Perception on Odour Pollution from the Operation of Wastewater Treatment Plant (WTP)

Odour pollution from Wastewater Treatment Plant (WTP) is among the most chronic environmental issues affecting the public. Many reports on odour pollution have been made through various media, printed and electronic. To date Malaysia has no clear guidelines or legal Act for enforcement and actions. This study on olfactory sensory was conducted to identify the intensity and characteristics of odour from a WTP to analyse the perception of sensitive receivers to the WTP operations. About 250 questionnaires were purposively distributed among the sensitive receivers within 200 meter radius of the WTP at Bandar Baru Nilai in Negeri Sembilan. The findings indicated that there existed some odour influences from the WTP on the respondents. These influences were of various intensity according to the respondents` age, duration of stay in the area, duration and frequency of odour occurrence. The findings also indicated that odour pollution was also influenced by the meteorological factors such as wind direction, speed of the wind, temperatures, humidity and rain.