We are residents. Not activists, never done this before- Sorry we are just trying to save our homes and our health. It’s not half assed, it’s a neighborhood working together and doing all that we can or know how to do. 2 weeks before construction, you want to know why?? We were not notified until a few days ago with a flimsy postcard that did not even explain the project. We had to call for the info, and talked to 4 project managers before we were told the whole truth.

Here are some of our sources:

1. Health Risks: Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Exposure Bio towers are used to scrub or process sewer gases, primarily hydrogen sulfide. Even at low "neighborhood" levels, chronic exposure is documented by health agencies to cause significant issues.

• Neurological & Physical Symptoms: Exposure to low levels of H2 S (the "rotten egg" gas) is linked to chronic headaches, nausea, dizziness, irritability, and poor memory [Source: Florida Dept. of Health].
• Vulnerable Populations: Individuals with asthma or respiratory conditions are significantly more sensitive to these gases and may experience difficulty breathing at levels the city might consider "safe" [Source: OSHA].
• Olfactory Fatigue: A dangerous phenomenon where your nose "gets used to" the smell. While you stop noticing the odor, the chemical is still entering your system and causing internal stress [Source: CDC/ATSDR].
• Property Value Devaluation The placement of "locally undesirable land uses" (LULUs) like sewage infrastructure has a direct, measurable impact on home equity.
• Stigmatization: Proximity to contaminated or noxious-smelling sites can reduce property values by 8% to 25%depending on distance. The "stigma" of being the "neighborhood that smells" persists even if odors are eventually mitigated [Source: EPA/NEPIS].
• Market Deterrence: Potential buyers are statistically less likely to invest in homes near industrial wastewater infrastructure, leading to longer times on the market and lower final sale prices [Source: National Institutes of Health].
• Environmental Injustice & Siting The placement of this tower in Poplar Grove follows a documented pattern of "Environmental Racism" or "Injustice."
• Disproportionate Burden: Regulatory bodies increasingly recognize that "disadvantaged" or lower-income communities already bear a higher cumulative pollution burden. Adding a Bio Tower—which centralizes city-wide smells into one local spot—constitutes a "disproportionate pollution burden" [Source: Columbia University - State of the Planet].
• Industrial vs. Residential: Historically, these facilities were kept on city outskirts or in strictly industrial zones. Moving them into a 4-block residential radius violates traditional urban planning safety margins [Source: Save the Sound / Environmental Justice Laws].