How come San Jose and the South Bay reeked with smell of rotten sewage last year? (Milpitas: live)

[citizensadvocate]

I lived in the San jose area for about 14 years though I never experienced any persistent odor in the air until last year when I noticed a strong odor of rotten sewage or garbage in the air in many parts of San jose and the south Bay since the middle of July. I was in the Evergreen area for most of last year and a number of days it was so bad I thought something was decomposing in the house. There are also days when I notice the same odor in the Peninsula as well. I wonder is it because of El Nino and the resulting warmer Bay waters which might have resulted in an algae outburst? Or is it because there is something wrong with the wastewater plants in Alviso allowing sewage to spill into the marshlands and the evaporator ponds resulting in the widespread odors especially in warm humid days?

[mossly]

I noticed this over late summer in particular....but it was my first summer here so I figured it was just the way of things. Interesting (and encouraging!) to read that it wasn't, from a longtime resident. A friend of mine theorized it was drought-related, but I'm not sure how that would be so.

Can't answer your question, but thanks for bringing it up!

[mysticaltyger]

I never noticed such a smell.

[bigdumbgod]

Berryessa stunk more than usual last summer, with breezes wafting the familiar Porta Potty stench from Milpitas.

[citizensadvocate]

Yes Berryessa does smell pretty bad this year. I never smelt anything like this before this year. I do notice there has been a sharp increase in street garbage during the last three years in San Jose and the rest of the Bay Area. I wonder does it have something to do with it?