For these Kingsport residents, smell is more than disruptive

Kingsport has long been linked to the industries within it that produce odors some would consider unpleasant.Those who experience the smell are typically along the South Fork of the Holston River, where those industries also live.Smell sensitivity can vary widely within communities. That's what olfactory scientist and psychologist Pamela Dalton at the Monell Chemical Senses Center shared with Six Rivers Media.Six Rivers Media spoke with some residents in communities neighboring the waterway, in Ridgefields and along Netherland Inn Road. Some shared they aren't bothered by the smell. Others shared they've noticed different odors but gotten used to them. Some said they've accepted the smell is part of living where they do.Some who live north of the river believe there's more smell from the city sewer plant than there is from the Domtar-owned paper mill. Others said the smells have disrupted their lives regardless.Ridgefields residents are some of those people who have experienced the extreme effects of those smells — specifically, the smell attributed to the paper mill's wastewater lagoon.Domtar is investing $75 million in an anaerobic digester to treat that wastewater odor. Construction on the digester is set to finish in the fall of 2026. Those Ridgefields residents are anxiously waiting for that day to come and the days of extreme odor to subside.Helen ManessManess has lived in Kingsport for years. She describes herself as an "old-timer" who likes to sit on her porch, which she doesn't do much of anymore because of the odor. Staying inside doesn't always avoid the stench either — she's woken up in the middle of the night more than once because of it. If she could move out of Ridgefields, she would. But she needs the one-story living she has now and can't afford to move anyway."It is a nuisance," she said. "I'm not getting any younger, I'm getting older. So I need to stay here."She has invested in air purifiers, filters and dehumidifiers in hopes that it will keep the odor from trickling inside. If possible, she'd like an advanced warning for the odor if it's at a time when she can leave the house and spend her day elsewhere.Richard HelmsHelms moved to Ridgefields in May 2020. He's noticed a distinct odor in the last couple of years when Domtar reopened after shutting down during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. He became particularly worried about the odor one evening when he let his dog outside. His eyes stung and he became nauseated. He described the smell as "overpowering." He texted neighbors to ask if they were also smelling it. They said yes.He said he contacted Domtar about the smell. Domtar shared updates on ways they're trying to mitigate the odor. He would like that process to speed up."We want business, we want industry here in our area. We just want them to be good corporate neighbors," he said.Ashley and Alec CarterThe Carters have lived in Ridgefields for almost four years. They originally grew up in Church Hill, a city just west of Kingsport."If it smelled like this when we moved in, we would not have bought our house," Ashley said.The odor has woken them in the middle of the night a few times. They're runners. It's more challenging for them to run as often as they would like because of the smell.The two have plans to move in three to four years. They're concerned about selling their home if the smell continues as they've experienced it. Those concerns have been amplified when their visitors, who are interested in moving to Kingsport, said they wouldn't live in Ridgefields after experiencing the smell.Marylyn MaddoxMaddox has lived in Ridgefields since 1998. She got used to the smells that were in Kingsport when she arrived, which she presumed came from Eastman Chemical Co. She said smells from Domtar the last few years are far worse than what she's experienced before.She believes the local economy needs Domtar. More transparency from the company would be appreciated, she said, specifically around what can and can't be done about the odor until the anaerobic digester is up and running."I don't want Domtar to go away. I just want them to do better."Kathleen McCannMcCann is a more recent Ridgefields resident. She moved to the neighborhood about two and a half years ago. On the days when she toured her now home, the neighborhood didn't smell. So, she decided to move in.She works from home and feels trapped inside on days when the odor looms. Her mom and uncle have asthma. She's concerned about their comfortability and symptoms the odor could trigger if they visit. She wishes there was an email list she could sign up for that would include updates about anything related to the smell or when it could be present. Her block of the neighborhood tried to host a yard sale that became less enjoyable when the stench rolled through.Tracy MillerMiller moved to Ridgefields in 2019. He said he can't enjoy the outdoors anymore because of the smell. Even though he believes it's "probably not realistic," he wishes Domtar would move its operations into the county instead of continuing in city limits.He wishes the company would be more direct with its communication about the odor issue. The thought of taking guests outside is embarrassing. If possible, he'd like the city of Kingsport to "lean on" Domtar more when it comes to hurrying odor mitigation efforts.Debbie Murphy, Myrna Ball and Jackie SheltonMurphy, Ball and Shelton are neighbors. Murphy has lived in Ridgefields for seven years. All three of them don't spend as much time outside because of the smell. Murphy said it makes her want to move. Ball doesn't spend time in her yard anymore. Shelton finds it hard to sit through his grandchildren's games at Domtar Park, which neighbors the mill. He said the smell makes him want to puke.Angie and John WilliamsAngie is originally from Blountville, just east of Kingsport, but has lived in the Ridgefields neighborhood for 26 years. John used to work in Bristol. They both avoid outdoor activities and feel like they can't fully enjoy their home because of the odor. Angie has attended a few Kingsport Economic Development Board meetings — where Domtar provides updates on how it's addressing the odor — to voice her concerns. Although the odor isn't physically harmful, according to TDEC, she's still feeling harm in other ways."It is harmful to my quality of life, in my home. When I'm smelling it in my house, that makes me livid. I should not have to live that way."She said the odor issue is embarrassing for the city."I think we need to see change, and maybe that's out of their hands. I don't know. I'm not an engineer and understand all that. But I live it every day. And I think people are just, we're getting weary, very weary."This is part of a reporting series about odor in Kingsport after the Domtar paper mill conversion — how it's affecting residents and how it's being addressed.Jorgelina Manna-Rea is an environmental reporter at Six Rivers Media through Report for America.