State launches investigation after questions from News 4 about Sparks sewer mishap

Reno, NEV — A foul odor that plagued a Sparks neighborhood has been traced back to a significant error involving a newer apartment complex's sewer line, city officials confirmed. Scott Trabert, a resident of "C" Street, described the smell as a "foul, foul sewer smell," which kept him from enjoying his backyard.

Trabert said he sought answers by contacting the city through emails, calls, and eventually visiting city hall. The city of Sparks revealed that the odor originated from the Atrium Apartments, where construction crews mistakenly connected the building's sewer line to a storm drain instead of the sewer treatment plant. This error resulted in raw sewage flowing into the Truckee River.

Jennifer Carr, administrator for the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection (NDEP), expressed concern, stating, "Raw untreated wastewater does not belong in the river."

City officials attributed the mistake to human error, but no representatives were willing to comment on camera. Trabert speculated, "I think they were embarrassed and didn't know how to react."

In October 2023, construction crews provided video evidence to city officials confirming the repairs. However, the issue was never reported to state environmental officials, as required by law. The city claimed it was the builder's responsibility to report the incident, but Silverwing Development, now out of business, failed to do so.

Carr said, "We were unaware until you started asking questions about it. So we very much appreciate Channel 4." NDEP has since launched an investigation to assess the environmental impact, including the duration and volume of the discharge.

Potential fines could reach $25,000 per day, depending on the investigation's findings. Trabert expressed relief at the resolution, saying, "I'd just hate for that to be happening running into our beautiful river."

The city of Sparks has implemented a new policy to report environmental issues directly to the state, rather than relying on builders or contractors. The investigation is ongoing, with results and potential fines expected in the coming weeks.