Residents in West Jasper Place don't want a mere patch job promised when they meet with city officials tonight about a sewer smell so bad they claim it keeps them up at night.

The smell was coming from sewer lines under repair in the area, particularly from a construction site near 151st Street and 99th Avenue.

Health complaints forced the city to stop work and cap the sanitary sewer Aug. 28. An air quality monitor was also put in place.

Image | Irene Blane

Caption: Irene Blain, civic director for the West Jasper Place Community League, says the smell was worse at night, when people are trying to sleep. (CBC)

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Irene Blaine, the civics director of the West Jasper/Sherwood Community League, is hoping to get answers from the city's drainage department about how the work will be completed.

She said the community doesn't want a patch job done on a section of sewer she heard is ready to collapse.

"We want something that will be safe and secure," she said. "If it's that bad, deal with it now."

Residents started complaining to the city in June after the smell started causing headaches and sore throats from the gas.

Blaine said Alberta Health Services became involved after a patient with breathing problems was found to have a high level of carbon monoxide in her blood.