Golf course’s smell ‘nowhere near as bad’
As owners of Vista Valencia Golf Course continue to drain a stagnant, brown water hazard on its links, so goes the stinky smell neighbors of the golf course have been complaining about for five years.
American Golf Corp., owners of the golf course, have been draining the stinky pool daily since Monday and reported to Los Angeles County Environmental Health inspectors of having to drain about 150,000 gallons that remain.
“Unfortunately, we had a delay in commencing the project, but we have continued to work closely with county public health officials and they are aware of our plans for remediation,” said Rand Huguely, general counsel for the corporation. “Currently, we expect to commence the work to drain the pond within the next two to three days.”
Residents near the golf course, meanwhile, reported traces of the same bad smell they say they’ve had to endure.
“This morning it was present, but nowhere near as bad as a few weeks ago,” Cathy Freet said Friday. “To me, I would think if it was truly the lake, the smell would be worst in the heat of the day . ... There are also some sort of pipes coming off the golf course at the end of Sand Wedge (Lane). This is where the smell has been at its worst.”
On July 27, Ubaid Qazi, an environmental health inspector, spent an hour at the golf course conducting a “complaint investigation,” according to a copy of the inspection report obtained by The Signal.
Qazi commented in his report: “Conducted complaint investigation regarding ‘Manmade lake is not kept up, no water movement,’ observed standing water in the lake with a sewage-like smell. Operator stated they are trying to drain lake, did not observe any mosquito breeding at the time of inspection.”
Public health inspectors are particularly concerned about West Nile virus and its transmission by mosquitoes.
On July 31, four days after the environmental health inspection, officials with American Golf Corp. announced they would begin removing the water.
This past week, after speaking with The Signal, steps were taken by American Golf to fix the problem.
On Monday, Qazi “observed two trucks onsite draining Lake No. 1 (the lake that was emitting the foul odor). Lake No. 1 is expected to be fully drained by Wednesday.”
On Wednesday, Qazi wrote: “The GM stated that he is waiting for a quote from United Pumping Service for completion of draining and sludge removal from the stagnant lake. No foul odor at time of site visit.”
Qazi left the golf course with a “contingency plan for full abatement of the stagnant lake” given to him by the general manager.