Latest news with #stench
News.com.au
a day ago
- General
- News.com.au
Stench scare: ‘Rotten egg' mystery grips coast, and it's not sewers
Residents along Australia's stunning coastline fear it was burst sewer mains or pipes, but the truth behind a mystery gag-inducing stench is even more bizarre. Local water authorities along the coast have been bombarded with complaints over a putrid 'rotten egg' stench filling the air in the depths of Australia's winter, but investigators have found it's not any sewer pipes to blame as residents had expected. Regional water utility firm Unitywater was among those hit with a flood of calls over gag-inducing odours that many blamed on a wastewater disaster brewing underground. Locals up and down the coast have long noticed 'that smell in the evenings at this time of year', with one saying 'my family always said it was 'the swamp' as we grew up near the Boondall wetlands. But as I branch out from the northside I start to realise the smell is everywhere.' But after digging into the source of the stench, experts dropped a bombshell thankful that it's not their pipes at all but good ole Mother Nature at work – and the bad news for nostrils is there's nothing that can be done to stop it. Unitywater executive manager Rhett Duncan gave the wild explainer to its 800,000 customers along the Sunshine Coast to Noosa stretch which contain some of the most expensive real estate in Queensland. What's happening is 'when mangroves drop their seeds, bacteria helps breakdown the organic matter, producing a sulphur reaction, which creates sulphide gas and the associated odour', Mr Duncan said. MORE: Cash-strap student turns $40k to 38 homes Govt pays $3.3m for unliveable derelict house The odour is most common from May to November, thanks to cooler temperatures that trap the gas closer to the ground – and your nostrils regardless of which part of the country you're in. 'It's often described as a rotten egg smell and is most common between May and November, as cooler conditions disperse less sulphide gas and so it's more concentrated. This can be mistaken for wastewater odour,' Mr Duncan said. The water authority received hundreds of odour reports which were given priority status for investigation to ensure there were no problems in the wastewater network. 'We take these reports seriously and we understand odour can be a nuisance for the local community. We encourage residents who notice an odour to consider if it may in fact be coming from a nearby swamp, wetland or river.' Mr Duncan said residents should be able to detect if odour was caused by mangroves by considering how close they were to mangroves, the time of year, wind, seasonal changes in rainfall and temperature. Shock as city's distressed home listings surge 36pc in one month One visitor came straight out with it asking, 'why is Port Douglas stinky? I have noticed (mostly at night) a smelly stench wafting in the air. Had anyone noticed this before? Even better, does anyone know why Port Douglas seems to be so smelly? #farts'. There too, locals know what to watch for: 'Full moon, high tides of 3.2m at 9.30pm pushing the mangrove/inlet water up into the storm water drains'. A Queensland resident explained 'if your storm water culverts connect directly to a tidal creek or river, then on the turn of the tides (generally incoming tides) the waves push the mangrove-y swampy air up the pipes and out the grates. It happens here in the city. Mind you, it doesn't have to be tidal, but if the pipe is exposed the prevailing winds can do the same thing.' Most coastal Aussies have learned to live with the discomfort faced by their nostrils, which is only likely to get worse as Christmas nears: 'It's the time of year man, and we all know it yet we never speak of it. When it gets humid and wiping turns into a one handed paper-machete exercise, so we just give up and deal with the stink.' Million-dollar savings: Brisbane's bargain suburbs exposed Mother Nature and her mangroves are a protected species in Australia, authorities warn. 'While it can be a nuisance, in Queensland, all mangroves are protected and play an important role in stabilising riverbanks and channels,' Mr Duncan said. 'They also provide important habitat and food sources for local animals, including various species of waterbirds, fish and bees.' Residents have no other choice but to invent olfactory coping strategies or learn to love the stench. 'There's nothing swampy about it,' another coastal local said. 'To me it smells like Christmas is on the way. Like summer is on the horizon. Of a spring evening in the 1990s, Christmas beetles buzzing past, sunset spent with friends in the park.' Sometimes, no matter how expensive your home is, Mother Nature just chooses to stink up the place. How to spot a mangrove stink: -ï¸� You live near swamps, wetlands or rivers -ï¸� It's cold or recently rained -ï¸� The wind is blowing your way -ï¸� The smell worsens between May and November What you can do about it: – Close your windows – Wear a buff with a drop of your favourite scent – Nothing, sometimes nature just stinks.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
