Paula Jongerden says she and her neighbours have been living a nightmare for the last decade.

On days when the wind doesn't co-operate, a thick rotten egg-like stench wafts up the valley bordering their Norfolk County properties — a putrid reminder of the inactive and unfiltered wells that have been pumping massive amounts of hydrogen sulfide and methane into the air and water since 2015.

"It's nauseating. Burning eyes, sore throat, like rotten eggs but with a burn to it," Jongerden said.

If it's not the smell that reminds her, it's the otherwise peaceful days that are interrupted by the staccato of distant alarms from a monitoring station that detects high concentrations of toxic gas.

It's a problem locals call the Big Stink and an expert says is the worst of its kind in the province

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