OGDENSBURG -- Ogdensburg Department of Public Works is nearing a solution to alleviate a sewer gas issue on Lafayette Street that stemmed from the Paterson Street project.

DPW Director Scott Thornhill says separating storm and sewer water to alleviate flooding issues caused sewer gas to back up and leak out on Lafayette Street creating a foul smell. Field measurements have been completed and ports are ordered, according to Thornhill.

Because the project stemmed from the $5.5 million DOT project, Thornhill says the expenses, estimated at a minimum of $10,000 plus labor will be covered by funds available from the project.

Excess runoff had been going into the city’s combined storm-sewer system, meaning the drainage from the road, which was supposed to go into the Oswegatchie River, had instead been going to the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

The excess water was being mixed with city sewer water and thus being treated unnecessarily by the wastewater plant. Thornhill said fixing that issue caused the problem at Lafayette Street.