For safety reasons, an odorant that smells like rotten eggs is added to the natural gas provided by UniSource Energy Services.

Earlier this year, UES installed new equipment that injects a liquid vapor odorant into the gas line that serves 20,000 customers in the Verde Valley communities of Camp Verde,
Clarkdale, Cottonwood, the Village of Oak Creek, Jerome and Sedona.

The new system streamlines the chemical-gas mixing process, and it more precisely odorizes the gas, which makes it easier to smell in the unlikely event of a leak. When a leak does
occur, a hissing, whistling or roaring sound also might be present.

Be careful not to touch, breathe or make contact with leaking gas. Do not light a match, turn light switches on or off, use a telephone or do anything that could create a spark near a
potential gas leak. Do not attempt to operate any valves yourself — leave that work to a trained UES technician.

“If you think you smell gas, call the UES emergency line at 1-877-837-4968 immediately, which is monitored 24/7, or call 911,” said Hector Riojas, UES District Manager in the Verde
Valley.

Work preparing for the new system began last September, when UES linked the gas supply points in Cottonwood and Sedona so the new odorizer could serve the entire Verde Valley.

The equipment was installed in Clarkdale in early 2015 and became operational on April 1. “It’s working fantastic and should be very low-maintenance moving forward,” said Riojas,
adding the odorizer should service the Verde Valley pipeline for the next four decades.

“All of our employees in the Verde Valley, with help from our Flagstaff-based co-workers, pitched in to make this project a success,” Riojas said. “Every day, it’s a team effort to
provide safe, reliable natural gas service to our customers.”