CWA and UTA: Monitoring air and water quality in the Coastal Bend
Coastal Bend residents are getting a new tool to better understand local air and water quality. The Coastal Watch Association (CWA) has been monitoring air quality in the area for years and is now expanding its efforts through a partnership with the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). This initiative, supported by funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), aims to build a network of sensors that will provide real-time air and water quality data, giving residents critical insights into environmental conditions that could impact their health.
Why Monitor Air and Water Quality?
Ongoing industrial expansion in the Coastal Bend has raised concerns about air pollution and its impact on public health. Communities often experience varying air quality conditions, but until now, there has been little local monitoring to capture neighborhood-level data. As Dr. Michelle Hummel, Associate Professor at UTA’s Civil Engineering Department, explains, “We’re trying to build community capacity to deal with changing environmental conditions.”
Understanding air and water quality on a local level allows residents and policymakers to make more informed decisions. The data collected from these sensors can help track pollution levels, identify trends, and provide evidence when advocating for stronger environmental protections.
Expanding the Monitoring Network
CWA began its monitoring efforts in 2019 with eight air quality sensors. However, the company that originally provided these sensors, Sailbri Cooper, Inc. (SCI), recently stepped away from air monitoring, leaving the existing sensors without necessary calibration and support. To fill this gap, CWA and UTA are working together to deploy a new network of sensors across San Patricio and Nueces Counties.
The new initiative will include:
10 additional air quality sensors developed by UTA, with plans to expand to 30 sensors by the end of the project
New water monitoring stations, supplementing the two already in operation
A publicly accessible online dashboard that will allow residents to check real-time air and water quality data
The monitors will track pollutants such as PM2.5 (fine particulate matter), PM10, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as well as temperature and humidity.
How Does It Work?
The new sensors, developed by UTA researchers, will be solar-powered and pole-mounted for easy deployment. Before installation, each sensor will undergo a calibration process where it is tested alongside regulatory-grade monitors to ensure accuracy. The sensors will then be placed on volunteer properties throughout the region, allowing for real-time data collection.
“This kind of neighborhood-level monitoring is important,” says Payton Campbell, Air and Water Monitoring Coordinator for CWA. “Right now, state agencies don’t have the coverage to provide a full picture of our air quality. These sensors will help fill in the gaps.”
The program will also include a centralized data dashboard, where residents can view readings and even compare them to regulatory-grade sensors. Hummel describes it as a way to provide people with easy access to data: “We want this to be a one-stop location where people can check conditions in their area and actually understand what they mean.”
Helping the Community
Beyond data collection, the monitoring project has practical benefits for residents. It can help people with respiratory conditions, like asthma, make informed decisions about their outdoor activities. It also provides advocacy groups like CWA with the data needed to push for stricter pollution controls and better planning in areas impacted by industrial emissions.
“We’re hoping this data can be a tool for community action,” Campbell explains. “If pollution levels are consistently high in certain areas, this can be used to argue more effectively against further industrial expansion in those locations.”
Looking Ahead
The project aims to have all 30 air quality monitors and several water sensors in place by the end of 2025, barring any supply chain delays. As the network expands, organizers hope to include features like text alerts for high pollution days and additional educational resources.
Community involvement is key to the success of the project, and volunteers are needed to host sensors on their properties. So far, more than a dozen residents have already stepped up, but more locations will soon be needed as deployment scales up.
For Coastal Bend residents, the CWA-UTA initiative represents an important step toward a healthier and more informed community. “People deserve to know what’s in their air and water,” says Campbell. “This project is about empowering them with that knowledge.”