What is air pollution?
The air we breathe contains many impurities, ranging from smoke that comes from open fires to invisible gases emitted by the tailpipes of cars. These and other pollutants affect human health, damage fragile ecosystems, reduce visibility, and even damage property. They also have profound impacts on climate.How does City of Visalia monitor air quality?
Since 1976, we have worked with the State of California to operate a comprehensive system of monitors to measure the affects of population growth, energy production and increased transportation on air quality in the region. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved equipment and procedures are used to measure significant pollutants.
How can we tell if the air is clean and healthy to breathe?
The EPA has given us standards and guidelines to help us figure that out. The EPA has a list of pollutants that can be harmful if we breathe them and they have established levels, or standards, for each of these pollutants that should not be exceeded. These standards are referred to as National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The Central Valley region is working to be attainment with NAAQS for all EPA criteria air quality pollutants - carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particulate matter and sulfur dioxide.
Visalia's daily particulate count and oxone levels
Daily Air Quality
What is City of Visalia doing to reduce pollutants? - Compressed Natural Gas Facility
- Natural Gas Bus Fleet
- The City of Visalia was one of the first to endorse the Cool Cities Initiative in America, cities,counties and states are launching an exciting grassroots movement to help solve one of our country’s most pressing problems: global warming. The strategies that Visalia and other Cool Cities are pursuing fall under three categories: Cleaner Vehicles, Energy Efficiency, and Renewable Energy.
Every one of these local solutions is already saving taxpayer dollars and improving public health by reducing energy,waste and pollution.
Clean Green Yard Machine (CGYM) helps clean the Valley’s air through incentives for residents to retire their old gas mowers in favor of nonpolluting, electric mowers. One gasoline-powered lawn mower can pollute as much as 40 newer cars. The District is now accepting applications for the program. There are a limited number of vouchers available for each of the District’s eight counties, and vouchers will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until funding is exhausted. To submit an application for a CGYM voucher, please call the number below during normal business hours.
Southern Region Office, Bakersfield: (661)392-5685
Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 7:30 am to 5:30 pm and Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, closed alternating Fridays
Reference for wood burning days
For more information on incentives to change out your fireplace and woodstove towards the purchase of cleaner gas or propane woodstove or fireplace insert see the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control Districts Change out program. You can contact the Air District at 1-800-SMOG INFO or go to their website at www.valleyair.orgRelated Links
California Air Resources Board
Air Quality