SLUDGE VICTIMS

Air scrubbers over the sludge holding tank have also reduced odors, he said.

"But, odors are biological," Blomquist added. "The treatment of waste water has an odor. One way you can tell that everything is working right is how it smells."

Neither Blomquist nor Hanscom has heard any sewer-smen complaints in a while.

"I haven't received any in the last two years,,, Hanscom said. "But that doesn't mean people aren't unhappy," she added quickly,

After neighbors' complaints, the state government conducted a series of air-monitoring tests and cancer studies in 1987 and 1998. However, nothing out of the ordinary was found,

In 1998, the state health department studied cancer rates in Swanzey. Residents had reported skin rashes, nausea, headaches, watery eyes and respiratory problems.

The study found high rates of cervical cancer between 1987 and 1991, but concluded that the sewer plant could not have contributed to the increase. Rather, smoking, sex at an early age, multiple sex partners and a certain virus, called human papillomavirus, are known to be linked to this type of cancer.

Charles R. Beauregard Jr., chairman of the Swanzey selectmen, says he, too, hasn't heard any complaints for more than a year now. "I assume there aren't any. But I guess you should never assume anything."

True, considering Keene's sometimes rocky relationship with Swanzey. The question has been asked: Even if there wasn't anything legally wrong with the plant, was it ethically fair for the city to send its smelly sewage to Swanzey?

Many people have said no.

But Swanzey can reap some benefits from the plant. The town owns a portion of the plant, which is designed to process twice as much sewage as it currently does, Beauregard said.

Right now, West Swanzey has its own sewer plant, but people and businesses in the rest of town have their own septic systems. But if they ever want to tap into the airport plant, they can.