Hollister considers “floating islands” to abate waste pond stench

Hollister city council is exploring a new tool to prevent another smelly summer for some neighbors who live near the tomato processing plant waste pond.

From mid-July to mid-October, the city’s industrial waste water treatment pond receives waste water from the San Benito Foods tomato processing facility.

After numerous complaints, the city of Hollister is now looking into fixing it with “floating islands.”

“What was proposed to us is what they call a “floating island” out here, which are bugs and plants,” Hollister City Council Member Raymond Friend said.

The islands are natural and would eventually replace the 23 metal aerators that are currently on the water. The aerators take care of the pond’s sludge, but create the smell.

“As soon as the aerators are turned on, it brings the sludge up from the bottom, which creates the odor throughout the community,” Hollister Mayor Ignacio Velazquez said.

Unlike the current aerators, the floating islands have the aerator below them, keeping the stench and the sludge below the water.

Not only are they more eco-friendly, the mayor says they’ll save money.

If they put them in both of the city’s ponds… “We’re looking at somewhere between 15 and 20 million dollars in savings over twenty years,” Velazquez said.

It’s a million dollar investment taxpayers won’t have to foot the bill on.

The mayor said San Benito Foods would pay for the upgrades.

City leaders discussed the idea Monday night at their city council meeting. They plan to revisit the idea in about two weeks.