A foul smell floating about Mosgiel earlier this week had many residents eyeing their pets suspiciously.
One person complained on social media that the stench smelled like cow manure, while another described it as pungent.
"I thought the dog had rolled in her poo," another said.
Several complaints were laid with the Otago Regional Council pollution hotline about the smell and an investigation was carried out.
Council compliance manager Tami Sargeant said staff found effluent had been sprayed at a nearby farm which might have caused the odour.
They determined the owner of the site had complied with the rules concerning the spraying of effluent.
Staff talked with the farmer about appropriate mitigation of other environmental effects, such as odour, when spraying effluent.
