Dust Pollution Prevention Tips

The following tips can greatly reduce the chances of dust pollution. Implementing these control measures can be done before and/or during a rapid response event.

Businesses

• Apply water or dust suppressants to disturbed areas.
• Apply water to stockpiled bulk materials.
• Ensure that all roads, gutters and sidewalks are free of dirt/trackout.
• Refresh trackout control devices.
• Reduce traffic and vehicle speeds (lower than 15 miles per hour) on unpaved roads.
• Apply water or other control measures to unpaved roads.
• Reschedule control measures, such as street sweepers, to occur just before an expected event.
• Ensure that unpaved parking lots, including temporary event parking, are stabilized.
• Limit dust generating operations (ex: focus efforts on non-dust generating operations during an event).
• Cease operations during an event.
• Refrain from using leaf blowers.
• Hold a tailgate meeting with employees before an event so that everyone knows to be extra vigilant.

Residents 

• Don't drive or park on dirt. If you absolutely cannot avoid driving over dirt, drive slowly.
• Avoid using leaf blowers and other equipment that raise a lot of dust. Avoid using gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.
• Reduce fireplace and wood stove use and don't use your wood-burning fireplace on no-burn days.
• Ride all terrain vehicles and other off-road vehicles in authorized areas only and never on high pollution advisory days. 
• Don't burn leaves, trash, or other materials.
• Use propane barbecue grills rather than wood or charcoal.
• Maintain your landscape. Cover loose dirt with vegetation or gravel.
• Report suspected violations or concerns to the department at 602-372-2703, or use our Air Quality Violations Report form.
• Disturbing the crust raises dust. Avoid any activities that disturb the naturally-occurring protective layer of crust, especially on high pollution or high-wind days.