The Regional Inspectorate for Environmental Protection in Szczecin is a provincial government institution responsible for environmental monitoring in the West Pomeranian region in the north-western part of Poland. Until recently, the Inspectorate did not have the necessary modern computer equipment to accurately monitor and measure air, noise and water pollution.
With €970,000 in financial support from the Norway Grants the Inspectorate has now purchased new computer equipment and software that will significantly improve the quality of pollution measurements and enable the Inspectorate to carry out more efficient and accurate inspections. The new equipment for measuring noise pollution is portable, and can measure noise from various sources, including industrial production, traffic and nightclubs. This equipment will be used to produce acoustic maps of selected areas, and the same equipment will also be purchased for all the other regional inspectorates in Poland.
The more accurate measurements will improve the implementation and execution of European environmental law in Poland, which again will lead to improved environmental status by enforcing emission limits. The acquisition of the equipment has brought Poland in line with EU legislation in the field, particularly the Environment Protection Act and the Water Framework Directive. These laws set requirements for environmental protection, emission limits and the rational use of resources, and demand accurate computer-based measurements of air, water and fuel quality and noise levels.
Photo courtesy of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.