ADEM pushes Mobile Gas to clear odor

EIGHT MILE, Ala. (WALA) - Residents in Eight Mile dealing with a strong odor are still waiting for some relief.

Back in March, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management ordered Mobile Gas to identify and lessen the smell. 

Now, ADEM has said the gas company hasn't addressed the problem quickly enough.

According to a letter from ADEM to Mobile Gas , the state is requiring Mobile Gas to address the odor. It has given them a deadline of 14 days, from the receipt of the letter dated September 27.

In the meantime, families continue to wait while living with foul the smell.

"We don't know what kind of condition this stuff is putting us in as far as health. Because we wake up in the morning you’re vomiting. You have a bad headache, and it's in your house. It's in your apartment,” Eight Mile resident Gloria Cunningham.

The odor in the Williams' home is strong.  The family is worried about how the smell, affects their children.

"She (her daughter) has been diagnosed with migraine headaches. She has been in and out of the hospital due to the smell. my son here, he's been in ICU twice at USA,” said Carese Williams.

The source of the smell was identified as mercaptan in April. Mercaptan is a strong-smelling chemical added to natural gas to detect leaks.