Tshwane metro committed to clean air

The Tshwane metro is taking air pollution monitoring very seriously. The metro is committed to protecting commuter’s health from pollutants within their living space.

As the Air Quality Management Act states: Municipalities have executive authority over air pollution control. The National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 2004 (Act 39 of 2004) shifted the focus from the centralisation of air pollution governance to the decentralisation of power, placing the responsibility for air quality management on the shoulders of local authorities.

This responsibility includes the characterisation of baseline air quality, the management and operation of ambient monitoring networks, the licensing of listed activities and the development of strategies to reduce emissions.

As part of the metro’s preparations towards becoming a resilient and resource-efficient city, the environmental management services division has adopted innovative ways to monitor the quality and condition of the air in the city.

The metro has officially opened the first mobile air quality monitoring station at the Tshwane fresh produce market. This site was strategically chosen to promote food safety at the same time, as a commitment to the highest business and fresh produce standards.

The main purpose of the mobile air quality station is to determine the highest concentrations of air pollutants in the area covered by the station/network, and to help officials to scientifically analyses the source of pollution. Mobile stations will also be placed at different sites in the city, depending on the changing needs and priorities drawn from complaints, compliance and baseline data.

There will also be stationary stations which will based in the following locations: Rosslyn (northern section) and Pretoria West, Mamelodi (eastern section), Booysens (western section) and Olievenhoutbosch (southern section).

The mobile stations, which will monitor transport and residential pollutants, will be strategically placed. The four being placed in Temba, East Lynne and Bosman Street (city centre) will measure particulate matter, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. The other four will be placed in Ga-Rankuwa, Atteridgeville, Mabopane and Pretoria North.

The opening of the mobile air quality monitoring stations is one of the successes of the metro on its journey to the Tshwane Vision 2055, that is: ”A liveable and resilient city whose citizens enjoy a high quality of life.”

The first air quality monitoring station was launched by the member of the mayoral committee for agriculture and environmental management, cllr Petunia Mashaba.