City of Alexandria Begins Its Air Quality Action Days Program May 1
The City of Alexandria’s Transportation & Environmental Services Department will begin its “Air Quality Action Days” program today, May 1. This program is designed to increase awareness about the health and environmental dangers of ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter, known as smog.
From May through September, residents may use several options to access regional air quality forecasts for the following day. Air quality for the next day will be categorized as maroon, purple, red, orange, yellow or green. Residents can watch for “Air Quality Action Day” notifications on the City of Alexandria’s Air Quality website or the City homepage when forecasts are orange or above. They may also sign up for daily notices through Clean Air Partners EnviroFlash program.
The City encourages residents to help improve and protect air quality by taking voluntary actions when at or above a Code Orange Day is forecasted, including:
- Replace driving with walking, biking, or using mass transit
- Avoid mowing lawns with gas-powered mowers
- Put off any painting until cooler weather
- Avoid the use of aerosol products
- Avoid idling unnecessarily and refuel cars after 7:00 pm
- Spread the word and alert neighbors and community members about the day’s air quality warning.
Contact the T&ES Office of Environmental Quality at 703-746-4065 if you have questions about the Air Quality Action Days program. For more information about Air Quality Action Days notifications, visit https://www.alexandriava.gov/AirQuality