Warrenton, N.C. — Homeowners just outside Warrenton have learned to live with a strong odor that is permeating from the sewer.

“It gets rough sometimes,” resident Shirley Davis said.

Resident Deborah Mayfield described the odor as “terrible” and said it has caused her family to run into the house.

Drivers find it tough to deal with as well. Sandra Hargrove found it hard to explain, but said “It’s really terrible.”

Officials say the facility was built because there were plans to put a chicken processing center near it .The center was never opened.

The facility was made to deal with a million gallons of waste a day, but it only processes up to 50,000 gallons of sewage. The smaller amount of sewage takes longer to go through the system and, therefore, the smell is more likely to develop, Robertson said.

Robertson said the state tested the air quality years ago and found levels weren't high enough to pose any health dangers.

Now, county leaders have plans to use a $350,000 from the North Carolina Rural Center to move the sewer line and hopefully the smell for good.

Officials hope to begin work on moving the sewer line to a less populated area later this summer.