Skagen residents still plagued by sewage-like stench

A municipal councillor in Skagen has requested an explanation from Frederikshavn Forsyning as residents continue to endure a foul odour from the town’s wastewater treatment plant.

The smell, described as a mix of sewage and rotten eggs, has persisted for years, particularly during summer months, according to multiple residents interviewed by DR.

Jane Bengtsen (SF), a member of Frederikshavn’s Plan, Environment and Permits Committee, lives in the eastern part of Skagen but can still detect the stench when the wind blows from the west, where the plant is located.

“It’s a revolting smell. A mix of sewage and rotten eggs. You quickly close the doors and windows,” Bengtsen said, adding that residents closer to the plant report even worse conditions. She has now asked Frederikshavn Forsyning for a detailed account of how the issue will be resolved long-term.

Last summer, the utility covered three tanks at the plant to reduce odours from wastewater. This year, however, the source is different: hydrogen sulphide gas from the town’s fishing industry, which emits a strong smell when the water reaches the treatment facility, explained supply director René Hansen.

“We recognise that this is unsustainable in the long run. We’re doing everything we can to eliminate it,” Hansen said.

The utility aims to remove the odour before the summer ends and has begun adding a substance to neutralise the hydrogen sulphide. Hansen declined to specify a timeline but confirmed that measures are already underway.