Residents of Vorobyevsky and Katkovsky villages in the Novosibirsk region have been plagued by a foul odor emanating from nearby treatment facilities since the spring of 2025, making outdoor activities unbearable and causing concerns about property values. The persistent stench, which residents believe originates from the sewage treatment facilities near Kudryashovsky village, has led to numerous appeals to authorities, all of which have been largely unanswered.

The residents say that the smell, once an occasional nuisance, is now almost constant, particularly in the evenings, making it impossible to enjoy the outdoors. The only respite comes when the wind blows away from their villages.

Despite their complaints, authorities have stated that air samples comply with sanitary standards, and monitoring malodorous substances is not within their competence. The residents associate the worsening air quality with changes at the treatment facilities, such as the relocation of waste storage sites or altered sewage treatment technology.

Tatyana Chernikova, who moved to the village a year ago, said that the stench makes her nauseous and permeates her home, even with closed windows and air conditioning. She also worries that the negative reviews about the smell will make it impossible to sell her house.

Another resident, Elena Tulintseva, whose daughter lives in the village with her family, expressed concern for the health of the children living there and threatened to move her daughter if the situation doesn’t improve. Sergey Nikolaevich, a pensioner from the neighboring Katkovsky village, said that he can’t even be at home without irritation due to the smell.

During a visit to the village, a correspondent noticed the foul odor, which smelled like a mixture of rotten meat and feces. Residents said that the smell was actually not too bad at that particular time.

Alexander and Arthur, who moved to the village with their families 7-8 years ago, said that life has become torment. They believe the installation of a cleaning system has made the problem worse.

The correspondent visited the treatment facilities and observed a huge tank with an unknown foul-smelling liquid surrounded by a ditch and a wasteland. A request for comment was sent to regional authorities and the MUP “Gorvodokanal,” but no response was received by the time of publication.

Other communities in the Novosibirsk region are also facing similar environmental problems, including residents of Novoslobodka suffering from a waste storage site and summer residents of “Zvezdnoye” garden society being impacted by a pig farm.