A new air quality monitoring station is giving families in the Comox Valley access to real-time information to help them protect their health on low air quality days, Environment Minister Terry Lake announced today as part of Canadian Environment Week celebrations.

The air quality station is a partnership between the Ministry of Environment and the Comox Valley Regional District and monitors the effects of industrial, residential and commercial activities on the air shed. Live air quality readings are available online through the webpage: bcairquality.com

The station was installed near Courtenay Elementary school this spring at a cost of about $100,000. Ministry technicians have been fine-tuning the equipment to ensure air quality readings are accurate. Ongoing maintenance and operating costs of about $10,000 per year will be jointly funded by the CVRD and the Ministry of Environment.

The new station gathers air quality information in Courtenay that will be used to create the Air Quality Health Index for the Comox Valley, which is a public information tool that helps Canadians protect their health daily from the negative effects of air pollution. The information also supports local initiatives to reduce the impact of wood stoves and open burning on air quality.

The monitoring station measures fine particulate matter in the air from smoke, transportation exhaust and other sources. It also measures ground-level ozone and nitrogen oxides, which are two key indicators of air quality.

Quotes:

Minister of Environment Terry Lake -

"The Comox Valley asked for better information about air quality, and we're delivering on that request with a permanent monitoring station. The new station is an important tool for education and awareness, and provides vital information about air quality in the Comox Valley."

Comox Valley Regional District chair Edwin Grieve -

"The CVRD has been working with the province for some time, helping to gather data on the quality of the air in our region. Last September we endorsed the installation of a permanent air quality monitoring station and we are pleased to see that it has come to fruition."

Comox Valley MLA Don McRae -

"The Comox Valley is known for its gorgeous scenery and outdoor recreation opportunities. The new air quality monitoring station will help people protect their health on days with lower air quality. People can look at live air quality readings and decide for themselves whether or not it's a good day for outdoor physical activity."

Quick Facts:

This is the first provincial air quality monitoring station in the Comox Valley and is part of a network of 150 stations that monitor and assess air quality throughout B.C. The Ministry of Environment uses a number of methods to measure air quality, including permanent monitoring stations in communities, mobile instrumentation (e.g., on a truck or airplane), and industrial stack monitoring at industrial sites.

Canadian Environment Week runs June 5 to 11 and aims to celebrate achievements in tackling climate change and reducing air pollution.

Learn More:

Live data on general air quality in Courtenay and communities all around B.C. is available on the BC Air Quality website at: www.bcairquality.com

Contacts:

Suntanu Dalal

Communications

Ministry of Environment

250 387-9745

Michael Zbarsky

Manager of Transit and Sustainability

Comox Valley Regional District

250 334-6037

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect