Gold Bar air quality monitoring

Learn about air quality monitoring, our new Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station and view monthly air quality fenceline monitoring reports to see how annual odour levels have decreased over time.

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Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (AAQMS)
Fenceline monitoring
Indigenous art at the Air Quality Monitoring Station

Measuring air quality at Gold Bar

In alignment with EPCOR's long-term plans and commitment to continued investment in odour mitigation and reduction, we measure air quality near the Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant at the Gold Bar Park Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station.

Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (AAQMS)

Air quality monitoring stations measure the concentration of certain substances in the air, also referred to as the outdoor ambient air quality.

Ambient air quality levels are the actual concentration of a substance in the air. They are usually reported in parts per million (ppm), parts per billion (ppb), or micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3).

Ambient air quality monitoring stations are strategically located to continuously measure the air quality where people live and to track trends over time.

EPCOR's Approval to Operate under the Alberta Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act required that the AAQMS be installed between the Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant and surrounding community, i.e. outside the fenceline. As such, proposed locations for the AAQMS near the Gold Bar plant were vetted with the community, and the final location was based on community feedbackand the assessments of a third party consultant specializing in odour dispersion modeling.

The Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station that EPCOR installed is located adjacent to Gold Bar Park Road and east of 50 Street.

The benefits of continuous monitoring at ambient air quality monitoring stations are that it is:

Timely: Automated continuous monitoring can identify upset conditions or product leaks in time to minimize negative impacts.
Responsive: Continuous monitoring enables more proactive and timely responses to possible issues.

The Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station is composed of two parts:

The main structure contains the analyzers, air sampling equipment, and equipment for data handling and calibrations.
The meteorological tower, an antenna-like structure, contains instruments for measuring wind speed/direction, and ambient temperature.

The AAQMS monitors one hour average concentrations of the following substances: Nitrogen Oxides (NO_x); Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂); Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S). Meteorological factors such as wind speed, wind direction, ambient temperature, relative humidity, and barometric pressure are also recorded to help interpret the monitoring results. The data collected from the AAQMS are submitted to the Alberta government. These data become publicly available at the Alberta Air Data Warehouse every month.

Concentrations of these substances are monitored and compared with the Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives (AAAQOs). These objectives are pre-established concentrations of certain substances that pose a potential risk to the environment or human health. If an AAAQO is exceeded, it is reported to the Government of Alberta.

H₂S: Due to the raw wastewater that flows through Gold Bar, it is normal for odours to occasionally results. Most of these odours are related to H₂S. This gas is naturally produced by biological activity in wastewater and is characterized by a rotten-egg small that can be detected at very low levels. The odour of H₂S is detectable at a very low level (around 10-20 parts per billion). Health issues are only a concern at much higher concentrations (with exposures greater than 10,000 parts per billion).
NO_x: Nitrogen Oxides (NO_x) are a by-product of combustion.
SO₂: Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂) is a by-product of equipment such as boilers and flares, which are used during the wastewater treatment process.

The data collected from the new Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station are being submitted to Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP), to comply with the Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant operating approval. These data (which represent the hourly average) become publicly available from the AEP Air Data Warehouse every month.

A reading from any of the Air Quality Monitoring Stations (the new station, the Gold Bar station, or the Beverly Station) that exceeds the objectives established by AEP is immediately reported to AEP. At the same time, operations staff at Gold Bar initiate an investigation into the occurrence. The investigation includes:

Verifying the time, date, location, and substance of the exceedance.
Modelling to corroborate the exceedance and to identify the potential sources.
Checking the wind direction at the time of the exceedance.
Reviewing scrubber performance during the exceedance. (Scrubbers reduce odours by treating the air collected from the primary treatment process.)
Checking data from the fenceline monitors during the time of the exceedance.
Checking for other maintenance activities or drainage operations that may have contributed to the exceedance.
Taking note of any public odour complaints received during this time.

These investigations help us determine if the exceedance is due to plant operations and what we can do to correct the situation. Sometimes we can address the situation immediately, however, these investigations also allow us to track trends over time and this will guide our long-term odour reduction plans.

In the unlikely event that safe levels of these substances are ever exceeded, EPCOR will let you know of any concerns and any precautions you should take. One of the ways we will notify you is our through our water outages and alerts page.

There is a comprehensive network of about 110 ambient air quality monitoring stations throughout Alberta, operated by the provincial and federal governments, airsheds, and industry.

EPCOR is a member of the Strathcona Industrial Association (SIA) Ambient Air Monitoring Network. The SIA is a multi-stakeholder organization that conducts air, water, and land monitoring in the Strathcona Industrial area. EPCOR has been a member of the SIA since 1999. SIA ambient air quality monitoring stations are regularly audited by Alberta Environment and Parks.

Locations of Air Monitoring Stations in the SIA Network

Fenceline monitoring

Fence line monitoring is used to investigate odour as the need arises. As of November 1, 2023, daily fence line H₂S monitoring has been replaced by continuous monitoring at the AAQMS. Over one year of data from the AAQMS has shown that the station is functioning reliably. H₂S monitoring along the Gold Bar WWTP fence line was collected at specific points in time, making it difficult to compare the results with the data from the AAQMS.

Regulatory requirements for air monitoring

The Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA) is the primary Act in Alberta through which regulatory requirements for air, water, land, and biodiversity are managed.

The Act supports and promotes the protection, enhancement and wise use of the environment by designating proposed activities for which an approval or registration is required.

EPCOR Water Services Inc. has an EPEA approval for operating and maintaining the Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant. Air quality monitoring and reporting requirements for EPEA approval holders as set out in the Air Monitoring Directive (AMD).

Indigenous art at the Air Quality Monitoring Station

HONOURING INDIGENOUS TIES TO THE GOLD BAR AREA

We have adorned the air quality monitoring station with Indigenous art. This art installation provides an opportunity to share part of the culture of the Indigenous Peoples who used these lands and adjacent waters long before Edmonton became a city.

The history of EPCOR is interwoven with the development of Edmonton, the histories and legacies of interaction between settlers and Indigenous peoples, and the siting of our facilities within Edmonton. The banks of the North Saskatchewan River, where our two water treatment plants and our wastewater treatment plant are located, have been gathering places since time immemorial. We recognize the need to work collaboratively and in the spirit of reconciliation with Indigenous governments and peoples as long as we continue to operate in areas that hold these significant ties.

Gold Bar air quality monitoring

Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station​ (AAQMS)

Fenceline monitoring

Indigenous art at the Air Quality Monitoring Station​

Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (AAQMS)

Indigenous art at the Air Quality Monitoring Station