Complaints about noxious smells have risen sharply in an Aberdeen community which has been blighted by a lingering odour for more than 15 years.
The “Torry pong” has been a gripe for residents since Nigg Waste Water Treatment Plant opened in 2001.
Only three complaints were made to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in February – two focused on the treatment plant.
But, the following month, 22 complaints were lodged, 14 of which related to the water treatment works.
Professor Rob Jackson, an industry expert appointed by Scottish Water to find a solution to the problem, said he was disappointed with the steep rise.
He said: “I have always told residents it may get worse before it gets better.
“Nonetheless, as we go into the summer months, it’s a bit disconcerting.”
Mr Jackson said he had always encouraged residents to make complaints “because they are the people on the ground.”
The expert said the rise was not unexpected, given the refurbishment work which is currently going on to improve the treatment plant.
He added that the 22 complaints were made from eight households in the Torry region.
Mr Jackson said: “Principally, odour complaints for over the last three to four months have been down to temporary measures.
“People are using temporary measures while trying to rebuild the infrastructure.”
He added that the site should be at “normal operation” by May 1 and commended Aberdeen City Council on the work it had done in preventing other odours in the area.
But he said there could be more transparency when it came to informing the public.
He added: “Kelda Water and Scottish Water do risk assessments in terms of what work they are doing and what risk of odour there might be.
“I think one of the things we can enhance is for us to alert the community as to when there may be an odour in the community and I think that is part of the problem.”
Torry councillor Graham Dickson was worried by the increase.
He said: “It’s greatly concerning that the number of complaints has gone up.
“The only positive is the fact that the public in Torry are making complaints now when smells occur.
“We have to do everything we can to eradicate this problem from Torry.”
