Overview

The West Central Airshed Society (WCAS) operates a network of thirteen continuous on-line air quality monitoring stations, five agricultural bio-receptor monitoring sites, and two forestry bio-monitoring sites within the west central region of Alberta.  Stations are strategically located throughout the zone to represent areas with industrial activity and areas remote from man-made emission sources.

Air quality monitoring and reporting methods used by the WCAS are compatible with those of Alberta Environment.  Continuous monitoring is required to meet the Alberta Environment compliance standards for maximum hourly concentrations of pollutants.  Continuous air monitoring is also needed to link any symptoms of stress observed on test crops to changes in air quality.  Trace level monitors are used to measure the wide range of pollutant concentrations encountered within the zone and to accurately assess changes in air quality.  WCAS uses passive monitoring systems at two bio-monitoring sites.  These passive monitoring systems are capable of providing approximate average measurements of a pollutant concentration over extended periods of time.

The West Central Airshed Zone encompasses an area of about 46,000 square kilometers.  Please contact the Society for exact legal descriptions of the boundaries.