Residents in Point Richmond are turning up their noses at a stink in the air, and Bay Area officials have pinpointed the source: the City of Richmond Wastewater Treatment Plant run by Veolia. According to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, they've been hot on the scent of the issue since receiving a batch of odor complaints on December 5th.

The air quality watchdogs wasted no time, sending inspectors to the trail of the odor problem, which locals compared to the smell of raw sewage. On a calm day, with wind speeds barely topping 7 mph, the foul fragrance was traced back to the Veolia facility by diligent District staff; the investigation revealed hydrogen sulfide (H2S) levels were spiking, with the peak offense hitting the noses at 345.8 parts per billion at 9:05 am, according to a statement released by the Air District.

By midmorning, the situation was clear enough to warrant a deeper dig, and the air quality team was sniffing around the facility, discovering that the source of the stink was construction activity related to wastewater treatment. The necessary work is aimed at continuing throughout the week, possibly prolonging the pungent problem, which was disclosed in a post on X by the Air District.

Air District inspectors responded to 9 air quality complaints related to odors at the City of Richmond Wastewater Treatment Plant/Veolia in Point Richmond on 12/5. The Air District’s investigation is ongoing. The incident report is available at: https://t.co/BU2oEqt2rE.

— Bay Area Air Quality (@AirDistrict) December 7, 2023