suburbs, the reservoir is believed to be the world’s largest combined sewer reservoir. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District installed odor-control equipment from the beginning, including aerators and sprayers, but Kitakis said those measures have only been partly effective.
“We do have an 800 number (800-332-3867) that residents can call to complain about the odor. We keep that up on the bulletin board at Village Hall. We published in our newsletter. Our administrator has reached out,” Kitakis said.
A spokesperson for the MWRD said the agency has been closely monitoring conditions and has sent staff to conduct patrols in the area. As of Thursday morning, the spokesperson said no odors had been detected.
Kitakis said residents feel their concerns were overlooked from the beginning.
“I don’t feel like we were taken into consideration when they decided to put the reservoir in. They didn’t think about what it would do to the living conditions here,” she said.
The MWRD also has a citizen reporting app for residents to submit concerns regarding the reservoir, saying every report is investigated.
On Friday, the MWRD said says it expects to have two projects done by the end of the year to address the odor, totaling about $5 million.
