South Water Filtration Plant Air Monitoring Station, Chicago, Illinois

South Water Filtration Plant is an air monitoring station located at 3300 E. Cheltenham Pl. in Chicago, Illinois, within the United States. The facility is operated by the Cook County Department of Environmental Control and is part of the broader national air quality monitoring network. As an operational station, it plays a role in tracking criteria pollutants and supporting regulatory compliance under the Clean Air Act. The station operates under the framework of the U.S. EPA's Air Quality System (AQS), which sets standards for monitoring methods, siting, and data reporting. While specific parameters measured are not detailed, typical urban stations in Chicago monitor ozone, particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and lead. The station's location near Lake Michigan provides data on lake breeze effects on pollutant dispersion. Environmental monitoring at this site supports public health protection by providing data used for air quality index (AQI) forecasts and regulatory attainment decisions. The station's long-term operation contributes to trend analysis and helps evaluate the effectiveness of emission reduction strategies in the Chicago metropolitan area.

Chicago's air quality is influenced by industrial emissions, vehicle traffic, and meteorological patterns from Lake Michigan. The South Water Filtration Plant station helps characterize pollutant transport and local exposure. Monitoring data from this site supports the U.S. EPA's AQS network, which is critical for determining compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The station's siting near a water treatment facility and residential areas provides representative data for population exposure assessments.