Watford Borough Council

Environmental Services operates several monitoring programmes for a range of pollutants. Currently, the section monitors for nitrogen dioxide, ozone and particulate matter at various sites across the Borough.

The stations are equipped to monitor for:

• Fine Particles (PM10)
• Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx)

The council also monitors nitrogen dioxide at 17 other locations across the Borough, using lower tech diffusion tubes.

In May 1997 the Government produced the National Air Quality Strategy (NAQS). This strategy represents a comprehensive approach to maintaining and improving the quality of ambient air in the United Kingdom.

Outlined in the strategy are the air quality objectives for the seven pollutants the Government feels are of most concern at present and the dates it feels these targets should be met.

Local air quality management

The Environment Act 1995 required all local authorities to review and assess air quality across their districts. Having completed the first round of assessments in 2001, local authorities are now embarking on the second round of assessments. Review and Assessment of air quality involves considering the current and predicted concentrations of seven pollutants against national health based objectives. Where objectives are not likely to be met, the Local Authority must draw up an action plan that aims to improve air quality. The seven pollutants are:

• Carbon Monoxide
• Lead
• Benzene
• 1,3-butadiene
• Nitrogen Dioxide
• Sulphur Dioxide
• PM10 Particles (i.e. dust particles)

First review and assessment

The first review and assessment that Watford Borough Council carried out (in 2001) identified that air quality close to Pinner Road, M1, A41, Cassio Road/Wiggenhall Road, Hempstead Road and Rickmansworth Road may not be met.

As no public exposure was identified in these areas of concern the Council did not declare any Air Quality Management Areas.

Second review and assessment

This was completed in 2005 and identified a number of areas across the Borough where the annual objective for nitrogen dioxide may not be met.  A public exposure assessment was carried out and this concluded that the Council needed to declare 6 Air Quality Management Areas as follows:

 All of the possible exceedances are due to vehicle emissions.  Officers from the Council are now working with Hertfordshire County Council traffic engineers and planners to draw upon an action plan that aims to improve air quality in these areas.

Third Review and Assessment

As part of its ongoing responsibilities with respect to air quality, the Council completed its third review and assessment of air quality in August 2007. The review has been submitted to DEFRA for ratification and will be published on line when feedback has been received.