SJVAPCD releases Annual Report to the Community

The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has just released its Annual Report to the Community and it is full of encouraging news to residents of the Valley. According to the report, the San Joaquin Valley showed record clean air improvements, marking 2025 as the cleanest year on record for numerous air quality parameters.

Photo Credit: SJVAPCD

For the first time, every air monitoring site in the District recorded PM2.5 readings below the federal 24-hour standard. Additionally, the District had the lowest number of exceedances of the ozone standard on record. 

As a result of the clean air efforts of the District, residents, businesses, public agencies, farmers, and community organizations, clean air improvements have resulted in more "Good" air quality days and a record low of only 5 "Unhealthy" days across all of the District's counties. As a point of reference, it was only ten years ago that the District experienced over 100 "Unhealthy" days and 20 years ago that the number exceeded 100 "Unhealthy" days - a remarkable improvement of the District's air quality.

According to Samir Sheikh, the District's Executive Director and Air Pollution Control Officer (APCO), "These improvements bring the Valley closer than ever to attaining the remaining federal health-based standards and represents real improvements in the air we breathe and tangible health benefits for the communities we serve."

Free printed copies can be ordered by emailing public.education@valleyair.org or calling (559) 230-6000.

Use RAAN to see how bad the air outside really is

The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (APCD) issued an air quality alert for Valley residents yesterday due to smoke from California's wildfires. If you step outside and take a deep breath or just look at the hazy skies, you will quickly understand why. 

If you want to get a little more information on just how bad it really is as measured by ambient air quality monitors, then check out the APCD's Real-time Air Advisor Network (RAAN). By using either a free app or by typing in your zip code at the RAAN website, you can see what the ozone and PM2.5 levels are in your area right now and throughout the day.

Again, because of the risk to your health, the APCD recommends that you avoid strenuous outdoor activities until the skies clear to safer levels.