Why San Diego beach is deserted again
Published: | It is the height of summer, but one of America's most iconic beaches is practically deserted once again. Tourists visiting San Diego normally can't wait to visit La Jolla Cove, a stunning coastline known for its gorgeous sunsets and sandstone cliffs. However, the picturesque shore is also home to hundreds of sea lions and seals along with thousands of pelicans and other birds, which visitors say are producing an unbearable stench. In fact, the odor has become so unbearable, tourists are saying they've decided to stay home. The city has addressed the foul smell at La Jolla Cove before. The problem got so bad in 2016 that the city solicited solutions from anyone and everyone who had ideas, reported La Jolla Village News. Proposals included power washing the cliffs, installing spikes, or leaving tarps on them to stop wildlife from roosting. Someone even proposed letting trained falcons loose to scare gulls away. The city ultimately chose Blue Eagle, a San Rafael-based firm, to release its mix of bacillus bacteria on the cliffs to consume the bird and seal droppings. This option was chosen because bacillus is a naturally occurring ocean bacteria and is known for its ability to break down waste in an environmentally friendly manner. 'The city has long worked to address persistent odor concerns at the La Jolla bluffs, which are caused by natural accumulations of seabird and marine mammal waste,' Benny Cartwright, supervising city spokesperson, told Daily Mail. 'In previous years, the city applied an organic, enzyme-based treatment derived from naturally occurring ocean bacteria to targeted areas as part of a successful odor mitigation strategy,' Cartwright added. 'The treatment uses beneficial microbes to accelerate the natural breakdown of bird and marine mammal waste, effectively reducing odors while posing no known risk to wildlife or water quality.' Nine years later, the smell has returned, largely because in 2023 the city stopped using the bacteria. This is because the Regional Water Quality Control Board requested more data on how the use of the bacterial spray was affecting the environment. 'The city continues to pursue the additional internal review and approvals to resume spraying in the future,' Cartwright said. 'Any future application would continue to be guided by established best management practices, including avoidance of application during or near the presence of marine mammals using on-site biological monitoring, and implementation only under appropriate weather and tide conditions,' he added.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
One of America's most stunning beaches is deserted at height of tourist season after vile odor plagues the shoreline
It is the height of summer, but one of America's most iconic beaches is practically deserted once again. Tourists visiting San Diego normally can't wait to visit La Jolla Cove, a stunning coastline known for its gorgeous sunsets and sandstone cliffs. However, the picturesque shore is also home to hundreds of sea lions and seals, along with thousands of pelicans and other birds which visitors say are producing an unbearable stench. In fact the odor has become so unbearable, tourists are saying they've decided to stay home. Barbara Cohen, a first-time visitor to La Jolla, told Fox 5 San Diego that the smell caught her off guard. 'This is my first time in La Jolla and it's beautiful, it's everything I thought it would be,' Cohen said. 'But the first thing I noticed was the smell. And the second thing I noticed, these rocks are very, very white.' Margaret Elizabeth-Lacobazzi, a lead server at nearby Blue Ocean / Harumama told the local outlet that despite the smell getting worse, it hasn't affected her restaurant's business yet. According to her, that's likely because the Asian fusion restaurant has plenty of indoor seating that allows customers to get spectacular views of the cove. 'The location's stunning view of the La Jolla Cove really draws people in,' she said. 'Sometimes the smell is a bit potent, so people will just go inside and eat.' The city has addressed the foul smell at La Jolla Cove before. The problem got so bad in 2016 that the city solicited solutions from anyone and everyone who had ideas, reported La Jolla Village News. Proposals included power washing the cliffs, to installing spikes or leaving tarps on them to stop wildlife from roosting. Someone even proposed letting trained falcons loose to scare gulls away. The city ultimately chose Blue Eagle, a San Rafael-based firm, to release its mix of bacillus bacteria on the cliffs to consume the bird and seal droppings. This option was chosen because bacillus is a naturally occurring ocean bacteria and is known for their ability to break down waste in an environmentally-friendly manner. 'The city has long worked to address persistent odor concerns at the La Jolla bluffs, which are caused by natural accumulations of seabird and marine mammal waste,' Benny Cartwright, supervising city spokesperson, told Daily Mail. 