Residents of Lawrenceville—especially those living near the old high school site—face serious concerns about the city’s plan to build a new Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in a densely populated area. While modern plants can be designed to minimize odor, there is no such thing as a completely odor-free WWTP. Odors can be more noticeable in warmer months, and they can worsen during power outages, equipment failures, or routine maintenance.

Living near a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) can seriously impact people's health and overall quality of life. Studies have shown that people who live close to a WWTP often deal with unpleasant odors, especially during warmer months, which can make it hard to enjoy outdoor activities or even keep their windows open.

More importantly, the air around these plants can carry higher levels of bacteria and other microorganisms, which have been linked to more frequent headaches, breathing problems, skin irritation, and even issues like trouble concentrating or feeling tired all the time.

Beyond health, the constant smell and worry about the air quality can hurt people's mood and stress levels, making daily life less enjoyable. It can also negatively affect property values and the success of nearby businesses, like restaurants or community events.

In short, putting a WWTP too close to homes and businesses isn’t just inconvenient — it can be harmful to health, happiness, and the local economy.

Beyond residential neighborhoods, the proposed site is just 2–3 blocks from many of our local restaurants and sits dangerously close to the footprint of our annual Fall Festival, a major community event and fundraiser for the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce. Even occasional unpleasant odors could pose a serious risk to local businesses, deter event attendees, and affect tourism and economic activity in our downtown.

What’s at stake is more than just the comfort of nearby homes—it’s the reputation, revenue, and resilience of our small-town economy. Moving forward without fully evaluating alternatives, such as the open farmland northwest of town along the Embarras River, could mean locking ourselves into a decision that negatively affects both residents and business owners for decades.

Now is the time to act. The project is still in its early planning stages. We are asking the City Council to direct its engineering firm to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study of the northwest farmland site and other viable alternatives. This is a multi-million-dollar project that will shape Lawrenceville’s future—let’s make sure every option is fully explored before the first shovel hits the ground.

Let’s protect our neighborhoods. Let’s protect our local businesses. Let’s make the responsible choice.