A north-end business owner is raising several health and safety concerns over the Marquis Waste Hauler Disposal Station in Saskatoon.

Derek Hanneson brought the topic before the Committee on Environment Tuesday, stating that the facility, on the corner of Wanuskewin Road and Arthur Rose Avenue, is emitting potent hydrogen sulfide gas every 15 to 20 minutes. 

“H2S is very deadly. If you get over 500 parts per million, you could start to cause permanent health risks or death,” Hanneson explains.

Saskatoon’s Director of Water Russ Munro says the facility is not eliminating the gas as intended, and he is working with the designer to rectify the issues. There is also $1.4 million proposed in the upcoming budget to address the problem. 

 Hanneson says he isn’t the only one complaining about the smell and potential safety hazard. “I have a list of just about every business in that north end that is upset. There’s residents in Silverwood that are upset.”

In the meantime, Munro says the blower system is only being run at night to mitigate the smell during business hours.