Air Quality Issues Near Boardman Lake Tied to Sara Lee Facility

Odors in the air recently around Boardman Lake - including in Boardman and Fernwood neighborhoods and the Cass Road corridor - have been traced to Sara Lee Frozen Bakery’s on-site wastewater pre-treatment facility, according to the City of Traverse City.

The city has received several inquiries about "changes in air quality in the community," according to weekly newsletter the Bay Brief. "While these concerns were initially thought to be connected to the city’s wastewater treatment plant, the source has been identified as Sara Lee Frozen Bakery’s on-site wastewater pre-treatment facility, which is located near Boardman Lake in Garfield Township, just outside of the city."

According to the city, Sara Lee experienced a "process-related change within its on-site treatment system in recent weeks. While treatment has continued throughout, this change created conditions that contributed to the recent concerns. Once identified, the company began implementing adjustments to return the system to its normal operating balance." 

Although the facility is outside city limits, the air quality issue has affected city residents. "To support a timely resolution, the city will provide biological solids from our treatment system to help reseed and stabilize Sara Lee’s facility - a standard and effective practice in the wastewater field that the city has successfully used to assist other facilities in the past," the Bay Brief states. "The city, as the control authority, regulates its industrial users through enforcement of the sewer use ordinance and will continue to monitor discharges from this industry and ensure compliance with their discharge permit as needed."

The Bay Brief thanked residents for their patience and understanding. "The city remains committed to protecting air quality for our residents and is actively supporting our neighbors at Sara Lee as they work through this issue and complete their corrective actions in the coming weeks," the newsletter states.