WATER PLANT Air Monitoring Station, Evanston, Illinois | Environmental Monitoring Facility

WATER PLANT is an air monitoring station located at 531 E. Lincoln in Evanston, Illinois, within Cook County. Operated under the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, it is part of the broader US EPA Air Quality System (AQS) network, which monitors ambient air quality across the United States. The station's last reported sample date is September 30, 2025, indicating ongoing data collection. As an air monitoring station, WATER PLANT likely measures criteria pollutants such as ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide, in accordance with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The station's siting in a suburban area near Lake Michigan provides representative data for the Chicago metropolitan region, supporting regulatory compliance and public health assessments. The environmental significance of WATER PLANT lies in its role within the AQS network, providing continuous air quality data that informs policy decisions and alerts for vulnerable populations. Its location in Evanston, a densely populated area, helps track pollution trends from urban sources like traffic and industry, contributing to regional air quality management.

Evanston, Illinois, is a suburban city on the shores of Lake Michigan, part of the Chicago metropolitan area. Air quality in this region is influenced by urban emissions, industrial activity, and lake breeze effects. The air monitoring station at WATER PLANT likely tracks criteria pollutants and meteorological parameters to assess compliance with NAAQS and provide data for public health advisories. Its siting is representative of mixed residential and commercial zones, supporting the EPA's goal of monitoring population exposure.