What’s that ‘funky’ stench drifting over the Tri-Cities? Here’s what we found out
Some stinky comments have surfaced on Tri-Cities social media lately.
The complaints are about foul odors wafting around town this spring, especially in the Pasco area.
As the smell spread, so did talk among community members. Pasco Councilman Leo Perales posted on Facebook recently to encourage residents to file a complaint if they smelled something “funky.”
A dozen Pasco residents made official reports to the Washington Department of Ecology, mostly last Thursday and Friday.
State and city officials soon zeroed in on the culprit.
The offending odor was coming from the fields getting sprayed with water from the Lamb Weston potato processing plant north of the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco.
Unfiltered “process water” picks up soil and starch from the potatoes and is reused to irrigate crops. It can have an unpleasant scent when it gets into the air.
The plant releases water 365 days a year, however, so it’s been a bit of a mystery why more people are making a stink about it this year.
Water for potato processing
Lamb Weston uses well water to wash and process raw potatoes before they are turned into tater tots, french fries and more.
The water goes through treatment to remove solids and oils. It then flows from the processing plant to irrigate more than 2,700 acres in north Pasco every day.
The Pasco plant has a permit from the state Department of Ecology to distribute and reuse process water for irrigation. The water is nutrient-rich, making it beneficial for irrigating crops.
A Lamb Weston spokesperson told the Tri-City Herald in a statement that for the last several months, their team has been working to reduce the odors.
It’s common for Tri-Cities residents to report unpleasant smells coming from agricultural areas and other industries in the area, said Colleen Keltz, communications manager at the state Department of Ecology.
But it’s unclear why it is more noticeable this spring.
One thought is that social media posts prompted more discussion and complaints than in previous years.
To address the issue, Lamb Weston is starting to dredge and remove solid materials from its irrigation pond near the plant on Glade Road.
The bad news is that during the next four weeks, the odor may be stronger while the pond is being cleaned up.
Lamb Weston also plans to invest in a new water treatment facility. In the meantime, the plant will add new centrifuges to filter water. Those will be installed in July.
Lamb Weston also plans to continue watching weather and wind conditions closely to improve air quality.
To report environmental issues, contact the Washington Department of Ecology using an online form or by calling 509-329-3400 (Franklin County) or 509-575-2490 (Benton County).
This story was originally published April 17, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
