RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - The City of Rancho Cordova has partnered with residents and the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (Sac Metro Air District) to enable our community to monitor and improve air quality in our city.

 At the suggestion of a resident, the city invested in PurpleAir Sensors, a technology that enables local monitoring of air quality by placing sensors at residences and businesses. The city asked for resident volunteers, and now there are 12 sensors throughout Rancho Cordova that transmit important, real-time air quality data about the city.

 “Prior to this program, we had very few air quality sensors in our city. Thanks to our Community Enhancement Fund and residents who volunteered, we now have air quality sensors throughout the city,” said Councilmember David Sander, PhD. “This is a great example of cities partnering with residents to solve hyper-local issues.”

 Residents throughout the city volunteered to host an air quality sensor in their home to monitor particulate matter (PM), a type of air pollution made of tiny particles that come from nature and human-made sources such as wildfires, wood burning (smoke), construction, automobiles and more. The data collected by the air quality sensor is transmitted to Purple Air and can be accessed at PurpleAir.com. Having localized air pollution data can help residents make informed decisions about their daily activities.

“I’m delighted that Rancho Cordova chose to sponsor the air sensors in Rancho Cordova neighborhoods, and my family is pleased to host a sensor so our neighbors in the Sunriver neighborhood and nearby can know our outdoor air quality more accurately,” said Jenn Raley Miller, Rancho Cordova resident. “We have a 6 ½ year old, so it’s important for us to know if the air is healthy enough for him to play in our backyard, or for us to feel comfortable sending him to school,” she added.

In addition, the sensor data will be shared with Sac Metro Air District, providing valuable information when preparing daily air quality forecasts, especially during wildfire season.

 “Air pollution poses a serious health threat throughout the year, but especially during wildfire season and in the winter months. The data collected from these sensors will allow our city’s residents and Sac Metro Air District to monitor local air quality more efficiently,” said Rancho Cordova Vice Mayor Donald Terry, who also serves on the Sac Metro Air District Board of Directors.

 To learn more about the program, visit CityofRanchoCordova.org. For more information about the Sac Metro Air District, visit AirQuality.org.