Oak Ridges Smell is Gone!
- Marian
- Nov 5
- 3 min read
Update November 5, 2025
York Region informed me that the Air Management Facility has been successfully connected to the trunk sewer and is drawing the foul air for treatment. During this early stage, the system is undergoing testing to ensure the facility will meet the Region’s standards of safety, reliability, and performance for many years to come.
The testing period will continue over the next two month and the residents and businesses in the Yonge Street and North Lake Road neighborhood can be reassured that the system is active and treating the foul air throughout this period.
After years of advocating for action on the horrible odor, I’m pleased to report a noticeable improvement. I’ve personally observed that the smell is finally gone, and it’s a welcome change for our community. Thank you to everyone who helped push for a solution.
Update September 3, 2025
York Region has made great progress in getting the new facility up and running, after setbacks with some equipment. Thanks to the hard work of staff, contractors, and vendors, they’ve solved the equipment issues, and they’re on track to begin a 14-day trial run in mid-September.
Before the full trial, the facility will go through two preparation steps:
Dry run: The equipment and computer systems will run without treatment material to make sure everything is working properly.
Inoculation: They’ll add special organic material that removes odours. This material will start cleaning the air coming from the Yonge Street sewer. After that, the air will pass through a carbon filter to catch any remaining smells before being released outside.
This inoculation step may be repeated a few times until the odour-removing system is working at its best.
By carefully testing and preparing the facility, they’re making sure it will deliver reliable, long-term performance for our community.
Update June 4, 2025
The Oak Ridges Air Management Facility (ORAMF) is now in the commissioning stage and is undergoing a series of critical and comprehensive checks and balances to ensure it will meet the performance and reliability standards as set out by the Region.
The Region’s commissioning process in comprised of several key steps, including :
Equipment calibration
Equipment start-up testing
Functional and network testing
14-day performance testing
45-day operational testing
14-day testing (On Track for July) will signal the start of odorous air being drawn from the large trunk sanitary sewer on Yonge St and treated in a manner representative of the facility’s normal to actively reduce odours. That phase will segue into the final 45-day operational testing phase, during which the system continues to be monitored for performance until final completion in September.
Commissioning the ORAMF and treating the odorous air from the YDSS during the upcoming summer months when odours can be most prevalent remains a top priority for the Region.
Update March 5, 2025
Since the last update, they have been able to receive and install overhead traveling crane systems. They also received the generator exhaust stack and moving forward with installation of it.
Most of the work is now limited to the facility interior where the Region’s contractor continues to progress in preparation for commissioning currently anticipated for Summer 2025.
Update January 14, 2025
As you may remember, York Region started building an air management facility near Yonge Street and King Road in the Fall of 2022. This facility aims to eliminate the unpleasant odor that has persisted in the area for years.
At this time, the building envelope has been completed and our contractor is working to finalize the internals prior to testing and commissioning the facility.
For a detailed update, please see the summary below:
Two items listed above are ongoing as result of market supply shortages and delays – this includes the generator exhaust stack and overhead traveling crane system. These items are well beyond their original scheduled delivery date. To help move these items along, the Region’s contractor and consultant are diligently working with the suppliers.
Testing and commissioning is also behind the schedule mainly due to delay in Hydro connection to the facility which was connected very late last year (Dec 2024).
They are currently aiming to complete the system testing and facility start up by end of April 2025.
They are continuously working to move the project along and commission the facility to resolve the odour concerns in the Oak Ridge’s community.
More Info: Oak Ridges Air Management Facility