'In previous years, the city applied an organic, enzyme-based treatment derived from naturally occurring ocean bacteria to targeted areas as part of a successful odor mitigation strategy,' Cartwright added. 'The treatment uses beneficial microbes to accelerate the natural breakdown of bird and marine mammal waste, effectively reducing odors while posing no known risk to wildlife or water quality.' Nine years later, the smell has returned, largely because in 2023 the city stopped using the bacteria. This is because the Regional Water Quality Control Board requested more data on how the use of the bacterial spray was affecting the environment. 'The city continues to pursue the additional internal review and approvals to resume spraying in the future,' Cartwright said. 'Any future application would continue to be guided by established best management practices, including avoidance of application during or near the presence of marine mammals using on-site biological monitoring, and implementation only under appropriate weather and tide conditions,' he added. Megan Heine, the owner of Brockton Villa Restaurant in La Jolla, said the city should get back to spraying. 'The odors, caused primarily by bird guano on the rocks, remain as their population has increased. Some days are better than others. At Brockton Villa, we use "scent air" fans to mitigate any odor so people don't complain once they're in our restaurant,' she said. La Jolla is home to around 250 to 250 sea lions alone, according to the Sierra Club Seal Society. The beach also typically welcomes around seven million visitors annually.
Independent Singapore
15-07-2025
- Independent Singapore
AMK residents forced to use stairs thanks to persistent lift urination issue that remains unresolved despite complaints
SINGAPORE: A foul-smelling and persistent issue at Block 223 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 has left residents frustrated and some choosing to avoid the lift altogether. Residents say the lift at Block C has frequently reeked of urine and that the issue remains unresolved despite multiple complaints. Mike, a resident who moved into the block in January last year, told Channel 8 that he often encounters urine stains in the lift, and the stench has become part of daily life for those living in the block. 'It's very uncomfortable,' he said, 'I've been reporting this through the OneService app since August last year. I even contacted the town council via Facebook, but the problem still hasn't been solved.' According to Mike, while cleaners do remove the mess when reported, the urination continues to recur. 'The town council said it would investigate, but it has not solved the problem yet. After the cleaners cleaned it up, the problem continued to happen. I think it is only treating the symptoms and not the root cause,' he said. Mike shared that some residents have resorted to using the stairs whenever they spot urine in the lift, 'Residents here say they've complained many times, but nothing has happened. Everyone is very angry. If I see urine, I won't take it because it smells bad and is unhygienic.' He also believes the culprit is likely an adult, 'There are residents here who have pets. We all know each other. Everyone brings their pets downstairs to relieve themselves, and every time there is a large pool of urine, which doesn't look like it belongs to pets or children.' Other residents backed up Mike's concerns, with some recalling seeing what they believed to be urine stains regularly in the elevator — and in at least one past instance, even faeces. When a Channel 8 reporter visited the block on Tuesday (Jul 15), there were visible water-like stains in the lift. A sign inside urged people not to urinate in public areas. See also Domestic worker accused of abusing elderly woman in wheelchair Mr Deng, 58, a long-time resident who has lived there for 13 years, told the reporter that he had raised the same issue two years ago through the OneService platform. According to him, the town council made an effort to identify the culprit, but he never heard any updates after that. 'Urine stains can appear at any time, and the cleaners are slow to respond. Sometimes they're still there after hours,' he said, 'Some kind neighbours will lay newspaper down to cover it, but that just makes the area dirtier in my opinion.' Mr Deng added that the problem poses a serious risk to elderly residents, 'This puddle of water is unsafe for residents. It makes the floor slippery; you have to walk sideways and stuff like that. Some of the elderly here are in wheelchairs or on crutches. The urine contaminates their wheelchairs and crutches, and they bring it home. It's unhygienic.' Another resident, who declined to be named, expressed similar concerns, especially for young children. He told the Channel 8 reporter, 'I have kids at home and sometimes push them in a stroller. When I see water stains in the lift, I would rather walk further to use another one so my child doesn't step in it or dirty the stroller.' Several residents said they suspect the same individual is responsible, and pointed to the same unit in the block. However, when the reporter visited the unit, no one was home.
