What’s that smell? Lake Murray town responds to odor complaints around sewer pump
Complaints about unpleasant smells around Lake Murray have led to action by state environmental regulators and a neighboring town — who insist the odor isn’t their fault.
The town of Chapin responded to complaints about the smell on Murray Lindler Road and Old Bush River Road, the site of a town-run sewer pump station that has been the subject of past environmental complaints.
In a statement Friday, the town said that inspectors from the S.C. Department of Environmental Services had visited the site of the pump station and found no issues that could be leading to the smell.
“After their recent inspection, SC DES confirmed there is little concern with the Bush River Pump Station,” the statement reads. “Their inquiry was simply to check whether we were experiencing any system issues. At this time, none have been identified, and the conditions appear to be weather-related.”
Readings were taken at the site, which sits yards away from where Crooked Creek empties into an inlet of Lake Murray. Those readings were “very low and within normal ranges,” the statement said.
“We use air scrubbers, chemical equipment, and monitoring equipment at locations where odors have occurred in the past, and those systems are functioning as intended,” according to the town.
The pump station has been the source of sewer overflows that have made it into the lake in the past, especially during heavy rains. Those incidents were blamed on damage from the pump station being hit by a car. Fifteen overflows at the site have been recorded by DES since 2022.
The town reported to DES earlier this year that it has upgraded the Bush River station with a back-up, diesel-powered pump as well as a new odor scrubber. Installation of a new force main will also divert a good bit of the flow from Bush River directly to the town’s wastewater treatment plant, the town reported.
In its statement, Chapin said the reported smells could be blamed on, “natural sources such as vegetation, wildlife, or nearby septic systems (that) can also cause similar odors.”
Anyone who smells a concerning odor is encouraged to call the town’s 24-hour help line at 803-345-0416.
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