The smell that suffocated Bucharest likely came from two sources. Environmental inspectors issued 795,000 lei in fines, Apa Nova disputes findings

The strong smell that spread across Bucharest and Ilfov on the nights of August 17 and 18 has been traced by environmental inspectors to two probable sources, not one confirmed culprit.

After receiving more than 1,300 complaints, Romania’s National Environmental Guard carried out 55 inspections at sites in the capital and surrounding communities. It identified the Vidra waste depot and the Glina wastewater treatment plant as the most likely sources of the odor.

The inspections produced more than a list of possible sources. Authorities imposed fines totaling 795,000 lei, ordered three operations to stop, filed a criminal complaint, and confiscated a piece of equipment. They also set 22 compliance measures for the Vidra and Glina facilities, which inspectors will later check.

Residents in several parts of Bucharest reported a strong and persistent smell, with many complaints coming from the south and southeast of the city. Sector 4 was among the areas where the odor was particularly noticeable.

Apa Nova, the operator of the Glina treatment plant, rejects the authorities’ conclusions. The company says there is no technical evidence establishing a link between the plant’s operations and the smell experienced by residents. The Environmental Guard has described the two facilities as the most probable sources, rather than identifying either one with certainty.