ODOURS residents are experiencing north of Batemans Bay are likely to be generated by natural processes in the waterways, according to Eurobodalla Shire Council.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Council has tested the water and investigated the manholes and sewer lines and found no sewage spills or system failures.
It comes after hoards of residents took to social media in the past week to complain about the smell.
A council spokeswoman said Surfside’s small creeks and lagoons experienced a high level of nutrients and other organic pollutants from stormwater inflows, such as litter and oil and at times kelp that was washed in by heavy seas.
“These can get trapped when the entrances close and this can quickly change the water quality,” she said.
“This natural eutrophication (nutrient enrichment) process is often further exacerbated by human related activities.
“Many creeks in the Eurobodalla do not have the aerobic (oxygen) conditions needed to process the added nutrients. Without these, chemical reactions produced by bacteria can occur that generate the smelly hydrogen sulphide or ‘rotten egg’ gas.”
While the smell can be a nuisance, the council moved to assure residents it was unlikely to cause health problems in open environments.
“It is entirely natural and temporary, and one of the few downsides of living in close proximity to our beautiful waterways,” the spokeswoman said.
