Technology helps improve Zhongshan's air quality

Zhongshan has made the most significant improvements in air quality across South China's Guangdong province, according to a Zhongshan Environmental Protection Bureau press conference on June 5.

The latest statistics from the city's environmental monitoring stations reveal that Zhongshan recorded 137 days with excellent or good air quality during the 151-day effective monitoring period from January to May this year, up 7.3 percent year-on-year.

In the past two months, the city entered the nation's Top 10 cities in terms of atmospheric quality two times, moving up three places and taking third place in May, according to the bureau.

Also, Zhongshan has been named one of China's Top 10 Eco-Cities for three consecutive years.

Tourists row a boat amid the picturesque scenery of Zhongshan, Guangdong province. [Photo/zs.gov.cn]

"Technology has been increasingly integrated into environmental protection," said Du Min, deputy director of the Zhongshan Environmental Protection Bureau, adding that internet technology has found direct applications in sectors like ecological civilization construction, air pollution control, and water treatment.

An internet-based real-time monitoring system is currently undergoing a trial operation for monitoring and dealing with volatile organic compounds in the air. The system helps save on human resources, as in the past law-enforcement personnel had to carry out on-site inspections.

A total of 120 enterprises will be equipped with the system by the end of 2018.

Meanwhile, Zhongshan has begun developing an atmospheric environment supervisory system and plans to set up 300 air quality monitoring stations with the aim of improving its ability to manage and control air pollution as quick as possible.

A panoramic view of Sun Yat-sen Reservoir in Zhongshan, Guangdong province. [Photo/zs.gov.cn]