It is certainly not temporary. That smell has existed for at least the 4 years I've lived in the neighborhood. Every time we walk near there we smell it. It's pretty sad when you pay such high taxes to live in the city and then no attempts are made to eradicate the constant smell of sewage in one of the most desirable neighborhoods to live in. I'd be willing to bet both the sewage and storm drainage systems under Arborview are in desperate need of an upgrade.

This has been reported before:
http://seeclickfix.com/issues/1649381-other-issue#comments

oh, actually many times before:
http://seeclickfix.com/issues/1603623-sewer-odor
http://seeclickfix.com/issues/1459158-other-issue
http://seeclickfix.com/issues/1256279-other-issue

Here are past responses from a city admin:

"Please report sewage odors immediately by calling 734.794.6350 Monday - Friday 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. To report after hours, evenings, weekends and holidays, please call the Water Treatment Plant at 734.994.2840.​ Thank you. http://www.a2gov.org/departments/field-operations/Pages/FieldServices.aspx "

"Scio twp has a very large sanitary sewer pipe that passes through this neighborhood which ultimately connects to the City’s sewer system at Arborview and Revena. A large volume of sewage is flowing through his pipe, and can cause odor issues."

If the smell is coming from the storm drains, then you might also contact the stormwater folks:
http://www.a2gov.org/departments/systems-planning/water-resources/StormWater/Pages/StormWater.aspx

I have lived in this neighborhood for over two decades, and would have to say that this problem has persisted for many years. A number of neighbors have complained, and as Mr. Hammond states, various responses have been made by the City. Nevertheless, the problem has yet to be permanently solved. I would also agree with an earlier complainant that this strong and noxious odor can be detected inside homes near Arborview -- not just outside.

City needs to step up -- this is a significant, ongoing neighborhood issue.

Scio twp has a very large sanitary sewer pipe that passes through this neighborhood which ultimately connects to the City’s sewer system at Arborview and Revena. A large volume of sewage is flowing through his pipe, and can cause odor issues. We are working with Scio to address.

Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention. City staff investigated and resolved the problem. Should you have any questions or concerns about the work performed, please leave a comment.

Really???? What was done to correct the problem?

I believe that when two individuals share a delusion, it is referred to as a "folie a deux". I'm not altogether certain what the correct term of art is for a shared delusion involving an entire neighborhood, but either we are witnessing a rare form of psychopathology here, or else the problem has yet to be "resolved."

I brought this issue to Council Member Mike Anglin's attention a few days ago and he is investigating. Ann Arbor City is responsible for the providing an acceptable quality of life for its citizens.

Thank you for contacting the city of Ann Arbor about this A2 Fix It request. Your request ID is 284703.

I drove down Arborview Blvd today with my window open and the smell was noxious at the intersection with Arbana. On foot I investigated and the smell does not appear to be stronger above the storm sewer grates, but I notices many cracks in the roadway.

A homeowner in the area said the smell was at the corner of Arborview and Revena last summer, but appears "to have moved east" this summer.

Whether this odor is from dangerous sewer gases or some other source, it is very disgusting and an embarrassment to Ann Arbor citizens.

Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention. City staff investigated and resolved the problem. Should you have any questions or concerns about the work performed, please leave a comment.

Please resolve this issue before closing the ticket. If the issue is resolved, then please state resolution. The odor was present on Monday afternoon.

Thank you for contacting the city of Ann Arbor about this A2 Fix It request. Your request ID is 284776.

Thank you for reporting this odor issue. City staff responds to each report of an odor problem and is currently working on a temporary solution to reduce the smell. Unfortunately, the solution to the odor issue falls outside of the responsibility of the City. 

The odor is caused when sanitary sewer sludge from Scio Township becomes septic by the time it reaches the Arborview intersection. Scio Township has been adding chemicals to reduce these odors, but their effectiveness has decreased over the past several months. City staff are coordinating with Scio Township to determine the cause of the increased odors and working to develop a long-term solution to address it.

In the meantime, city staff are exploring use of temporary filters in manholes along Arborview to abate the odor.

Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention. City staff investigated and resolved the problem. Should you have any questions or concerns about the work performed, please leave a comment.

This issue is not resolved as the odor was present on the evening of Friday, July 1. This is a major Quality of Life issue that the Mayor needs to resolve.

We appreciate the update and problem description, but keep the ticket open until there is no sewer odor in the neighborhood.

Correction -- present on the evening of July 31.

Thank you for contacting the city of Ann Arbor about this A2 Fix It request. Your request ID is 286181.

This smell is overpowering some days. I drive along 7th avenue on my daily commute to work and usually have the windows down. Just driving by I catch wafts of poop smell. I feel sorry for the folks that have to live in it. It's amazing to me that in this day and age, in one of the most educated cities in the country, that this is an issue.

This is a public health concern the City should be addressing.

There is a very large sanitary sewer pipe that carries sewage from Scio township to the City’s system at Arborview and Revena. The large volume of sewage flowing through this pipe can cause periodic odor issues. However, in recent months the problem has increased and the treatment Scio Township had been using to control odors has not been effective. The City is working with Scio Township to determine the cause of the increased odors and to find a more effective short term solution. We are also investigating long term solutions to minimize the occurrence of these odors.

