May 2, 2022. Reno/Sparks, Nev. – In celebration of Air Quality Awareness Week, the Washoe County Health District Air Quality Management Division (AQMD) will showcase its award-winning Keep It Clean program and offer ways for residents improve air quality in our area.

The Keep It Clean program aims to implement clean air solutions in Washoe County.

Each day on the AQMD Facebook and Twitter social media accounts, AQMD will provide information to empower the citizens of Washoe County on the topic of air quality including wildfire smoke, ground-level ozone, engine idling, active transportation, and wintertime wood burning using the hashtag #AQAW2022.

• Monday – Be Smoke Smart: Know what to do when wildfire smoke strikes
• Tuesday – nOzone: Take care of our air
• Wednesday – Be Idle Free: Turn off your car when it’s parked
• Thursday – Rack Em Up: Take your bicycle instead of your car when you can
• Friday – Know the Code: During winter, know when it’s OK to use your fireplace

“It is a good time for us to reflect on the importance of one of the natural resources we all depend on: clean air,” said Francisco Vega, Division Director of AQMD. “We can all do our part to help keep our air clean, protect ourselves from wildfire smoke, and ensure clean air for future generations.”

Sign up for Washoe County Air Quality updates here.

The week of May 2-6 has been proclaimed Air Quality Awareness week by the Washoe County District Board of Health and designated by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) to encourage citizens to use the Air Quality Index (AQI), understand what causes poor air quality, and take steps to improve air quality.

Tips for improving air quality in our area:

• Bike, walk, telecommute, carpool, or use public transportation
• Limit engine idling
• Refuel gas vehicle after dusk. Stop refueling when pump shuts off. Tighten gas cap securely
• Keep your vehicle engines tuned up and tires properly inflated
• Consider an electric vehicle for your next vehicle purchase
• Conserve energy
• Use manual, electric, or battery powered lawn and garden equipment
• Upgrade your wood stove, pellet stove, and fireplace to a cleaner burning device

For more information, go to OurCleanAir.com.

The Washoe County Health District is nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board and has jurisdiction over all public health matters in Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County through the policy-making Washoe County District Board of Health. The District consists of five divisions: Administrative Health Services, Air Quality Management, Community and Clinical Health Services, Environmental Health Services and Epidemiology & Public Health Preparedness. More info can be found here.