Cochrane Fire Services spent the afternoon ridding the "rotten egg" smell from the River Heights community.
Officers drilled holes in the retention pond by Bow Valley High School on March 20 after receiving multiple complaints about the foul odour in the community.
The smell is the result of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) that was trapped underneath the pond ice.
“That’s very common when vegetation dies underneath the pond and there’s no circulation,” said Inspector Jeff Avery with Cochrane Fire.
Drilling holes into the pond allows it to thaw quicker, which will disperse the H2S in the area faster.
Although H2S can be deadly in high concentrations there is not enough in the area to pose any serious concerns.
“We’re not at any deadly amount of H2S. When you’re walking by you might experience a sour or rotten egg smell,” said Avery.
Signs have been put up in the area to remind passersby to keep off of the ice.
Cochrane Fire is hopeful that the warm weather will continue to aid in the thawing process.
“If the weather stays like this, then this ice can be gone in a short time. When you’re at the mercy of mother nature you have to be a little bit cooperative,” said Avery.
