Utah DEQ News

Impacts on Air Quality During COVID-19

What impact did fewer cars on the road due to COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, teleworking and social distancing have on Utah air quality? Logan Mitchell, a researcher at the University of Utah, took a look at the data from DEQ’s monitors to find out.

How A $10.95 Radon Test Kit Saved A Utah Resident From Potential Lung Cancer

Susan Dowdle was shocked to learn her stepdaughter’s mother had been diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. The cause of her cancer—radon gas in her basement. Here is Dowdle’s story of testing her home and installing a mitigation system on a fixed income.

What You Need To Know About 2020’s Ozone Season

Ozone is formed in Utah when NOx and VOCs break apart under intense sunlight and reform. The formation of ozone is most likely to occur on days with calm winds, no cloud cover and afternoon temperatures above 90 degrees. Here are some ways you can protect your health and reduce your emissions.

With Plants, Paints, & Creativity Residents Respond to Utah’s Earth Day Challenge

This year marked the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, but rather than celebrate it as a community, the current pandemic forced us to get creative from the safety of our homes. