Welcome to the Longmont Air Quality e-Notification system.

This information is provided as a public service and is not intended as a warning or alert. The measurements taken at Longmont’s air monitoring stations are part of a contract with Boulder Atmosphere Innovation Research (Boulder AIR) to analyze and report atmospheric emissions and possible pollutants from oil and gas operations near the city as well as reporting measurements of greenhouse gases and other emissions from non-oil and gas well sources, such as motor vehicles.

On Wednesday, January 6 at approximately 8:20 am, the Union Reservoir air monitoring station recorded a sudden increase in methane and other VOCs (volatile organic compounds). The increase lasted for approximately 10 minutes before levels returned to normal. These were the highest concentrations of ethane and propane measured at Union Reservoir to date, and the chemical signatures indicate that the source was likely natural gas. While the wind direction suggests that the source is located east of Union Reservoir, Longmont’s air quality monitoring stations are not designed to identify specific sources of air pollution. 

Despite being a short-term event, the data will play an important role in the air quality study being carried out by Longmont’s contractor Boulder AIR. These data will help improve scientific understanding of how pollutants are released and dispersed. The information will also be part of the larger data set shared with the scientific and governmental groups that have expressed interest in our data, and will be provided in upcoming regulatory hearings when relevant. Longmont also shared this information with the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment.

About the Air Quality Plan: As directed by City Council, and in accordance with the objectives of the Sustainability Plan, an air quality monitoring program has been developed to monitor oil and gas emissions, and the overall air quality in the City of Longmont. Air monitoring instruments are located at Union Reservoir and Vance Brand Airport. Air monitors track the presence of compounds such as carbon dioxide, ozone, nitrogen oxides, methane, benzene, and particulate matter. Visit bouldair.com/longmont to see Longmont’s preliminary air quality data in near real-time.