Kerhonkson, NY – An Ulster County summer camp has been ordered closed by local officials amid complaints from neighbors about an unbearable sewage smell that was indicative of a larger issue that posed a health risk to campers and local residents.

The Daily Freeman reported that Camp Rav Tov in Kerhonkson was shut down by the Ulster County Health Department on Thursday, with all operations at the camp terminated by 5 PM on Monday.

Approximately 1,000 girls attend the Cherrywood Road camp, one of four Rav Tov Satmar summer camps in Ulster County.

Ulster County Health Commissioner Dr. Carol Smith said that the camp’s septic system was malfunctioning, causing raw sewage to overflow onto the ground.

“Reports from the town are that it kind of trickled down into the roadway,” said Smith, who noted that the camp’s aging septic system was probably not capable of accommodating the large number of campers at the facility.

Smith said that she had been in touch with the camp on several occasions about the issue, but that steps taken to remedy the problem were inadequate.

According to News 12, the sewage problem began at Camp Rav Tov several years ago when the camp installed solar panels atop their leach field, an integral part of the facility’s septic system.

Problems that were identified with the camp’s private sewer system last year have yet to be corrected, with officials blaming inadequate maintenance for the foul smell.

“It takes your breath away sometimes its so bad,” said one neighbor.

Neighbor Tom Felter told the Shawangunk Journal that his property’s well had been tainted by the camp’s sewage. A test on Felter’s water supply came back with “not satisfactory” results and Felter said he would need to shock his own water system with chlorine to fix the problem.

Multiple pump and panel trucks have made their way to the camp over the past week, said Felter, who noted that he has yet to see any signs of anyone vacating the camp.

“We’ll see what happens by Monday,” said Felter.

Neighbors have also complained about excessive noise from the camp’s loudspeakers at all hours of the day and night, buses and trucks blocking area roadways, campers marching loudly on local roads and excessive litter.

“I go out every day with gloves and a bucket and pick up garbage,” said one neighbor. “It’s not there in the rest of the year. I’m a garbage collector from June until August. I deliver it to their driveway.”

Officials from Camp Rav Tov were not immediately available to comment on the matter.