Piermont Sewer Project, Smell Continue

For Piermont residents living near Ash Street, it's an all-too-familiar issue.

Sewer work on the nearby Old Erie Trail was halted earlier this summer because the Orangetown sewer department exceeded their $200,000 budget. As a result, open manholes enclosed with temporary covers have released an unpleasant odor.

At Tuesday's Village Board meeting, residents inquired about the project's timeline—and noted the August heat has been exacerbating the smell.

Officials responded, saying the project should be continuing, but could not give a specific end date. Piermont officials met with Orangetown Supervisor Paul Whalen to discuss the issue; Whalen explained that Orangetown recently acquired a piece of equipment necessary for finishing the work.

Ann Marie Hahr, the executive assistant to Whalen, said finishing the project could take up to a month. Of the 16,000 feet of sewer to be cleaned, only 2,800 has been successfully cleansed.

"We may not have to clean all of it," Hahr said, explaining that the clogs and particularly dirty portions may not extend throughout.

When the sewer work is completed, authorities will begin landscaping the area and attempt to conceal the raised manhole, village officials said.