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Ewwww That Smell — What Is It?

OK, so it's a combination of dirty diapers, trash and something chemical-ey. Anyone have any idea what is making Pleasanton so unpleasant?

 

Patch contributor Autumn Johnson wrote in this morning asking if anyone has complained about a bad smell on the west side of town.

She described the smell as a combination of trash, dirty diaper and something chemical-ey.

Apparently it started on Monday near Lydiksen Elementary School, near West Las Positas Boulevard and Muirwood Drive, and exends at least a mile south of Foothill High School. It has hovered around that area for a week.

"It's driving me insane," Johnson said. "I have to go to Dublin to get fresh air."

Anyone have any idea what this is? Or are you smelling it too? Tell us in the comments.

To reach editor Tanya Rose, e-mail tanya.rose@patch.com.

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  • What do you think is causing the bad smell in Pleasanton?

    (Voting has been closed for this question)
    • A) Gas leak
        2 (20%)
    • B) Trash
        2 (20%)
    • C) A sulfur spring or something else natural
        0 (0%)
    • D) Something else. Tell us in the comments.
        6 (60%)
    Total votes: 10
  • This is not a scientific poll. View Results Vote!
Related Topics: bad smell in Pleasanton, horrible smell in Pleasanton, and stinky smell in Pleasanton

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Tanya Rose

11:13 am on Thursday, February 9, 2012

Andy - EXACTLY! I've had that song in my head since I heard about this (which is probably where that headline came from). ;) who doesn't love a little Skynyrd while trying to figure this out?

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Michael Austin

11:32 am on Thursday, February 9, 2012

They have ben doing construction on the sanitary lift station on the east side of 680 and south side of West Las positas all winter long. It may be they opened a line or maybe had a spill. This lift staion pumps everything from the Muirwood neighborhood to the San Ramon sanutary waste reclamation site.

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Tanya Rose

11:39 am on Thursday, February 9, 2012

Ah Michael - you always have the answers.

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Liz Hallahan

11:59 am on Thursday, February 9, 2012

We also have a lot of fruitless pear trees in bloom around here, including one right in front of my house. They are a lovely puffy white cotton ball of a tree, but VERY stinky. Add a good breeze and you can smell them a block away.

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Autumn Johnson

12:02 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012

Lydiksen school is saying the smell is from compost being spread by the city at Muirwood park. Maybe it is a combo smell?

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Kurt

12:02 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012

The Parks Department was putting down material onto the turf at Muirwood Community Park this morning. They're done now, and the smell will dissipate.

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Tanya Rose

12:43 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012

oh WOW - lots of different smells mixing together then! Niiiice.

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Teri Lee

7:29 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012

Whatever is causing the stench in the air is a much more serious concern than "spare the air day" with burn control today. That is minor compared to this health risk. It is toxic and causing health issues with some of us who work in Pleasanton. It came through the filtration system in our 3 story building at Stoneridge Mall Road and sent me home sick. I strongly suspect the source is chemical based and unhealthy for us to breathe. I want an explanation from the City of Pleasanton posted on the Patch explaining what it is. Can the editor please request one? It certainly isn't pear tree blossoms.

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Tanya Rose

8:28 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012

Here's info that Lydiksen sent out:

"After receiveing calls from the community regarding a noxious smell in the area, police and fire have investigated. The source of the smell is the City of Pleasanton spreading compost (manure) in Muirwood Park. As the compost is being spread, some is being kicked into the air, causing the smell to travel beyond the park. School staff have done a walk through of our campus and have found no safety issues associated with this smell. We anticipate the smell will dissipate once work has been completed."

The city has also said the compost is not dangerous and that the smell should dissipate within 24 hours.

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Andy Smith

6:14 am on Friday, February 10, 2012

I was hoping I might learn the cause of the smell that's very strong right when you walk in the door at CVS (Rose Pavilion Shopping Center). The manager has been trying to figure it out, but so far nothing has been discovered (at least, AFAIK it hasn't). The smell is that of an outhouse, and it has been going on for several months now. Anybody know what the cause is?

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