The smell from the Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant is a huge problem for residents in the Los Cordovas area that Mayor Darren Cordova and councilors have promised to give it a high priority, but a quick fix is going to be hard to find until some red-tape hurdles have been passed.
Town of Taos Manager Daniel Miera said the town has been using something to mask the smell that rises from the facility.
Resident Alison Varney came before the council and said whatever they are using to mitigate the smell – it’s not working.
She says despite assurances to the contrary there are huge health concerns about breathing the dust churned up from these piles.
Miera said the town will start hauling the sludge and compost to a Rio Rancho landfill now that it has it’s new roll off truck, but the New Mexico Environment Department still needs to confirm the proposed route to Río Rancho.
No one still knows what the time frame is for hauling the sludge away. Hopes are the new smell masking agent the town has ordered will arrive soon.
Meanwhile, Arney says the situation is unacceptable and something has to change.