Air fresheners in stinky Parliament station being removed

At least 22 air fresheners normally intended for bathrooms at the Parliament LRT station, notorious for its sewage-like smell, will be removed.

On Thursday, CBC found 12 of the continuously running fresheners installed above the westbound and eastbound platforms, while 10 more were attached to pillars and ceilings around the station and in the tunnels.

CBC reached out to the City of Ottawa and Rideau Transit Maintenance (RTM) Thursday afternoon for comment about the installation of the air fresheners, including when and why they were installed.

Friday morning, after CBC published its stories, OC Transpo general manager John Manconi said he'd asked they be removed immediately.

City media relations had said the LRT's maintenance company RTM would answer questions. RTM has not yet responded.

For citizen transit commissioner Sarah Wright-Gilbert — who raised the issue of the station's stomach-turning sewage smell at a transit commission meeting in December — the air fresheners don't go far enough, however.

"I'm concerned that they're now pumping artificial scent and chemicals into the station. That's not helpful," Wright-Gilbert said Thursday.

"Masking the problem is not a solution. Finding the source of the problem and solving that — that's the solution."

Advisories needed

Riders have complained about a foul odour at Parliament station for months, with Twitter user @LRTstank bringing it up in a tweet in October.

Wright-Gilbert said she hasn't been in the station recently, but knowing there are air fresheners installed would lead her to avoid the station.

She said artificial smells can trigger her asthma and headaches.

"I'd like them to advise the public of that because people can get really sick if they are sensitive to scents," she said.

CBC did not see any type of warnings posted about the fresheners.

Designed for low ceilings, good airflow

The air fresheners are made by Citron Hygiene and appear to be the company's EcoAire model. This model, according to the manufacturer's website, works best in washrooms with one to five toilet stalls.

The ones installed in Parliament station provide a sweet, citrusy smell.

"The EcoAire ... is an ideal choice for rooms with low ceilings and good airflow," says Citron's website. 

• Parliament station stinks, and so does the secrecy about what's causing it

In December, the city made repairs to a sewer line near Parliament station in an effort to close a leak discovered in August that was thought to be one cause of the stink.

At the time, the city said it could not promise the fix would eliminate the smell. As of Thursday, in areas a few metres away from the air fresheners, the station continued to have a musty odour.