Odour complaints about treated human waste being placed near homes

Sian Williams, from Warwick Road in Hereford, said she has been sick in her garden from the smell of the waste, which has been placed in a field adjoining Watery Lane near her home.

She said the waste, which is used as agricultural fertiliser, is piled up to then be ploughed into fields but because many of the fields have rapeseed growing, this will not be for some time, she said.

Mrs Williams said they will have to put up with the smell all summer.

She added: "It has been dumped approximately 150 metres from our housing estate. There is a field, then a railway line then back gardens in Hever Road.

"So no windows open, no washing out, no sitting in the garden etc. If the wind is blowing in the wrong direction it is horrible."

Sewage sludge is the solid matter that’s left when sewage is treated by the water industry. It’s mainly human waste but also includes drainage from industries, animal and vegetable processing, and storm water run-off.

A Herefordshire Council spokesman said: "The use of sewage sludge as an agricultural fertilizer is a well-established and recognised practice, as is the spreading of treated sewage ‘sludge cake’ on land. The use of sewage sludge for this purpose is regulated by the Environment Agency, however the council may become involved should related nuisance complaints be received from residents. Any complaint is investigated and appropriate action taken.

"The council’s environmental protection team has investigated recent odour complaints around Warwick Road in Hereford and reached agreement with Welsh Water, the statutory sewerage undertaker, and the relevant farmer to put control measures in place to ensure the problem doesn’t occur again in the future."

But Mrs Williams said the smell continues to be a problem and only straw has been placed on the sewage.

She said: "I challenge anyone from whomever is dumping this, or a council member, to spend a day and night in my home."