Why does it smell funky on South Higuera Street in SLO? Here’s the reason for the odor

You may have noticed a funky odor Friday on South Higuera Street in southwestern San Luis Obispo.

What was going on?

The smell seems to have been coming from the San Luis Obispo Water Resource Recovery Facility, according to an Instagram post by the city’s Utilities Department.

The water recovery facility treats approximately 4.5 million gallons of wastewater per day, including all the wastewater from Cal Poly, the city and the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport.

“We are aware of the issue and understand that the odor is unpleasant,” the Utilities Department wrote in the post Friday, noting that it was “doing what we can do reduce the odors.”

“Unfortunately, the heat today and this weekend will likely elevate the smell,” the post added.

According to the department, the city is taking a number of steps to try to control the odors. Those include washing impacted settling ponds for additional hours each week and dosing a deodorant product in problem areas.

Meanwhile, work continues on the SLO Water Plus project, an ongoing major upgrade to the treatment facility that will “support improved resource recovery,” according to the city.

Some of the work that remains on the project will be “building and installing more odor control systems and other improvements that will significantly reduce odor impacts on our neighbors.”

“Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to wrap up this important project,” the department said.

For more information about the SLO Water Plus project, visit slowrrfproject.org.