An air quality monitoring system will be installed in Chinook Winds Park after Airdrie City council approved a proposal by the Calgary Regional Air Zone (CRAZ) at its meeting on June 15.
“We’ve been working with CRAZ for a couple of years now,” said Archie Lang, manager of Parks and Public Works at the City of Airdrie. “It’s been quite a go around. We’ve gone, literally, all over the city and finally settled on Chinook Winds Park in the southwest where they would like to install an air quality monitoring system on the north side near the existing communications tower.”
The system will operate 24 hours a day to ensure Airdrie’s air quality is maintained and meets the standards set by the federal Clean Air Act and the provincial Clean Air Strategy, according to Lang.
CRAZ is one of nine airshed monitoring zones in Alberta, and the addition of a system in Airdrie will enhance its ability to keep tabs on air quality within the zone.
Installation and maintenance of the system is CRAZ’s responsibility, according to Executive Director Jill Bloor.
“There is no direct cost for operation or installation or ongoing maintenance to the City of Airdrie,” she said. “The costs are borne by the Province. It is their station - they own it - CRAZ operates it on their behalf.”
The system will monitor things such as ozone levels and air pollution, according to Bloor. Monitoring the air quality is important to ensure the health of local residents.
The date the station will be installed was not discussed at the council meeting as permits and planning still need to be executed.
