JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Marion Goforth's home is adjacent to a JEA-owned and operated sewage lift station.
"That's hydrogen sulfide that is coming out of that plant," she said.
Goforth purchased her home in 1987. She said, several years later, the lift station became the bane of her complaints.
"The JEA has not been a good neighbor," Goforth said.
She said for years she has complained about the odor that has deprived her the enjoyment of her backyard.
She said she worries about its impact on her health, the environment and the value of her home.
"It has been over 20 years and I have tried to work with them," Goforth said. "I have done what I can do."
You can see the lift station from her patio, that is how close it is to her property line. A patio she no longer has furnished because he said she can't use it.
"The odor hits you at the front door," she said. "Today is a good day -- so far so good -- but you see that could change."
On Your Side reached out to the JEA for answers, here is what a spokesperson said:
(Q) Why is the issue still unresolved?
(A) "JEA has taken several steps in an attempt to minimize odors from this lift station. There are two types of odor control in place for the 12714 Brady Place site:
- Vapor Phase Odor Control (located at the lift station) – Three years ago, the existing Vapor Phase Odor Control system was replaced with a new system that provides even greater performance, less noise and is lower profile so that it is not visible from outside the fence line.
- Liquid Phase Odor Control (located upstream to control odors at Brady Place) – Utilizes smart technology that paces the dose accordingly based on historical hourly concentrations."
(Q) What is the history of this lift station? Has there been reported spills, etc., or reports/citations?
(A) "There have been no other known customer issues regarding this lift station. There have been no reported spills or citations. In fact, just prior to Hurricane Dorian, odor control systems on lift stations were shut down to prevent chemical spills of the system. I have confirmed that those systems were turned back on immediately following the storm."
(Q) Is the JEA being a bad neighbor?
"No. A review shows that over the past year, approximately five tickets have been issued three of the tickets have been issued – all showing either the lift station or Ms. Goforth’s address. The names listed on the tickets were either Ms. Goforth, or a JEA representative responding to a request for a proactive check of the lift station. There have been no issues found except for the period right around August 31- September 1, 2019, when the odor control system would have been turned off in preparation for Hurricane Dorian to prevent the possibility of chemical spills of the system. I have confirmed that those systems were turned back on immediately following the storm."
The JEA spokesperson said in August the utility offered to come out and conduct more tests, like a sewer smoke test, the next time Goforth smells an odor.
The spokesperson said that offer still stands and they will contact Goforth to let her know.
Goforth has lost confidence in the process after fighting it for some many years.
"I love my house, but I cannot do this emotional thing anymore," she said. "What JEA has said in its communications is that the odor should be contained, but they have never contained it."