Assessing the Social Impacts of Urban Wastewater Treatment Implementation

Abstract

Urban wastewater management in developing countries has increasingly shifted from a purely technical concern to a question of social legitimacy and public acceptance. This study investigates the social impacts of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Mashhad, Iran—specifically Parkandabad, Khin Arab, and Altimour—which serve as major urban sanitation infrastructures operated by the Water and Wastewater Company (ABFA). Using a quantitative survey of 395 residents, farmers, and local business owners, the research assesses perceptions of fairness, environmental quality, trust, safety, and quality of life across 49 indicators. Statistical analysis, including factor-based index construction and comparative mean assessment, reveals that while respondents widely acknowledge the necessity of wastewater treatment, overall social satisfaction remains low (mean composite score = 31.97/100). The most critical deficits appear in the domains of social justice, environmental health, and community engagement, whereas perceptions of safety and necessity score relatively higher. These findings align with international studies highlighting how infrastructural inequities and limited participation constrain social acceptance of wastewater reuse. The study concludes that effective wastewater governance must integrate social impact assessment, participatory communication, and local benefit-sharing mechanisms into project planning and operation. Addressing residents’ practical needs—such as green spaces, recreational facilities, and local health services—can strengthen ABFA’s social responsibility and enhance community trust, turning wastewater treatment from a source of conflict into a foundation for sustainable urban coexistence.