The Spare The Air program is dedicated to measurably improving the region’s air quality and helping residents protect themselves from air pollution by providing air quality forecasts, real-time readings and air pollution alerts. Photo courtesy of Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (Sac Metro Air District), in collaboration with the air districts of the Sacramento region, has launched a new Air Alert system for the Sacramento Region’s Spare The Air program.

Sacramento region residents are strongly urged to subscribe or resubscribe to the new Air Alert to maintain access to important air quality information aimed at safeguarding their health and the environment. Prior Air Alert subscriptions will not transfer to the new system, so resubscribing is essential.

The Spare The Air program is dedicated to measurably improving the region’s air quality and helping residents protect themselves from air pollution by providing air quality forecasts, real-time readings and air pollution alerts. The program also offers educational materials for schools, businesses, residents and community organizations.

The Spare The Air campaign runs from May through October each year, which is known as the summer smog season. Ground-level ozone (smog) is the primary pollutant during this time of year and is monitored throughout the Spare The Air season. During wildfire smoke episodes, Spare The Air might provide PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less) forecasts rather than smog, as needed.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a measurement that helps community members understand air pollution levels and how they might impact the natural environment and human health. The higher the Air Quality Index, the greater the level of air pollution.

When the forecasted Air Quality Index for smog is expected to reach or exceed 126, the program will issue a Spare The Air Alert. 

Spare The Air, which runs annually from May 1 through Oct. 31, encourages residents and businesses to take action to help reduce air pollution in the Sacramento region.

Subscribers have the option to receive the daily air quality forecast and Spare The Air alerts by email or by Short Message Service (SMS) text directly to their phones.

For more information or to sign up for the new Air Alert, visit www.SpareTheAir.com/signup.