Air Quality Monitoring Report for Hamilton, Tokoroa, Taupo,Te Kuiti, Matamata, Putaruru, Ngaruawahia, Waihi and Turangi – 2009

TR 2010/14
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Report: TR 2010/14

Author: Emily Wilton, Melanie Baynes, Environet Ltd

Executive summary

In the Waikato Region the main contaminant of concern is PM10 (particles in the air less than 10 microns in diameter).  The Ministry for the Environment specifies that the National Environmental Standard (NES) for PM10 of 50 µg m-3 (24-hour average) must be achieved by 2013. One exceedence of this standard is allowed per year, and any subsequent breach of the PM10 standard must be publicly notified within a month of it occurring. The NES requires air quality monitoring to take place in areas that are likely to exceed the standard for PM10.

During 2009, PM10 monitoring was carried out at Hamilton, Tokoroa, Taupo, Te Kuiti, Matamata, Putaruru, Ngaruawahia, Waihi and Turangi.  Monitoring for benzene, toluene and xylenes also took place in Hamilton during 2009. The 2009 Air Quality Monitoring report compares PM10 concentrations to the NES for PM10 and to the Ministry for the Environment’s air quality guidelines and indicator categories. 

In Hamilton, there were three exceedences of 50 µg m-3 for PM10 during 2009.  The maximum measured PM10 concentration of 101 µg m-3 was recorded on 25 September and coincides with a dust storm in Australia.  This storm also resulted in concentrations in excess of 50 µg m-3 at Tokoroa (57 µg m-3), Matamata (93 µg m-3) and Ngaruawahia (113 µg m-3). Table E1 shows summary PM10 data for all sites for 2009. 

Table E1:  Summary of PM10 monitoring results for 2009.

 

Maximum measured concentration µg m-3-

Measured exceedences of 50 µg m-3 

Number of NES breaches

Annual Average

Hamilton

101* µg m-3

3

2

14 µg m-3

Tokoroa

80 µg m-3

17

16

18 µg m-3

Taupo

66 µg m-3

7

6

17 µg m-3

Te Kuiti  

53 µg m-3

4

3

17 µg m-3

Matamata*

93 µg m-3

1

0

13 µg m-3

Putaruru

55 µg m-3

2

1

15 µg m-3

Ngaruawahia*

113 µg m-3

1

0

14 µg m-3

Waihi

32 µg m-3

0

0

12 µg m-3

Turangi

25 µg m-3

0

0

9 µg m-3

 * non winter exceedences associated with dust storms in Australia.

Concentrations of benzene measured in Hamilton were within the 2009 guideline of 10 µg m-3 and the 2010 guideline of 3.6 µg m-3.  The highest annual concentration was measured at the Greenwood Street monitoring site and was 3.2 µg m-3.  Concentrations of toluene and xylene were well within acceptable levels.

Air Quality Monitoring Report for Hamilton, Tokoroa, Taupo,Te Kuiti, Matamata, Putaruru, Ngaruawahia, Waihi and Turangi – 2009 [PDF, 1.8 MB]

Contents
  Introduction 1
1.1 Reporting period 3
2 Methodology 5
3 Hamilton 7
3.1 Air Quality Monitoring in Hamilton 7
3.2 PM10 concentrations for Hamilton 8
3.3 Concentrations of Benzene, Toluene and Xylenes 13
3.4 Daily variations in PM10 and meteorology on high pollution days 14
4 Tokoroa 16
4.1 Air Quality Monitoring in Tokoroa 16
4.2 PM10 concentrations in Tokoroa 17
4.3 Daily variations in PM10 and meteorology on high pollution days 22
5 Taupo 26
5.1 Air Quality Monitoring in Taupo 26
5.2 PM10 concentrations in Taupo 27
5.3 Daily variations in PM10 and meteorology on high pollution days 31
6 Te Kuiti 33
6.1 Air Quality Monitoring in Te Kuiti 33
6.2 PM10 Concentrations in Te Kuiti 33
6.3 Daily variations in PM10 and meteorology on high pollution days 37
7 Matamata 39
7.1 Air Quality Monitoring in Matamata 39
7.2 PM10 concentrations in Matamata 39
7.3 Daily variations in PM10 and meteorology on high pollution days 42
8 Putaruru 43
8.1 Air Quality Monitoring in Putaruru 43
8.2 PM10 Concentrations in Putaruru 44
9 Ngaruawahia 48
9.1 Air Quality Monitoring in Ngaruawahia 48
9.2 PM10 Concentrations in Ngaruawahia 49
10 Waihi 53
10.1 Air Quality Monitoring in Waihi 53
10.2 PM10 concentrations in Waihi 54
11 Turangi 58
11.1 Air Quality Monitoring in Turangi 58
11.2 PM10 Concentrations in Turangi 59
12 Summary 63
References