The Town of Cochrane has issued a social media heads-up to area residents who may notice a slightly unpleasant odour in the coming days.
Cochrane Operations and Fire Services personnel are aware of a slight rotten egg smell coming from the stormwater retention facilities near Sunset Ridge. The teams continue to monitor and flush storm infrastructure to reduce the odours as quickly as possible.
According to the Town, stormwater odour is a naturally occurring phenomenon typically caused by vegetation decaying underneath a layer of ice. The phenomenon produces Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) gas, which smells like rotten eggs.
The gases produced from the decay cannot escape through the ice layer and pass through any connected storm drain infrastructure.
The odours can infiltrate buildings in the area connected to the storm main through pipes that do not have a PTrap incorporated into their design.
A PTrap is the technical term for the U-shaped bend under drain fixtures. It traps potential drain clogs, preventing them from clogging the drainpipe farther away, and also creates a water barrier which prevents sewer gases from coming up through the drain. The P in the name P-trap is not an acronym for anything.
Residents with concerns about an elevated rotten egg smell within their residence can call 911, or contact the Town and Cochrane Fire Services will come test for H2S gas.