BBC News
08-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Bradford: Campaign grows for curbs on 'stench' factory
A campaign demanding urgent action to deal with what people living nearby say is an "unbearable stench" coming from a Bradford factory is gathering Waddingtons plant, off Leeds Road, converts dead livestock, zoo animals and roadkill from across the country into biofuels and other by-products. A meeting was held at the weekend to discuss the situation during which Muhammed Ibraheem, who lives nearby, said: "The stench is like rancid garbage."JG Pears, the parent company of the Waddingtons plant, said it makes "great efforts to minimise odours beyond the site boundary" and operates "within the strict requirements" of its permit. However, residents say the odour is so strong it forces them indoors, affects their mental health and undermines community are also claims possibly toxic residue from the plant regularly floats onto parked cars nearby. Some people have conducted their own lab is now mounting on the authorities to act - and to throw out an upcoming licence review for the factory - following the public those demanding action were members of the Leeds Road Hindu have submitted a letter to Bradford Council highlighting the "intolerable" situation and "foul smell" which they said visiting dignitaries had commented on. 'Fishy, meaty' A petition has doubled its signatures since the Ummer Daraz, who has an office nearby, has been spearheading the growing campaign and is now seeking legal advice and gathering environmental regeneration projects like a new city centre railway station in the pipeline, he said tackling the matter was even more urgent."Can you imagine people coming off the train and being hit by this fishy, meaty, horrible stench?" he recalled that when he lived in the area himself "it was so overwhelming it gave me physical convulsions". The plant has been operating since 1947 and was previously an holds a Defra (department for environment, food and rural affairs) category 1 rendering licence, allowing it to process diseased animal Alistair Collins said: "Facilities like ours play a vital role in making livestock production sustainable and in preventing animal disease outbreaks. "We convert material not suitable for food into safe, reusable resources such as biofuels."He said the factory uses modern technology compliant with current Bat (best available techniques) standards, adding: "The installation is regularly inspected by environmental health officers from [the council] and we work with them constructively to ensure compliant operations."The factory operates under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016, enforced by Bradford Council to control pollution and odour. However objectors - some from within Bradford Council - said such a facility, one of 26 across the country, had no place in a densely populated area. A council committee last year made recommendations including lobbying Defra to accelerate new odour standards and commissioning an independent health impact study. When asked for a comment, a council spokesperson said: "An investigation is currently ongoing into Waddingtons which has not concluded, therefore we are unable to comment at this time."However Imran Khan, the council's deputy leader, and Rizwana Jamil, its environment scrutiny board chair, were both at the public meeting at Laisterdyke Community Centre on Saturday where they faced a barrage of Khan said: "There's no denying there is a problem."There is a foul stench and there are perceived health issues as well."Quite frankly, it can't be allowed to continue."He added the plant was run "based on legislation developed 20 years ago which hasn't been updated".He said: "I understand it is in the process of being updated now."We are trying to feed into that process to reflect the needs of people and businesses around it."We've not had the legal power to be able to do more with it up to now."Many of those at the meeting said "enough is enough" - especially with Bradford in its City of Culture year and a flagship festival celebrating the vibrant wider Leeds Road area due at the end of Mahmood, who runs the Mahmood's burger shop near the factory, said: "Our business attracts people from outside and we are investing a lot of money into the area. "It reflects really negatively on us as a city." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
