Summary
A public perception survey on sewage treatment plants carried out in selected areas in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur revealed several interesting and unexpected findings. The general perception patterns regarding odour, noise and visual impact, suggest that the perceived intensity is a function of the time of adaptation. It was also revealed that pests constitute a serious nuisance, to which adaptation was not possible. The level of public awareness regarding sewage treatment was surprisingly low, despite the urban locality of the study areas. The need to educate the public on health and sanitation is viewed as extremely important in terms of social acceptance and the proper operation of sewage treatment plants.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ekman, G., Bergrund, B., Berglund, U. and Lindvall, T. 1967. Perceived intensity of odour as a function of time of adaptation.Scand. J. Psychol.,8, 177–186.
Engen, T. 1972. Use of sense of smell in determining environmental quality. In: Thomas, W.A. (ed)Indicators of Environmental Quality, pp.133–146. Plenum Press, New York.
Faechem, R.G., Bradley, D.J., Garelick, H. and Mara, D.D. 1980.Appropriate Technology for Water Supply and Sanitation: Health Aspects of Excreta and Sullage Management — A State of Art Review. World Bank, Washington, DC.
Gast, M.K.H. 1979. Odour and noise problems in the neighbourhood of the sewage treatment plant in Beemster.Prog. Wat. Tech.,11(3), 223–235.
Hamza, A. 1989. An appraisal of environmental consequences of urban development in Alexandria.Environment and Urbanisation,1(1), 22–30.
Hawkes, H.A. 1971.Microbial Aspects of Pollution. Academic, London.
Kayastha, S.L. and Kumra, V.K. 1980. Noise as a factor in environmental pollution of Kanpur city.Philippines Geogr. J.,24(3), 127–142.
Metcalf and Eddy. 1979.Wastewater Engineering: Treatment, Disposal and Reuse. Tata-McGraw-Hill Publ. Co., New Delhi.
Moncrieff, R.W. 1967.The Chemical Senses. Leonard Hill, London.
Tso, C.P., Low, K.S. and Balamurugan, G. 1988. An efficiency comparison of seven sewage treatment plants in Malaysia. In:Second JSPS — VCC Seminar on Chemistry, Biotechnology and Environmental Engineering, pp.282–289. University of Kyoto, Japan.
Xoomsai, T.N. 1988. Bangkok: Environmental quality in a primate city. In: Hills, P. and Whitney, J. (eds.),Environmental Quality Issues in Asian Cities, pp.1–23. Project Ecoville Working Paper No. 43, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Dr C.P. Tso is Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering; K.S. Low is a member of the Department of Geography, and G. Balamurugan a member of the Institute of Advanced Studies; all at the University of Malaya.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tso, C.P., Low, K.S. & Balamurugan, G. Public perception towards sewage treatment plants in selected areas in Selangor and Kuala lumpur, Malaysia. Environmentalist 10, 85–93 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244386
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244386