KAILUA — Not much has changed in the way of odor since the city promised to fix a smelly problem that has plagued the 'Aikahi area for decades, residents say.

Some were hopeful after officials announced in July 2007 that the city would spend $25 million to reduce emissions at its Kailua Wastewater Treatment Plant.

But nearly two years later, hope has given way to skepticism for many.

"I've been living here 33 years, and it's not improved," said Chris Soares, a secretary at the adjacent 'Aikahi Elementary School and resident of Kalaheo Hillside above the school.

Last weekend, the city announced three new wastewater projects, including $11 million for an odor control project at the Kailua plant, but Soares said she's not confident the city can make it better without replacing the whole system.

"I am kind of skeptical about what they've been doing," she said, adding that the odor is pronounced every so often depending on the wind and certain operations being performed there.

Over the years, the city has spent millions of dollars in attempts to stop the odor, but complaints still come in. The smell is primarily caused by the release of hydrogen sulfide and volatile acids, officials have said.

City spokesman Bill Brennan said some short-term fixes were completed in 2007 and a long-term project was designed in 2008.

The money was approved in 2007 and "now (we're) implementing long-range projects utilizing that money," Brennan said in an e-mail.

Work is expected to begin in November and last 15 months for the odor project.

The initial short-term fixes in 2007 were done on odor control systems in different parts of the plant and sealing equipment to contain odor, said Marcus Owens, with the city Environmental Services Department.

Ongoing initiatives continue as the plant prepares for the new work, Owens said.

Getting the work done is tricky because the plant can't be shut down, he said, adding that resolving some problems takes longer because of that.

CHILDREN SICKENED

Kailua residents have complained about odor problems from the plant for decades, and 'Aikahi Elementary School next door has seen children sickened by the stench.

Recent baseball games in the park between the school and the plant have been particularly stinky, said Kathy Bryant-Hunter, who has a child at the school and attended those games.

"It's only been the last couple of weeks that it's been really noticeable," Bryant-Hunter said.

School principal Gay Kong said normally the plant would call to warn them, but no warning came before the recent round of rankness.

In 2007, a court ordered the city to install air conditioners at the school. Since then, the children have not had to suffer through the worst days, Kong said, adding that generally the air quality has improved.

Before that, children made masks to cover their noses and wrote letters to the editor of newspapers, she said.

"It was getting in the way of their learning," Kong said, adding that she is looking forward to the new project and hopes it will resolve the problem.

However, she said she worries about the health effects on children who have been breathing the foul air for years.

"My larger concern is it is damaging to children's lungs," Kong said.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann announced the low bidders of the three projects in an e-mail, saying the projects are being paid for with money collected from sewer fees.

"We are fulfilling our promise to repair our long-neglected sewer system and wastewater treatment plants with these major capital investments," Hannemann said.

The city is studying the three new bids before awarding them.

The plan to reduce odor at the Kailua plant includes injecting chemicals into wastewater prior to it coming into the plant.

The project also will upgrade and replace parts for the plant's foul air treatment system, enclose the dewatering building to reduce emissions and install a cleaner system to burn off methane gas.

Low bidder on the contract is Bodell Construction Co.

OTHER PROJECTS

Frank Coluccio Construction Co. submitted the low bid — $3.3 million — for a Kailua/Kane'ohe project that calls for rehabilitating 1,488 feet of collector pipe and 35 manholes, and installing 125 feet of new pipe at Kailua Beach Park, Kaneohe Yacht Club, Bay View Golf Course and Oneawa Street areas.

The project is tentatively set to begin in November and should take nine months to complete.

MIRA Image Construction was the low bidder — $6.6 million — for new pipe installation in Honolulu.

The project calls for rehabilitating 1,552 feet of pipe and 22 manholes and installing 4,209 feet of new line for Kahanu, School and Umi streets.

The city didn't have a start date for that project.