Sewage Like Odor Plagues Monroe, DEC Focuses on Neighboring Flows

Residents in the Monroe area raised alarms through the fall about a recurring sewage like odor that at times was strong enough to disrupt outdoor plans and use of neighborhood parks. On December 5, 2025 state environmental regulators were investigating possible sources and centered attention on sewer flows originating outside Monroe, in nearby South Blooming Grove and parts of Chester.

The Orange County Sewer District previously advised the DEC that hydrogen sulfide gas was present in the sewer system and that the gas could be traced back to influent flows from the village of Chester, the town of Chester, and the village of South Blooming Grove. Ambient air sampling conducted in August near Airplane Park recorded hydrogen sulfide levels below the state air quality standard, but the DEC said it was reviewing engineering and monitoring reports to determine next steps.

Local political leaders pushed for swift action. State Senator James Skoufis urged the DEC to step in, arguing the source appears to be outside Monroe and that he was sick and tired of this back and forth between jurisdictions. Residents and municipal officials called for a thorough investigation and a clear plan to prevent future episodes that undermine quality of life and limit use of public spaces.

South Blooming Grove has offered a candidate path forward by proposing installation of an Anue treatment system at village expense. Village officials conditioned that offer on settling outstanding litigation with the county over a county owned park road. County attorneys said they would reject that condition, a dispute that highlighted the broader coordination problems among municipalities, the county and the state as they seek a long term resolution.

The DEC continues to review submitted reports and sampling data while the County and local villages consider technical and legal options. For residents the immediate concern remains smell mitigation and reliable monitoring, and the impasse underscores how cross border environmental problems require negotiated solutions that address both infrastructure fixes and intergovernmental relationships.