Louisville's West End is often considered a bad place, yet its beauty is overlooked. Sure, there are a couple areas that are dangerous, but for the most part it is a safe and gorgeous place to call home. One of the most amazing places in the West End is Chickasaw park. For most, a walk  in a park is a relaxing time to enjoy nature, with clean air. Chickasaw park, however, has the overwhelming stench of sewage. If you go less than a mile you will find the sewage plant. The Morris Forman Water Quality Treatment Center is located on Algonquin parkway, and has been causing several health issues to residents of the West End. Several residents, including myself, have breathing difficulties and asthma. Sewer gas has been proven to cause irritation to the respiratory tract.

Some other health hazards that sewer gas causes are:

• Eye irritation.
• Nausea.
• Dizziness.
• Fatigue.
• Headaches.
• Irritability.
• Loss of appetite.
• Poor memory.
•  And last but not least, pneumonia.

Sewer gas has 3 major chemicals in it: 

• Hydrogen sulfide, which is extremely flammable. It also is very toxic to humans and is dangerous to nature and the environment.
• Ammonia. While it is not flammable, it is corrosive. Like hydrogen sulfide, it is very toxic to humans and nature as well.
• And methane, which is highly flammable.

I understand that we do need water treatment plants and I am not saying just bulldoze the whole place. Think about this: if the people in St.Matthews or in the Highlands had to smell this, it would not be long before the city had it fixed. Sure, many residents of the West End may not be as wealthy as people out in St.Matthews or a place like it, but our lives and well-being do matter. It is unjust that we must live in this toxic environment. MSD can do something about it, they have just chosen not to. Make your voices heard, Louisville! We can stop this.