Apalachicola water odor to persist until Labor Day

With a growing number of Apalachicola residents complaining both to the city and state about the strong sulfurous odor emanating from their kitchen and bathroom taps, city officials are estimating that it likely will be at least Labor Day before the problem is solved.

City Manager Michael Brillhart told commissioners before a large crowd of residents at the June 3 meeting that the fabrication of a degasification tower, commonly known as an odor scrubber, is nearing completion by ECS Environmental Solutions, out of Belton, Texas.

The previous odor scrubber was damaged by Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024, and after being loosened by winds, fell shortly after.

“It will go through permitting review and inspection, by that company and our engineers, Dewberry,” Brillhart said. “The hope is by the end of July, early August it will be here and ready to install.”

He said it will take up to four weeks for installation, and then will require inspection by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection before it is able to be put into service.

Total costs of the project will be about $419,000. Brillhart said the city has received $210,000 from its insurance company and that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has tentatively approved reimbursement for the remaining difference.

He stressed that the city continues to work closely with DEP to conduct regular sampling and that it is showing that there is no threat to public health.

“Our testing is coming in below the non-compliant threshold,” Brillhart said. “We do understand and appreciate that when the water gets to the end of the lines, there are higher sulfur odor smells.

“The water is safe drinking water,” he said.

He said the city has stepped up its regular schedule of hydrant flushing, and closely monitoring its potable water wells to make sure all steps are being taken to ensure water quality.

“Hydrant flushing moves water, allowing buildup of minerals in the distribution line to move,” Brillhart said. “When you’ve got an older system, and undersized lines, these issues are at a higher level of noticeability.

“The water source quality here is different than in other locations in Florida, it has a higher mineral source,” he said. “We have to do higher levels of treatment. We have to do a lot of efforts, and they do a phenomenal job.”