Air Quality

Overview

Protecting the quality of our air is an important part of Delta's efforts to mitigate climate change. Metro Vancouver is responsible for regulating air quality in the region, including Delta. Through a regional Air Quality Management Plan, specific goals and objectives are set with the purpose of improving air quality in the airshed. The following link provides information on Metro Vancouver's role with respect to air quality: http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/air/Pages/default.aspx.

As part of its role in air quality, Metro Vancouver operates a series of permanent air quality monitoring stations throughout the Lower Fraser Valley that collect information on the level of pollutants in our air. One of these stations is located in North Delta and a station has recently been commissioned in Tsawwassen. For more information on the air quality monitoring network go to: http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/air/monitoring/Pages/default.aspx.

Tsawwassen Air Quality Monitoring Station

As part of the Environmental Assessment process for the Deltaport Third Berth, Port Metro Vancouver committed to work with Metro Vancouver, in consultation with Delta, to fund and locate an air quality station to provide continuous ambient air quality monitoring. The station is located at the Pebble Hill Reservoir and located in the 5100 block of 4th Avenue in Tsawwassen. The parameters that are measured at the site include: Sulphur dioxide, Fine Particulate Matter, Ozone, Carbon monoxide, Nitrogen oxides and meteorological conditions such as wind speed, wind direction, temperature and relative humidity. Current air quality data from this station along with the other stations in the Metro Vancouver air quality monitoring network is available at the following link www.bcairquality.ca/readings. Click on the Metro Vancouver/Lower Fraser Valley inset to access data from the Tsawwassen and North Delta Air Quality Monitoring Stations.

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Air Quality Complaints

Metro Vancouver Regulation and Enforcement Division maintains a 24 hour Air Quality Complaint line. Complaints received and addressed by Metro Vancouver staff under the authority of the regional air quality bylaw include odour complaints, concerns regarding visible emissions from point sources such as industrial or commercial operations, and wood smoke complaints. The 24 hour complaint line is (604) 436-6777. General enquiries relating to air quality issues can also be emailed to regulationenforcement@metrovancouver.org

Delta Air Quality Monitoring Study

In 2004, due to ongoing air quality concerns in the Ladner and Tsawwassen areas, Metro Vancouver began monitoring three sites with their Mobile Air Monitoring Unit (MAMU). Each of these sites was sampled quarterly, for two weeks at a time for approximately two years. The places where MAMU was located include:

• a site at a Delta drainage pumpstation located at 4790 42A Avenue
• a site at Delta Hospital
• a site on the Tsawwassen First Nations (TFN) land between the Ferry Causeway and Deltaport Way.

The following document titled Delta Air Quality Monitoring Study June 2004 - March 2006 provides the results of this monitoring study:

• Delta Air Quality Monitoring Study June 2004 - March 2006 { pdf 1.24MB }

Air Quality Health Index

As a joint venture between Health Canada, Environment Canada, and the BC Ministry of Environment, the Air Quality Health Index is now active in 14 BC communities including all of Metro Vancouver. The index provides current readings on the four key components of air quality that affect health and also forecasts the air quality over the next 24 hours. This index will help Delta residents make informed decisions about exposure to outdoor air during periods of poor air quality. To view Delta's current air quality health index rating please visit www.airhealthbc.ca

Some documents on this page are available in Adobe Acrobat Reader® PDF format. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader® you may download it for free by clicking on the link to the right.

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