Sewage sniffers map the ‘Milton Pong’ in Cambridgeshire

The famous ‘Milton Pong’ that blows across the village from the sewage works on the other side of the A14 has now been measured and put on a map.

Professional testers have carried out a ‘sniff test’ of the area to see just how far the stink stretches and have judged the level of the smell from zero to maximum offensiveness.

The research was carried out for Anglian Water, which wants to move the current Cambridge sewage works at Cowley Road to a new site at Honey Hill, between Fen Ditton and Horningsea.

The company who performed the tests was Silsoe odours. It said: “The objective of the field odour survey is to subjectively record the odours perceived at observation points in the areas in and around the current and proposed Cambridge (sewage works) locations”.

Testers spent five minutes sniffing the air at 10-second intervals in various locations. Smells were graded from no odour to extremely strong and not offensive to highly offensive.

If an unpleasant odour is detected for more than 10 per cent of the time it may “cause annoyance”, the company said.

It found that around the sewage works site itself the odours were often at “maximum offensiveness” but that moderately strong smells trailed as far as the Milton Country Park car park and the Chisholm Trail bridge over the River Cam.

Scents observed included “sewage”, “sludge tank” and “cake”, the latter being solids removed from sewage sludge rather than a lunchtime treat. Smells perceived around Horningsea, where the new plant is proposed to be sited, included “no odour”, “cut grass” and vegetation.