WilCo Reminds: Air Quality Awareness Week Is April 29 To May 3

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — County officials remind residents that Air Quality Awareness Week is from April 29 to May 3, offering tips for people to do their part for the benefit of the environment.

First, visit www.AirCentralTexas.org to help promote air quality awareness within the community.

According to the National Air Quality Index, regional air pollution levels were considered “moderate” or worse on more than 35 percent of days last year. Poor air quality particularly affects children, older adults, people with lung disease and people with heart disease, who make up two out of every five residents of Central Texas, officials noted.

Williamson County departments and offices were asked which measures they could take on Ozone Action Days to limit their ozone emissions. All reported being willing to bring a lunch, and 90 percent said they could fuel vehicles before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. in the evening. Departments with county-owned vehicles already participate in a replacement program for older vehicles which provides for better air quality, officials added.

Tasks that residents can do to improve air quality include:

• Work from home.
• Carpool with three or more people per vehicle.
• Utilize conference call technology.
• Use mass transit.
• Bicycle or walk to work.
• Avoid unnecessary trips.
• Bring lunch to work or carpool or walk to lunch (or picnic in backyard or local park rather than driving to a restaurant).

Submit your “Clean Air Commitments” at https://aircentraltexas.org.