Residents of Petropavlovsk have been complaining for almost the whole summer about a sharp, unpleasant smell spreading across the city. Previously, according to them, this problem more often occurred in spring during the melting of ice on water bodies, but this summer the smell persists even in hot weather.
WHAT IS KNOWN
According to the Telegram channel "HALYQSTAN", residents of Petropavlovsk have been complaining for almost the whole summer about a sharp, unpleasant smell spreading across the city.
Residents describe the smell in different ways. Previously, they complained of a hydrogen sulphide smell, reminiscent of rotten eggs. Now, according to them, the air carries smells of manure and bird droppings, and some residents compare them to the smell of cat faeces.
Because of the heat, which has lasted for several weeks, residents also note that airing their homes in the evening has become almost impossible.
WHAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES SAY
According to the Department of Ecology, in recent days no exceedances of maximum permissible concentrations (MPC) of pollutants in the atmospheric air of Petropavlovsk have been recorded. The department cited data from the AirKZ mobile application.
WHY THE BIOPOND IS BEING MENTIONED
One of the presumed sources of the smell, residents traditionally name the wastewater biopond-accumulator, which locals call "Poganka".
In 2021, LLP "Qyzylzhar su" signed a three-year contract with the "Water Science and Technology Centre" to clean the pond using chlorella microalgae. The contract term has expired, but the introduction of chlorella into the biopond continues.
At LLP "Qyzylzhar su" stated that all company facilities are operating as normal. According to the company, no complaints about the unpleasant smell have been received by them, and work with chlorella is being carried out according to the approved plan.
UTILITY WORKERS DO NOT CONSIDER THE FACILITY THE ONLY SOURCE
At LLP "Qyzylzhar su" noted that due to the hot weather, smells from various facilities may be felt more strongly. Therefore, the company does not consider it possible to claim that its activities alone are the cause of the unpleasant smell.
Meanwhile, residents are discussing other possible sources. In local public pages, it is suggested that the specific smell may spread from nearby livestock complexes and poultry farms.
CONTEXT
Previously, residents of an eight-entrance five-storey building in Petropavlovsk reported regular flooding of the basement with a cloudy, milky-coloured liquid. According to them, the premises have a sharp smell of spoiled dairy products and fat, which spreads through the entrances and reaches the apartments.