A reader contacted me last last week asking if I knew the source of a “horrific smell” emanating from the area of Route 30 on the west end of town. “Smells like someone’s septic exploded,” she wrote.
I never found out what that was all about, but turns out there are three large septic systems in Southborough that have the Board of Health concerned (none are in the west end of town). Reports today’s Metrowest Daily News:
The Board of Health awaits plans for dealing with three large failing septic systems, including two at over-55 communities.
Vickery Hills Condominiums on Mount Vickery Road and Carriage Hill at Southborough on Carriage Hill Circle have failed septic systems, according to Board of Health minutes.
Another large system for an office building at 118-120 Turnpike Road is also failing, Health Agent Paul Pisinski said, with some sewage seeping into the parking lot.
Read more details in this article by the MWDN.
I assumed that the smell on the west side of town was manure on the farm fields.
That could very well be. All three of the systems noted in the article are east of Cordaville Road.
Whatever it is, it’s nasty.
I don’t think it’s manure. I’ve never smelled even chicken excrement that was so bad. Cow manure is pretty earthy but shouldn’t smell like that, especially if it’s been composted. Pigs?
I guessed the smell came from a fetid swamp, but it’s probably too extreme for that.
If I owned a condo in the very pricey Carriage Hill Circle area I would not be a happy camper! They are not that old!