Cochrane Fire Services was drilling holes into the ice covering the stormwater pond by Bow Valley High School this afternoon (March 20).

Inspector Jeff Avery with Cochrane Fire, says they were alerted by the Town of Cochrane roads department late last week that there was a low level of Hydrogen Sulfide gas (H2S) detected in the vault that goes to the storm drain. "That is caused by all the dead vegetation and no oxygen underneath the ice and so it does give off that H2S gas. The other day when we were walking around and talking to some people you could smell a little bit of a rotten egg smell."

While the reading levels are very low and not anywhere near dangerous, Avery says they want to get some air underneath the ice, hence, the drilling. "We want to try and get it cleared up before it gets any worse and so that is what we are doing out here today. We are making a bunch of holes and trying to get some air flow and speed up the thawing process because the problem goes away when the ice melts."

Avery shares that last year the stormwater pond in Sunset Ridge faced a similar issue but so far this year the storm pond in Riversong is the only one affected. "We did have this problem up in Sunset last year but with flushing the pond a little bit and drudging it last spring it has really helped. We have had zero H2S on any of the other ponds in town, which is great. With this one, we thought we would be proactive and start punching holes and get the problem resolved before it gets worse."

Wanting residents in the area to know that if they do smell a slight odour, Fire Services is aware, and are actively working to resolve the issue. "It is not at any dangerous levels at all."

Ten to fifteen holes have been drilled into the ice, and Avery shares up until last year, they have never had an issue with H2S readings.

If you do have questions or concerns about the slight rotten egg smell, Avery says you are welcome to call 911 and Cochrane Fire Services will come test for H2S gas. "We don't want any readings of any sort, inside a house.