Foul smell 'like rotten eggs' pervading south suburbs amid nearly full reservoir: residents

THORNTON, Ill. (WLS) -- The Thornton reservoir has been in operation for 11 years, but residents say a persistent smell of raw sewage continues to spread through the village when heavy rain combines with heat, sometimes lingering for days.

As of Thursday afternoon, the reservoir was 89% full, down from a record 94% level reached several days ago, following last weekend's storms. While the lower level eased flooding concerns, residents said the heavy rains brought another familiar problem.

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"It's like rotten eggs, or food or any type of animal that's been in the sun too long," said Pamela Price, who has lived just down the block for 27 years.

Price said the odor has become an unwelcome part of life during the rainy season.

"You plan around the smell. So, we're not going to have any outside activities. We're not going to invite any friends over," she said.

Village Clerk Nikki Kitakis said conditions were even worse earlier in the spring.

"All the parents, we're trying to enjoy our kids' T-ball game, and we have our hands over our face. Our shirts covering our noses. It was horrific," Kitakis said.

Long known as the Grand Canyon of the south suburbs, the reservoir is thought to be the largest combined sewer reservoir in the world. From the outset, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District installed odor-control systems, including aerators and sprayers, but Kitakis said they only partially work.

"We do have an 800 number (800-332-3867) that residents can call to complain about the odor. We keep that up on the bulletin board at Village Hall. We published in our newsletter. Our administrator has reached out," Kitakis said.

A spokesperson for the MWRD said the agency has been closely monitoring conditions and has sent staff to conduct patrols in the area. As of Thursday morning, the spokesperson said no odors had been detected.

Kitakis said residents feel their concerns were overlooked from the beginning.

"I don't feel like we were taken into consideration when they decided to put the reservoir in. They didn't think about what it would do to the living conditions here," she said.

The MWRD also has a citizen reporting app for residents to submit concerns regarding the reservoir, saying every report is investigated.