Residents in Marina del Rey have endured a strong, sewage-like odor for approximately six weeks, with many pinpointing ongoing construction at Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital as the source. The persistent stench has been described by locals as overpowering, with some reporting nausea and displacement from their homes.
One resident, Laura Clementi, characterized the smell as "sewage, it’s not table water," while another, David Levy, compared it to a "really bad outhouse that’s been there for a year."
"Even with my windows closed and the AC going, I wake up to the smell," Clementi told Fox 11. "I wake up at 5 a.m. with this sewage smell. It’s making me nauseous."
Craig Lightner, who keeps a boat in the marina, reported experiencing headaches, nausea, dizziness, and difficulty concentrating, which he believes may be connected to the smell. He also observed murky water near the marina, with dead barnacles visible, raising concerns about the impact on marine life.
Cedars-Sinai has acknowledged that its construction activities are related to the odor. The hospital is excavating an area on its campus to install an emergency sewer holding tank, a project mandated by state law to ensure operational continuity during natural disasters.
According to the hospital, groundwater has periodically entered the excavation site. While Cedars-Sinai states this water is treated before being discharged into storm drains, the hospital concedes that an odor can develop when the treated water mixes with storm-drain runoff. Video evidence appears to show water accumulating in the excavation site, and resident footage suggests runoff entering the marina.
In response to the complaints, Cedars-Sinai has temporarily paused excavation work "out of an abundance of caution" and is collaborating with the Los Angeles Sanitation Bureau to address the issue. The hospital has issued an apology for the disruption and stated that the safety of the community is a priority. They are also maintaining communication with residents.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) has confirmed awareness of the complaints and stated that an investigation is active.
Lightner noted that temporarily shutting off the water flow appeared to improve the situation immediately, but residents are eager for a permanent resolution to the weeks-long olfactory disturbance.