SANFORD, Fla. – Sanford’s city manager is out with a new statement describing what his team is doing to rectify an ongoing smell problem.
For weeks, those living in or visiting Sanford have reported an unbearable smell that city leaders have since blamed on the North Water Reclamation Facility, a wastewater treatment plant on the south shore of Lake Monroe that City Manager Norton Bonaparte says is currently being repaired.
“Our staff is currently replacing one of the odor control units, repairing the sludge drying system, and implementing process modifications aimed at reducing the impact as quickly as possible,” Bonaparte said in a statement on social media.
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When News 6 Seminole County Community Correspondent Catherine Silver reported on the smell last month, she heard from Sanford Mayor Art Woodruff. He said the city was working to fix multiple equipment failures at the plant and expressed hopes that everything would be back up and running by November.
“It’s not as simple as ‘just go and buy a new one,’” Woodruff said in September, referring to an odor control unit. “It has to be manufactured, and so it takes six to eight weeks to build one. We’ve got the order in, and as soon as it comes in, we’ll put that in.”
Though Woodruff also spoke to the possibility that Sanford may build a new wastewater treatment plant altogether, the latest word on the matter comes from Bonaparte alone, who otherwise sought to sympathize with other Sanfordites.
“(The) odor affecting parts of our community is unacceptable, and the frustration you’re feeling is completely understandable,” Bonaparte said in the statement. “We understand this is not just an inconvenience — it affects your daily lives, and we take that seriously. You deserve clear communication, timely updates, and real solutions. We appreciate your continued patience as we work toward a full and lasting resolution. Thank you for caring deeply about our City — your voice matters, and we are listening."
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