Understanding noise pollution
CRAIGHALL PARK - Sporadic and intolerable noise is often an intermittent nuisance experienced by many in Johannesburg’s northern suburbs.
A resident of Craighall Park, who wanted to remain anonymous, expressed his irate experiences with a high pitched faulty alarm that had been going off in an office block located in Dunkeld about 600m away from his property for the last couple of weeks.
Though other residents on his street did not express or seem to notice the same disturbance, the Craigpark Residents’ Association did acknowledge that there have been incidents of intolerable noise originating from other office buildings in the neighbourhood after hours.
Many residents seem to be unaware that, with regards to incidents of noise pollution, the City of Johannesburg has staff members delegated to processing, evaluating and enforcing noise pollution complaints.
Noise disturbances fall under the scope of the Environment Health Department and are generally categorised as pollution, thus complaints on air, noise and water pollution are usually handled by the same staff.
Wiseman Ndala is the city’s environmental health practitioner who specialises in noise pollution control.
“When it comes to noise [the city has] different decibel limits for different districts,” he said.
He pointed out that limits for noise pollution varied depending on attributes of the area in question. In some areas where there is a higher flow of traffic, the decibel limit is commensurately higher.
“In residential areas where there is little traffic, the decibel limit is 50 during the day and 40 at night,” said Ndala.
Through the department of environment health, complaints can be laid for noise pollution. A notice will be served to the alleged offender who will then be allowed a chance to respond.
In some cases where evidence is required, measurements by the department can be taken from the complainant’s property. This is usually done indoors with the windows open.
Ndala does emphasise that when it comes to noise, it is possible for noise to be immeasurable on the decibel scale and it can be the source of a complainant’s grievances.
Depending on the evidence gathered and the progression of the case, “a fine can be served for business premises. The fine is R1 000 for business premises and R500 for residential premises,” said Ndala.
Details: Wiseman Ndala; wisemann@joburg.org.za
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