If you’ve noticed a rather unpleasant smell drifting across parts of Kempsey over the last day or two, don’t worry – it’s probably not your neighbour’s cooking or the dog.
The culprit is more likely the sewage treatment works on Pixham Ferry Lane.
During periods of very hot weather, sewage treatment plants can become much smellier than usual. The high temperatures speed up the breakdown of organic waste and reduce the amount of oxygen in the treatment process. That allows gases such as hydrogen sulphide (the familiar “rotten egg” smell) to build up and become much more noticeable, especially when there’s little wind to disperse them.
The recent heat has created the perfect conditions for those odours to travel across the village. Think of it as the sewage works having the equivalent of a bad night out in the sun!
The good news is that cooler weather is on the way over the next few days, with lower temperatures and a fresher breeze expected. That should help disperse the smells and return things to normal.
Have you noticed the smell where you are? Let us know which part of Kempsey you’re in.