Editorial: So Dickinson stinks

Talk about it

There are certain things a home buyer wishes they’d see or know about before signing over a check for what may be the biggest purchase of their life.

These include leaky pipes that decide to stop dripping the day the potential buyer is there to look at the place, neighbors who may be louder than roosters when the clock strikes 11 p.m. and not during the midday tour, and unbearable stenches that will keep a potential homeowner tucked inside — huh?

Yes, smells. Unless a home is located near an animal rendering plant or the like, one wouldn’t think that a constant stink would be of concern.

However, the east side of Dickinson is a different story lately. Residents and visitors to the area have been voicing concerns about a nose-holding stench. One man compares it to “living outside an outhouse.”

The culprit — an outdated lagoon system, those in charge of the wastewater system said. The system freezes in the winter and an aroma can be expected in the spring during thaw. This year the retch-inducing smell is worse because the system is taking in 2.2 million gallons of wastewater, instead of its 1.7 million made-for gallons, of water a day.

It’s another reflection at how a massive formation of oil under our feet touches our lives and senses. It’s been said over and over, but it’s true, this area is growing, and the challenges and benefits are many.

Dickinson is not alone, as a number of smaller southwest North Dakota towns are contemplating upgrades to sewers, water lines, roads and on and on.

Dickinson engineers are looking into the smelly situation in case it is more than the overload, they said.

No matter what the cause, it’s not a nice reflection upon

Dickinson.

There are ways to cut back on the waste residents send out of their house. How many are thinking about where it goes once it has left their homes?

Turn off the sink when not in use, ease off on the time spent scrubbing away during showers and such. Beyond that, besides closed windows, scented candles and trips away from the east side, there’s really not much that can be done.

There is no fair place to put the blame, because this wouldn’t happen without all of us — and the more and more of us that continue to call southwestern North Dakota home.

Publisher Harvey Brock and Editor Jennifer McBride are on The Press Editorial Board. Share your thoughts with the community by submitting letters to the editor to jmcbride@thedickinsonpress.com.

Tags: opinion, editorial, editorials, lagoon, stink, stench, dickinson