No more birdsong on waking, the sounds of nature and the calm that Parisians have enjoyed so much in recent weeks? "The world after looks terribly like the world before", "A stroll through Paris: it's simply become unbearable again", "I'm getting used to it again but it's hard after the silence we had ..." social networks, it is the same observation everywhere.
"Local residents are already stepping up to the plate"
During the confinement, an unusual silence had settled in the capital. Since May 11, in addition to the return of air pollution observed by the Airparif association, there has also been a significant increase in noise pollution. “The sound environment was overwhelmingly perceived as pleasant, calm or peaceful, which was revealed by a survey of 1,300 Ile-de-France residents. People are having a hard time with this sudden return of noise and some local residents' associations are already stepping up to the plate, ”confirms Fanny Mietlicki, director of Bruitparif.
The noise observatory in Ile-de-France published a report which runs over the entire confinement period and the three weeks which followed, corresponding to phase 1 of the deconfinement (from March 16 to May 31). It includes readings of sound levels made by some 150 stations deployed in Ile-de-France.
A record drop on the night of April 11
In terms of road traffic, in inner Paris, the drop in noise emissions was between 64% and 88% (the record was reached the night of April 11 to 12, with a drop of 11 dB).
During phase 1 of the deconfinement, while activities gradually resumed, differences remained (-40% during the day and -58% at night). “But since June 2, we have almost returned to the level before March 16, says Fanny Mietlicki. There is still a difference of 1.5 to 2 dB maximum, barely 20% below the usual noise level. An identical phenomenon for the peripheral.
A sharp rise since May 11
Thirty “jellyfish” sensors made it possible to show that the noise pollution linked to human activities had disappeared from certain districts of the capital which have many bars and restaurants. The 14 weekend evenings (Fridays and Saturdays), this drop was between 6.9 to 19.6 dB. But while in Paris, classified orange zone, the establishments remain closed, we are witnessing a fairly marked rise in noise levels since May 11. The take-away, the mild weather at the end of May and the return of Parisians to the public space explain these results.
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"The reopening of the terraces last week and their temporary extension until September 30 should accelerate this return to normal, or even develop the phenomenon in neighborhoods where usually there is no nuisance, if the regulation is not well done ”, analyzes the director of the observatory who continues her assessment on phase 2 of the deconfinement.
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A national survey was also launched by the CidB (noise information center) in order to collect the inhabitants' perception of their sound environment and to determine the expectations of the population as well as the actions that could be implemented to improve the quality of the sound environments of tomorrow.