Vacuum air sweeper (photo credit: Tymco Regenerative Air Sweeper)

By Kevin Rothwell

All metrics down despite less rain

City efforts to reduce spring dust issues working

May 25, 2021 | 5:30 AM

Vernon is going in the right direction in efforts to reduce spring dust advisories, despite the driest sweeping season in years.

Between March 10 and April 23 this year, city crews and contractors working 16 hour days, seven days a week, swept 615 kilometres of road and 197 kilometers of sidewalk.

“Sand applied to roadways as winter traction material can be a significant source of spring road dust and have a detrimental effect on air quality,” Chris Ovens, Manager of Public Works stated in a report to Vernon council.

Prior to this year’s spring sweeping program, administration made some changes to help reduce the amount of spring road dust.

• Added a new regenerative air sweeper (vacuum) program
• Changed winter grit material to align closely with suggested “Best Practices”
• Repurposed fleet equipment to increase the speed of the road flushing program.
  Reduce spring road dust chart (photo credit: City of Vernon)

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It is also noted that the Environment and Climate Change Canada air monitoring station at the Okanagan Science Centre is located beside Highway 97 and Highway 6, likely meaning the air quality readings are skewed.

The city is working with the ministry on an additional location for an air monitoring station, which would provide more accurate data.