Residents propose theories as foul odor returns to Delco.

Residents of Delaware County are currently grappling with a pervasive and unpleasant odor that has been reported across the region. Many locals, having encountered the foul scent, are left questioning its origin and nature. Social media has become a platform for community members to voice their concerns and share observations.

Several social media posts have humorously described the odor, with one individual on Reddit referring to it as a smell reminiscent of feces near the Springton Dam. Other community members chimed in, raising the possibility that the odor bore similarities to gas, leading to widespread speculation. In response to growing community concern, the utility company PECO received approximately 40 reports of a gas-like smell on one Wednesday and one additional complaint the following day. According to spokesperson Candice Womer, investigations revealed that the source of the odor was not linked to natural gas.

The Delaware County Emergency Services Department has been actively investigating the complaints, with multiple reports reaching the county’s 911 center. However, as of now, no definitive cause for the stench has been established. Attempts to contact Edward Beebe, deputy director of the emergency services department, did not yield an immediate response, nor was there communication from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regarding the situation.

The online discourse surrounding this issue has generated numerous lighthearted theories about the odor’s origin, with some locals jokingly attributing it to a notorious incident involving a “Delco Pooper,” while others suggested imaginative scenarios involving RVs. The smell has been variously likened to human waste, skunk, sulfur, rotten eggs, and even sinister descriptions such as rotting animals or decomposing bodies.

Some residents speculate that the foul smell may connect to an incident involving a tanker truck that spilled approximately 2,000 gallons of home heating oil earlier in the week in Upper Providence Township, with some of the oil contaminating Ridley Creek. Another theory posits that seasonal turnover at the Springton Reservoir, a natural process that can release sulfur and methane into the air, may be to blame.

Historically, Delaware County is no stranger to foul odors, having grappled with similar complaints in 2020. At that time, residents reported inexplicable and transient odors, prompting emergency services and the DEP to utilize advanced detection technology to pinpoint the source. As they navigate this latest occurrence, officials are likely to implement similar measures in their ongoing investigation to ensure community safety and mitigate public concern.