Article content

Stagnant water is unlikely to cause the foul “rotten eggs” smell that has assailed LRT riders at Rideau Station for more than a week, says an environmental engineer and groundwater expert.

The City of Ottawa and RTG have identified stagnant water as a suspected cause of the sulphur smell. LRT passengers say it is different from the well-known sewage smell centred at Parliament station.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Don't blame stagnant water for smell at Rideau LRT station, says expert Back to video

But a prominent hydrology expert from Western University isn’t buying that theory.

“Water at that depth cannot be stagnant. It’s obviously some kind of mix of polluted water or something else coming into this area” and entering the groundwater, said Slobodan Simonovic.

“At that depth the water is mixed with the soil and soil is providing usually positive effects (by) cleaning the water.

“I do not recall reading, hearing, or talking to anyone who would mention something like that (stagnant water deep underground).”