LEXINGTON, Ky. — An emergency has been declared in Lexington as thousands of residents on the city’s west side are affected by what could be poorer air quality. It has to do with the city’s wastewater treatment plant, and a more noticeable than normal stench within its proximity.

People say Lexington stinks. Literally.

For the last month, city leaders have been fielding numerous complaints from residents in Meadowthorpe and surrounding neighborhoods complaining of a foul stench which many describe as raw sewage. Now, the city has reevaluated how it measures air quality.

“People have said poop. People have said all different types of things,” said district 11 councilwoman Jennifer Reynolds.

Reynolds said that’s how many describe a persistent smell that live near the city’s Town Branch Wastewater treatment plant.

“It seemed to be that it had worsened because the city was making some repairs and that was causing the smell,” Reynolds said.

Complaints date back to last summer, but have recently picked back up, concerned about the smell and their health.

“We know it smells bad; we don’t think that it’s a problem, but we need to find out for sure,” Reynolds said.

Charlie Martin, Director of the Division of Water Quality, says calls to the city’s 3-1-1 LexCall line have increased significantly in the last month.

“This is the first time in my career that it has gotten this significant and why that is, I got a lot of theories,” Martin said.

Some of those theories include lack of rainfall, equipment and less stormwater in the sanitary sewer system because of an overhaul of the system to protect water quality.

But unsure of exactly what is causing the stench, the city has entered into an emergency contract with Webster Environmental Associates to help identify sources of the odor and testing conditions. It’s a $75,000 contract.

“They’re coming in to get us aimed for a pathway of we need a program that is focused on air quality all the time, not just some of the time,” Martin said.

It will also lead to the city developing a long-term plan for air quality control. Reynolds said none of this would have happened without concerned constituents speaking out.

“I think this is how democracy works; the residents of Lexington say what they want and then they push their city and elected officials to do something about it,” Reynolds said.

Drinking water quality should not be affected despite the foul stench. However, any concerns about drinking water should be directed to Kentucky American Water.

Any resident in Lexington needing service or filing a complaint can call LexCall at 3-1-1 or reach out to their district councilperson.