A constant, low-frequency hum has unsettled West Haven, Connecticut, as residents report months of sleepless nights, stress, and rising anxiety. The mysterious noise—described by some as a constant droning or vibration—has sparked health concerns and divided the city’s nearly 56,000 citizens, with some unable to hear it and others deeply disturbed by its presence.
The issue came to a head at a recent city council meeting, where neighbors shared emotional testimonies about the overnight disturbance. WTIC reported that local resident Kimberly Nunes, who started a petition urging action, told council members, “It’s affecting my mental health, my sleep, my well-being. As well as my children’s. I’ve noticed that my pets tend to pace and stare.” The petition, signed by over 140 people, describes the hum as an ongoing problem that disrupts sleep, concentration, and enjoyment of home life. It also raises alarm about potential long-term health consequences.
Many believe local industry could be responsible, but the source remains unconfirmed. John Carrano, the city’s commissioner of human resources, has used sound meters for months near his home, which is among the loudest locations. Despite hundreds of readings, he told the New Haven Register that the noise levels fall below legal thresholds—West Haven allows up to 70 decibels in industrial zones and 51 in residential areas at night. “It’s a constant noise. Even though it’s under the decibel levels of loud, it’s kind of at the intersection of sound and vibration,” Carrano explained.
In response to resident demands, the city council approved a $16,000 contract with a third-party acoustic firm to set up ten microphones across West Haven for a week of continuous monitoring. Testing must take place during calm, dry weather for accurate results. Once the data is collected, analysis is expected to take around 30 days.
Mayor Dorinda Borer emphasized the complexity of tracing low-frequency sounds and the need for legal caution before citing any business. “We have to cross our T’s and dot our I’s before we go to any specific company and cite them,” she told the Register. Local company Glanbia Nutritionals, often mentioned by residents as a possible source, stated it is cooperating with the city and has already taken measures to reduce noise. However, there is still no evidence directly linking the plant to the hum.
Similar hums have been reported in other places worldwide, including Taos, New Mexico, Auckland, New Zealand, and Windsor, Ontario. In West Haven, residents hope the new acoustic study will finally reveal the source and lead to relief. City officials say they will consult the results and consider further actions, including legal and regulatory steps, once testing concludes.
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