Rideau station stink due to 'stagnant' water leaking in, city says
Consultant hired to see how to 'suppress or eliminate' offending odour at LRT stop
The City of Ottawa says the group maintaining OC Transpo's Confederation Line believes the rotten stench at Rideau station is caused by stagnant water seeping into the underground tunnel.
The explanation from Rideau Transit Group (RTG) sent by the city Wednesday comes one week after CBC News first requested an explanation as to the cause of the smell coming from the station.
CBC's request on Jan. 30 was prompted by reports of fumes many commuters compared to the smell of rotten eggs at Rideau Station last week. Last Thursday, the smell was particularly pungent, one OC Transpo passenger noted.
Citizen transit commissioner Sarah Wright-Gilbert also noted the stomach-churning fetor.
"Gawd," she tweeted on Jan. 31. "The tunnel is super eggy smelling this aft. It has wafted into our train hardcore."
Sealing up the tunnel
According to a written statement attributed to Ottawa's director of transit operations, Troy Charter, "RTG believes that the odour at Rideau Station is due to stagnant water that is infiltrating into the tunnel near Rideau Station."
"It is important to note," Charter said, "that all tunnels experience some water infiltration."
Rideau Transit Group has suggested grout could help seal the tunnel and prevent water from seeping in, Charter said in the statement.
"An environmental consulting firm is assessing the smell to determine what can be done to suppress or eliminate the odour, and air quality monitoring is being undertaken," Charter said.
More updates on the smell at Rideau station are expected Feb. 19 when the transit commission meets.
The stench at Rideau follows complaints of a sewage-like smell at Parliament Station, which was later blamed on the puncture of a sewer pipe during construction of the Confederation Line's downtown tunnel.
With files from Hillary Johnstone