This has been the exact same comment for several weeks on any complaint related to this issue. Can we please get some realistic estimate as to when this will rectified?

I used to live there. Scio's pixie dust remedy is a joke. City admin is behaving like a lazy robot. I suspect the culvert is leaking because it was built cheap, is slow and cracked, and the gases are mostly methane, a magnitude more powerful atmospheric heater than carbon dioxide. Either ventilate high and flare off, or seal and refine the gas. Remedies and maintenance cost money. The city fails with the latter everywhere. Charge Scio Twp. more. Stop polluting the people and heating the planet.

I used to live there. Scio's pixie dust remedy is a joke. City admin is behaving like a lazy robot. I suspect the culvert is leaking because it was built cheap, is slow and cracked, and the gases are mostly methane, a magnitude more powerful atmospheric heater than carbon dioxide. Either ventilate high and flare off, or seal and refine the gas. Remedies and maintenance cost money. The city fails with the latter everywhere. Charge Scio Twp. more. Stop polluting the people and heating the planet.

Latest update from staff:

In response to the odor along Arborview, Mapleridge and Revena, City staff has been meeting and planning improvements with Scio Township. The odor is suspected to be from hydrogen sulfide venting out of the manholes along a sewer line owned by Scio Township.

The Township will be installing odor filters to reduce the frequency and intensity of the smell. The filters will be installed by November 2nd.

The Township is preparing long-term improvements for consideration by the City. The Township has been instructed to have long-term improvement in place by May 1st, 2016.

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding the efforts.

Steve Powers
City Administrator
City of Ann Arbor

spowers@a2gov.org
(734) 794-6110 ext 41101

latest update from staff:

On Saturday Scio Township will install odor adsorbing canisters in manholes throughout the odor problem area in and near the Arborview subdivision. Next week Scio will begin a monitoring program to determine effectiveness.

The company performing the work is Kennedy Industries. We anticipate minimal disruption to the neighborhood, but there may be questions about who is working in the area.

The canisters are a short-term measure while the township continues to evaluate longer-term improvements to control odors.

Hi, wondering what the update is on this as the smell was very pungent this morning.

I'll check in on this with staff. I was by yesterday and noticed the odor as well.

Odor is present AND there is at least one other open ticket on the issues.

Latest update from staff..

Scio and its consulting engineers have identified three potential methods of treating their sewage for odor control. Each method is different and may have differing results. The first treatment method was installed in March and is expected to be tested through May. In June and July a second method will be tested, with the third method tested in August and September. Our Field staff are involved in determining the suitability of each trail method.

Thanks for the update.

This issue was brought up again at Ann Arbor City Council on June 6, 2016.

Sewer odor present this evening, but with the scent of a cheap room deodorizer. This week marks the 20-year anniversary of the odor, per a city communication. I hope the consulting engineers are reviewing the history of the sewer pipes and pumping capacity in this area, especially going back prior to the odor.

Smell still there over a year after this ticket was first started

Can the city tell Scio Township that if they don't solve the odor issue, we'll stop taking their sewage? The contract goes for a few more years, but we need to give them enough time to plan to have to treat their own sewage. Subjecting Ann Arbor residents to this odor should not be acceptable. Make it Scio Township's problem, to get them to get off their and fix it.

Here's the latest update on the process
-----------
Background:
There has been an ongoing sewer odor issue along Arborview Blvd. The odor tends to be seasonal during the summer. It has been determined the source of the odor is the sanitary sewer force main discharge from Scio Township. Last summer, Scio Township and its consulting engineers evaluated 3 systems for controlling the odor. Each system was evaluated for a number of weeks. At the end of the summer it was determined an oxygen injection system was the best solution. While the oxygen injection system was the most successful of the systems evaluated, this systems requires construction of additional facilities to support the process. During the winter months Scio and its consultant has undertaken the design of the facility.

Current:
Scio Township is completing the design, permitting the facility and is tentatively planning start of construction in August. Initial startup of the facility is scheduled for late 2017. The estimated final cost of the facility is $ 1.5 million. For this summer season, Scio has already begun an alternate chemical addition to their sewage to control odors over the coming months. Staff will continue to monitor the situation. While this chemical addition will control odors, it may not be 100% effective. If residents have odor issues please have then enter the information in A2Fixit.

Scio Township has taken the odor issue seriously and is making a significant investment in capital and ongoing operating cost.

I just purchased a home on Revena Pl. near Arborview and am already disgusted by the odor and shocked that this has not been adequately addressed and that my realtor never mentioned this to me. I will need to consult a real/estate/environmental lawyer. No realtor should be allowed sell homes in this area, and the city that prides itself on visionary environmental issues has fallen woefully short on this and is endangering their citizens.

I drove through that neighborhood a week or so ago and the stench in my car was horrible. I can't believe people have to live with that.

Scio Township completed the installation of treatment to mitigate odors. Please notify the City if odors return.

Your request has been acknowledged and/or addressed to the best of staff's ability. A more detailed description of action taken by staff, if available, is provided in the comments above. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.