Air Quality

Town of Erie Air Quality Monitoring Program

On Sept. 28, 2021, the Town of Erie announced the launch of a public data portal to view data collected by the air quality monitoring stations operated by Ajax Analytics and Colorado State University (CSU). The stations were deployed in phases between July 6 and Aug. 17 near oil and gas well pads and in adjacent neighborhoods as part of the Town’s Air Quality Monitoring Program. A map of the monitoring station locations is available on the Town’s website.

The Ajax/CSU monitoring network, which consists of 10 real-time monitoring station locations, measures Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC), Particulate Matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and meteorological data. The real-time and previously collected data are available at www.ajax-analytics.com/erie.

Each sensor system is equipped with a triggering box. When the trigger is activated, it opens a valve to collect a sample of air. This trigger happens when the TVOC indicator reaches a certain threshold. Additionally, four sites collect continuous 7-day duration, whole-air canister samples.

Canisters to test air qualityAdditional canisters are also available for one-off sample collection by staff or residents. These canisters are available for pick-up at Town Hall and can be reserved by emailing erieoilandgas@erieco.gov. Canister samples are analyzed by the lab at the Colorado State University Department of Atmospheric Science using gas chromatography. The canister analysis measures 47 different VOC compounds plus methane and ethane. Canister sample reports are available for viewing at www.ajax-analytics.com/erie-event-reports.

Now at the Erie Community Center - an additional air quality monitoring station, providing near real-time data to interested residents of meteorological conditions as well as atmospheric pollutants, including methane (CH4), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ozone (O3), and particulate matter (fine and coarse aerosol), operated by Boulder A.I.R. The Town of Erie completed deployment of and launched a public data portal to view data collected by the air quality monitoring station in October 2021. The station is one of six Boulder A.I.R. stations placed along the Northern Colorado Front Range to analyze and report atmospheric emissions and possible pollutants from oil and gas operations as well as reporting measurements of greenhouse gases and other emissions from non-oil and gas well sources, such as motor vehicles. Additional information as well as access to the real-time data portal are available at www.bouldair.com/erie.htm.

The Problem: Gas-powered lawn mowers and lawn equipment emit greenhouse gases and contribute to ground-level ozone pollution in the Denver Metro/North Front Range area. By switching to an electric lawn mower, you can make a positive impact on our air quality and on the health and well-being of our community.

The Program: In order to reduce ground-level ozone and improve air quality, the RAQC’s Mow Down Pollution – Lawn Mower Replacement program offers $150 vouchers to assist and motivate Front Range residents to recycle and replace their gas-powered lawn mowers with electric-powered lawn mowers. Already have an electric mower and still need to recycle your old gas lawn mower? Empty all the liquids out and bring it to the nearest scrap metal recycler here.

Reserve your $150 Discount Today!

Clean Air Champions

The Town of Erie is a winner for the Clean Air Champions Award for 2021 from the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC). The Town has partnered with RAQC since 2019 to create a network of 25 publicly available electric vehicle charging stations by 2025; dubbed “25 by 25”. The growing charging station network, along with incrementally electrifying our light-duty fleet vehicles, and creative benefits options for staff will work towards improving local air quality and reducing GHG emissions in the community. The award came with a monetary prize which the Town of Erie then donated directly to the Erie Community Food Bank. 

Understanding Your Indoor Air Quality Risk for Radon

Radon can be found all over the U.S. and it prevalent in Colorado. In Colorado, 50% of homes have unhealthy radon levels. This compares with only 6% of homes having unhealthy radon levels across the rest of the country. Learn more about radon.

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