California’s prolonged drought is causing a sharp rise in air pollution in the Central Valley. That’s according to an annual report on air quality in California.
While smog and Ozone continue to improve in the Valley, the four year long drought is pushing up dangerous particulate matter pollution rates.
The dry weather is causing loose soil which is kicked into the air says Heather Heinks with the Valley Air District.
“No rain means the ground is dry. And strong winds if we do get any do blow loose soil. Those fallowed farms that cannot be watered because there is no water. All of that definitely leads to more particulates and dust and fine particles,” Heinks said.
Heinks says years of stagnant weather, especially a lack of winter wind, is also causing pollution to build up over time.
“The lack of rain is the same issue responsible for stagnant air and of course no air flow, especially in the valley in the winter time, means that pollution cannot escape. And unfortunately, that’s stagnation can create build up and it can get quite dense with particulates,” Heinks said.
The report also says many pumps needed to access ground water in the valley run on dirty, inefficient diesel engines.
While the rates are climbing and are above target goals, they are still lower than the peak in 1999 when the first significant data was collected.
