To ensure continued accuracy of EPA’s air quality data in the Latrobe Valley, scientists will be conducting maintenance checks at two monitoring stations at Morwell South and Morwell East today.
Since the fire started, EPA has supplemented its existing monitoring with additional mobile and handheld sites located across the entire region to ensure the most widespread, timely and effective air quality monitoring possible. This means the overall air quality monitoring of the Latrobe Valley will not be impacted.
Today’s maintenance is critical to remove a buildup of ash on the machines, thus ensuring the data EPA provides to the Department of Health to assess human health impacts is accurate as possible.
Maintenance will be carried out on these machines one at a time from 11.30 am. It will mean some data on SO2 and visibility levels will be offline. However, data will continue to be provided to the Department of Health. Carbon monoxide (CO) and PM2.5 monitoring is unaffected and data will remain publicly available.
Based on our current forecast today, EPA does not expect any spikes in CO levels.