West Jakarta installs special equipment to monitor air quality at two locations
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The West Jakarta Environmental Sub-Department (Sudin LH) has installed air quality measuring equipment in the form of High Volume Air Samplers (HVAS) at two locations in the Kembangan area, West Jakarta, to support even monitoring of air quality.
“The measuring equipment is indeed mobile (movable) and the purpose is to ensure even distribution of air quality measurements across Jakarta,” said the Head of Sudin LH West Jakarta, Achmad Hariadi, when contacted in Jakarta on Monday.
According to Hariadi, air quality in Jakarta must be measured evenly, including by placing measuring devices at representative locations, not just in busy centres.
“If placed only at terminals, the air quality would certainly be poor. That’s why we try to place them at sub-department offices, parks, including in front of the mayor’s office,” said Hariadi.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Pollution Control and Environmental Damage Section (PPKL) of Sudin LH West Jakarta, Andi Sofiyan, said that they have installed two measuring devices in the Kembangan area, namely at the bus stop on Kembangan Raya Street, right in front of the West Jakarta Mayor’s Office, and at the Air Quality Measurement Station (SPKU) in Sentra Niaga Puri Indah.
The HVAS is shaped like a meteorological cage made of iron, about 1.5 metres high. The device has a kind of suction motor and a flow rate or air flow speed meter entering it.
Andi explained that this manual active method air quality measuring equipment was installed as part of Car-Free Day (HBKB). The device was installed three times, namely before HBKB, during HBKB implementation, up to this Monday.
“The task of Sudin LH West Jakarta in the HBKB activity includes conducting air quality measurements. We install it three times: before, during HBKB implementation, up to one working day (Monday) carried out by a third party. The device is installed for 24 hours with measurement results through environmental laboratory tests two weeks later,” he explained.
“Air quality in West Jakarta is in the moderate category, ranging from an index of 50-100. If good is 0-50, moderate 50-100, unhealthy 100-200, very unhealthy 200-300, and very dangerous above 300,” he said.
In accordance with Minister of Environment Regulation (Permen) Number 14 of 2020, for moderate air quality, it is still safe for healthy people to carry out outdoor activities.
However, for sensitive groups, such as toddlers and the elderly, it is recommended to reduce prolonged outdoor physical activity and wear masks if necessary.
Previously, following the poor air quality conditions in Jakarta in recent times, DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung Wibowo emphasised that his side is preparing various solutions to reduce air pollution levels in the capital.
One of the main steps being promoted is the construction of a waste-to-energy power plant (PLTSa) in Jakarta. It is hoped that the presence of PLTSa will be able to reduce dependence on fossil fuel-based energy sources, which is still one of the contributors to emissions in areas around Jakarta.
In addition, the DKI Provincial Government is also targeting a major transformation in the transportation sector, where by 2030, the entire Transjakarta bus fleet is targeted to switch to electric buses.
The DKI Provincial Government also highlighted the existence of coal-based industries outside Jakarta, such as in the Suralaya area, which also impacts air quality in the capital.