Renate Cervinka & Ernst Neudorfer18 h IAPS Conference, Vienna 2004 Sewage in the city - odour annoyance and evaluation of mitigation measures Renate Cervinka & Ernst Neudorfer Medical University of Vienna/Austria

Renate Cervinka & Ernst Neudorfer18 h IAPS Conference, Vienna 2004 Odour annoyance from sewers formation of odourous gases anaerobic conditions in the sewage water (oxygen deficiency) odour annoyance

Renate Cervinka & Ernst Neudorfer18 h IAPS Conference, Vienna 2004 Project 1: Project 2: 2002 Project 3: 2003 Combating odour annoyance

Renate Cervinka & Ernst Neudorfer18 h IAPS Conference, Vienna 2004  Physical/chemical measurements (project 1)  Psychometric assessments Methods of evaluation/assessment

Renate Cervinka & Ernst Neudorfer18 h IAPS Conference, Vienna 2004 Odour:Noise: Repeated brief questioning by postcards (according to VDI 3883/2)

Renate Cervinka & Ernst Neudorfer18 h IAPS Conference, Vienna 2004 Project 1

Renate Cervinka & Ernst Neudorfer18 h IAPS Conference, Vienna 2004 Problem: Odour annoyance from the sewer system Technical solution: Addition of calcium-nitrate (  P revention of anoxic decomposition processes) Psychological Part: Evaluation of the mitigation measure (assessment of odour annoyance) [Questionaire & repeated brief questioning] Project 1 Sample: 529 households

Renate Cervinka & Ernst Neudorfer18 h IAPS Conference, Vienna 2004 Project 1 Expectations of the residents Sealing of manhole covers Reducing the amout of manhole covers Installation of a filter system Accelerating the flow of the sewage water more frequent cleaning of the sewers etc. Measure applied: Addition of calcium-nitrate ê discrepance

Renate Cervinka & Ernst Neudorfer18 h IAPS Conference, Vienna 2004 Project 1 Odour and Noise Annoyance OdourNoise 3,5 (Mean) (street 1)(street 2)

Renate Cervinka & Ernst Neudorfer18 h IAPS Conference, Vienna 2004 Project 1 Odourous gases (H 2 S) in the canal air:

Renate Cervinka & Ernst Neudorfer18 h IAPS Conference, Vienna 2004 Project 1 Reduction of odour annoyance (street 1) significant reduction (F=7,55; df=2/7; p=.018; n=9)

Renate Cervinka & Ernst Neudorfer18 h IAPS Conference, Vienna 2004 Project 1 Correlations: Odour annoyance - H 2 S Pearson-correlation, one-way (**p=0,01)

Renate Cervinka & Ernst Neudorfer18 h IAPS Conference, Vienna 2004 Project 1 Noise now predominating env. stressor (street 2)

Renate Cervinka & Ernst Neudorfer18 h IAPS Conference, Vienna 2004 Project 1 Conclusions (Project 1) Different expactations (residents/experts)  communication/complaint management Noise as an additional stressor  holistic mitigation measures High correlations between H 2 S and odour annoyance Reduction of emissions turned out to be a long- term task

Renate Cervinka & Ernst Neudorfer18 h IAPS Conference, Vienna 2004 Project 2

Renate Cervinka & Ernst Neudorfer18 h IAPS Conference, Vienna 2004 Problem: Complaints about odour annoyance Method: Survey of locally existing environmental stressors [Questionaire] Project 2 Sample: 204 households Question: Does the application of sewer treatment make sense?

Renate Cervinka & Ernst Neudorfer18 h IAPS Conference, Vienna 2004 Project 2 Annoyance Noise (Mean) 3,5 Odour 3,5

Renate Cervinka & Ernst Neudorfer18 h IAPS Conference, Vienna 2004 Project 2 Sources of malodour

Renate Cervinka & Ernst Neudorfer18 h IAPS Conference, Vienna 2004 Project 2 Conclusions (Project 2) Planned: treatment of sewage water Recommendation:  Holistic mitigation measure needed (Argumentation: Due to several environmental stressors only sewage mitigation will not result in an improvement of perceived environmental quality)

Renate Cervinka & Ernst Neudorfer18 h IAPS Conference, Vienna 2004 Project 3

Renate Cervinka & Ernst Neudorfer18 h IAPS Conference, Vienna 2004 Technical measure: Examination of 2 simple and cost-efficient measures Objective: Evaluation of odour mitigation measures Problem: Complaints about odour annoyance Project 3 Sample: 199 households Method: Assessment of odour annoyance [repeated brief questioning]

Renate Cervinka & Ernst Neudorfer18 h IAPS Conference, Vienna 2004 Measure Project 3 Annoyance during summer 2003

Renate Cervinka & Ernst Neudorfer18 h IAPS Conference, Vienna 2004 Project 3 Conclusion (Project 3) No reduction of odour annoyance in comparison to control area  measures taken are not working sufficiently

Renate Cervinka & Ernst Neudorfer18 h IAPS Conference, Vienna 2004 Conclusions (Project 1 to 3) Psychological assessment was applied successfully within the transdisciplinary approach!

Renate Cervinka & Ernst Neudorfer18 h IAPS Conference, Vienna 2004 Conclusions (Project 1 to 3) Implement a proper complaint management and PR-strategy in time! In most cases combined environmental stressors are in action! In such a case only comprehensive mitigation measures will bring a sufficient improvement in environmental quality. Take in mind the diverse perceptions and expectations of technicians and residents! Technical project management as well as annoyance reduction turned out to be a long term task! Sometimes competing methods for mitigation are available. Apropriate testing including psychological approaches will facilitate technical expert’s decisions!

Renate Cervinka & Ernst Neudorfer18 h IAPS Conference, Vienna 2004 Thank you for your attention!