West Haven finds source of mysterious hum plaguing neighborhoods

The City of West Haven has determined what has been causing a persistent hum that had been plaguing several neighborhoods for years.

In January, the city hired a sound engineering company to do a study and analyze data to try and figure out what was causing the noise.

The company took readings at more than 10 locations and found that at least five of the locations, the decibel level exceeded applicable standards. The areas where the level was exceeded was near the industrial zone boundary. Readings taken in residential areas did not cross the decibel threshold, according to the mayor’s office.

After analyzing the results, the sound engineering company determined the hum was coming from the Glanbia facility on Heffernan Drive. Glanbia is a health and nutrition manufacturer.

The company worked with the city and did it’s own sound analysis. They determined that existing roof-mounted silencers, or mufflers, were insufficient for the particular tone generated by its equipment, according to the mayor’s office.

Glanbia has begun the process to replace the silencers and hope to have the work completed by September.

In the meantime, the company has installed temporary muffler blankets to help mitigate the noise. In a two-week testing period, the noise levels have remained in the allowable range, the mayor said.

“Once presented with the official sound study results, Glanbia has been cooperative and has worked to put a temporary resolution in place that brings the levels down, and has pledged to permanently correct the problem,” Mayor Dorinda Borer said. “We will continue to monitor the temporary solution to ensure that readings remain below ordinance levels and to ensure full compliance with the permanent solution.”

Glanbia has also agreed to reimburse the city for the noise study.

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