Tashkent Begins Watering Streets and Green Areas to Reduce Dust

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — From Friday, 21 November, the Tashkent city administration, together with the Main Department for Urban Improvement, began watering streets, trees, and shrubs to reduce air pollution. Despite the official end of the fountain season, all city fountains and microclimate systems in green zones were reactivated, the city administration’s press service reported.

The administration noted that moistening road surfaces and adjacent areas is one of the most effective immediate measures during periods of high urban dust levels. This scientifically grounded method is used in megacities worldwide during peak air pollution periods. The main sources of contamination remain PM10 and PM2.5 particulate matter. Watering helps bind these fine particles, causing them to settle on surfaces and preventing their spread into the atmosphere.

In addition, street watering reduces secondary dust generated by vehicles stirring up dry particles. According to international studies, secondary dust can account for 25–40% of urban PM emissions. Watering also helps lower local temperatures, slowing chemical reactions of pollutants and accelerating particle deposition.

The city administration emphasized that this measure is temporary and does not fundamentally solve the pollution problem but allows for a rapid reduction in dust levels within a few hours. At the same time, authorities plan to continue inspections of greenhouses to control coal and other material burning, monitor the installation of filters at boiler houses, and strengthen overall environmental oversight in the city.