RESIDENTS can breathe more easily with news that a recent lingering smell is being investigated.
Sydney Water and the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) will continue inquiries after the EPA received 30 calls from Minchinbury and Mt Druitt over the weekend of February 15-17.
Sydney Water identified an access chamber in Minchinbury which receives discharge from a new industrial connection as the likely source of the odours.
"Sydney Water inspected the site [on] February 19, which revealed that the customer wastewater treatment plant was not operating as intended," a spokeswoman said.
"Sydney Water has instructed the customer to cease discharge [until] it can be demonstrated that the treatment plant is operating effectively.
"Sydney Water will continue to monitor odour complaints during this period."
An EPA spokeswoman confirmed it's also investigating the smell, which may be related to liquid discharged from a landfill into the sewer.
Neither authority would identify the organisation.
Sydney Water prefers to work with customers to find solutions but the EPA can issue fines.
"If customers are confirmed as the source of the odours, their permission to discharge to sewer can be revoked or suspended," a Sydney Water spokeswoman said.
Minchinbury resident Christina Fava described the recent stench as worse than last year.
"You could smell it inside or outside the house it was so putrid," Mrs Fava said.
"We hadn't copped the smell for a while but this was sudden."
An EPA spokeswoman said it will soon release the independent expert's report detailing the outcomes of an intensive odour assessment carried out last year.
Anyone with concerns can call Sydney Water on 132 090 or EPA on 131 555.
Do you still get the smell? Comment atstmarysstar.com.au.