Air Quality
Air quality is a top priority in Salt Lake County
In the winter, fine particulate matter is the major air quality concern.
These particulates are trapped in our air during a temperature inversion. The particulates come from burning various fuels including from cars and trucks. Emissions from homes and buildings also create this type of pollution.
Research indicates that exposure to this type of pollution can increase the risk of premature death from heart or lung disease.
There are many things residents can do to help alleviate pollution. Less driving is especially encouraged on orange or red air quality days.
Experts in the Salt Lake County Health Department can educate and advise on the affects of poor air quality.
Salt Lake County is Part of the Air Quality Solution
Here are a few things we're doing to help improve the air and health of our community
UTA transit passes give away
If everyone that drives to work would take transit one day a week, 10 million vehicle miles per day could be removed from our roads, significantly reducing tailpipe pollution.
In late 2015, Mayor McAdams and the Salt Lake County Health Department partnered with Utah Transit Authority to give away 500 transit passes to Salt Lake County employees. Each UTA Farepay card had $10 worth of UTA trips on them.
This give away follows last years' pilot project to give away mass transit as another step in the right direction towards better air quality.
The Vehicle Repair Assistance Program takes high-polluting vehicles off the road
50 percent of our air pollution is caused by vehicles. Qualifying low-income residents who’s vehicles fail the emissions test, can have their cars repaired.
“Cleaning up the dirty air during our valley’s inversion months will take a variety of actions by numerous groups. Repairing cars so that they operate more cleanly is one important action that Salt Lake County will take to contribute to solving our air quality problem,” said Mayor McAdams.
Fill out a Vehicle Repair Assistance application, or call the Salt Lake County Health Department at 385-468-3837 for more information.
Electric Vehicle Fast-Charger Now Available to the Public
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Electric vehicle owners can “fast-charge” at the Salt Lake County government center
- The fast-charging station is the first along the Wasatch Front
- A vehicle can go from zero to fully charged in under 20 minutes
- The cost is a flat $2 plus 20 cents per kilowatt, plus tax. – That’s about $5 for a full charge!
Come down to 2001 South State Street in Salt Lake City, in the southeast parking lot to use the fast-charge station.
The fast-charging station was made possible because local and state government came together to make steps to eliminate the bad air days that occur during winter inversions. Salt Lake County received grants totaling $39,600 from UCAIR and the Utah Office of Energy Development for installation of ABB, Inc.