Assessment of the Social Impacts of Sewage Treatment Plant on Rural Quality of Life: A Case Study of Parkandabad Peripheral Villages Around Mashhad

Purpose: Assessment of social impacts of large-scale developmental projects is one of the major issues in their planning and implementation. In this regard, this study investigates the social impacts of the Parkandabad sewage treatment project around Mashhad City, Iran. Methods: For this purpose, Finsterbusch 12 indices with 43 elements were used. In the next step, 1-sample t test with a standard score of 3 (as the acceptable standard level) was used at a significant level less than 0.05. Results: The results showed that the health and safety indexes with an average of 2.11 and aesthetics with 2.47 are in an inappropriate state, and should be considered because they are directly related to the body and mental state of humans. Some indicators (noise, facilities, communities, and utilization) were acceptable, as long as their status be improved. Several indicators (population, employment, structure, leisure, and reaction) appear to be in relatively favorable status, but this situation is due to various factors, including economic poverty in the region. Conclusion: Finally, the desirable condition of the spatial displacement index and the change of pace of life with the average of 5.19 seems to indicate a proper living conditions, but it is not the real case. This issue is proved by a high standard deviation among respondents; i.e. inappropriate financial conditions prevent population migration and as soon as the economic condition changes, they do not stay in the current location anymore. Based on the total points of the indexes, it became clear that the Frisian village has the worst condition and Khin-e Arab the best status.