An energy expert has revealed the majority of odour problems reported recently in the Torry area are not linked to the Nigg Waste Water Plant.
People started complaining about foul smells in the area – widely described as the “Torry pong” – when the £63million plant opened in 2001.
But while the number of complaints, recorded in May, rose from the previous month, a large number of these came from other sources.
Professor Rob Jackson, an industry expert brought in to find a solution to the problem, addressed Torry Community Council this week.
And he said: “There were 22 complaints in March which we were very disappointed about.
“In April, this went down to seven, but in May there were 12.
He added that many of these were out-of-hours complaints made to the odour response officer.
And he explained: “We’ve analysed the complaints and many of them came during the times when the wind has been heading in a northerly direction, which means it cannot be the sewage works.
“We are looking to identify the cause of the problem and will be carrying out a nightwatch campaign between July 12 and July 19.
“There will be another one in August, but we will not be telling people when that is.”
Prof Jackson agreed there were “still problems with the Nigg Waste Water Plant”, but added: “We are engaging with Kelda Water on this.”
He urged people to report smells as soon as they encounter them.
He said: “A lot of the out-of-hours complaints came from people who were woken up by the smell at 2am in the morning, but did not report it until the next day.
“They have to be reported straight away.”
Professor Jackson’s contract is due to expire at the end of August, after which Aberdeen City Council will be in charge of monitoring odours in the area.
