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WEST JORDAN — Some residents who live near a Dannon Yogurt plant in West Jordan are complaining of odors, but South Valley Water Reclamation says the company is doing nothing illegal.
Over the past month, the reclamation facility has received at least 20 complaints from a group of residents living between 9000 South and Old Bingham Highway, from Mountain View Corridor to 4800 West, according to Pretreatment Director Spencer Parkinson.
"I've had some that say it's very nauseating. I've had others that say it's just a horrible smell," he said. "Others have said it smells like rancid meat."
He said Dannon's sewer line doesn't discharge in that area so he believes it is airborne odor.
Parkinson said the reclamation facility is working with Dannon to resolve the issue.
"The problem is these homes reside on the edge of an industrial park where there are various manufacturers of food products, metal products and different things," he said.
Dannon has installed carbon filters and bio filters for odor control, he said, and is trying different operational tactics to try to alleviate the odors.
One resident accused the company of dumping bad batches of yogurt into the sewer instead of removing it from the plant. But Parkinson said Dannon isn't doing anything illegal. In fact, since May 2010 the company has its own treatment facility on its property, he said.
In one of the possible remedies being tested, Dannon is draining a sludge holding tank and will try to determine the best levels to keep odor down, Parkinson said.
Contributing: Linda Williams
