A recent report from the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy confirms what most people in Courtenay already know: that the city’s air quality is not up to par with the rest of the province.
The report, titled “Patterns of Air Quality and Meteorology in Courtenay,” is one of the latest of several studies devoted to examining the Comox Valley’s air quality. Released in early November and written by air quality meteorologist Earle Plain, the study analyzes patterns in ambient air quality in Courtenay and how it is affected by meteorological conditions.
Measurements were collected between 2011 and the end of 2016 from an air quality monitoring station located by Courtenay Elementary School.
The report confirms that the mean annual and daily levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are higher in Courtenay than the B.C. average and exceed provincial objectives, particularly from November to February.
“It just confirms a lot of the things that have been coming out over the last few years and is another piece of information that local decision makers can use,” he said.
Read More: Courtenay looking into air quality control measures.