Keep Our Air Clean
Ozone is a gas that is
formed in the atmosphere when three atoms of oxygen combine. Ozone is found
high in the Earth’s upper atmosphere and at ground level. Ground-level ozone is
not emitted directly into the air, but is created by chemical reactions between
nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of
sunlight. Ground-level ozone, sometimes referred to as smog, mainly forms the
highest
concentrations on sunny days with slow wind speeds, which allow pollutants to
accumulate. Summer days in Texas can be conducive for ozone formation as
high-pressure systems dominate our local weather patterns, giving us clear
skies and stagnant winds.
Ozone season
has begun in Texas, but there are many things you can do to limit ozone
formation:
Drive Less
To reduce
air emissions, you can carpool with a coworker, use public transit, or simply
combine errands when possible. Removing one properly maintained passenger car
from the road for one year would save an average of 17 pounds of nitrogen
oxides from being discharged into the air.
Maintain
Your Vehicle
With
regularly scheduled maintenance, a properly tuned engine, and full pressured
tires, you can reduce your car’s emissions and improve gas mileage at the same
time.
Refuel
Your Car in the Evening
Refuel
in the late afternoon and evening to reduce the likelihood of ground-level
ozone formation. When filling your vehicle’s gas tank, don’t top it off, which
can allow fuel to escape as vapor.
Reduce
Idling
If you
expect to idle for more than 30 seconds, park your vehicle, turn it off, and go
inside. You’ll reduce your fuel costs and help keep the air clean.
To see your
own area’s air quality forecast, see the TCEQ website
on air monitoring. Read, download, or order publications related to air quality
at TakeCareOfTexas.org.
National Drinking Water Week is May 3-9
Only one percent of all of the world’s water can be used for drinking. Nearly 97 percent of the world’s water is salty or otherwise undrinkable, and the other two percent is locked away in ice caps and glaciers.
Consumer Confidence Reports: What's In Your Drinking Water?
By July 1st you should receive in the mail, or a link to,
an annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report) from your water
supplier that tells you where your water comes from and what's in it.
The CCR summarizes information that your water system already collects to comply with federal and state drinking-water-quality regulations. This information includes all of the following:
- source(s) of water used (i.e., rivers, lakes, reservoirs, or aquifers)
- chemical and bacteriological contaminants found in the water
- explanation about contaminants that may be found in the water
- populations that may be vulnerable to contaminants found in the water
- compliance with drinking water rules (violations)
- educational health information
- contact information for the water system
- opportunities for public participation
For more information on Consumer Confidence Reports, see the full TCEQ article.
Register Now for Dam Safety Workshops
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The one-day
workshops provide practical and straightforward information on issues that
affect anyone who owns or operates a dam. The workshop includes sessions on
Emergency Action Plans and Dam Maintenance. Register now.
Decatur:
June 10, 2015, Decatur
Civic Center
Austin: June
25, 2015, J.J. Pickle
Center Austin
Kilgore:
July 8, 2015, Kilgore
College
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Energy Star Tax Free Weekend is May 23-25 |
During Memorial Day weekend, Texas shoppers get a break from state and local sales taxes on purchases of certain energy efficient products. See the State Comptroller’s website for more information.
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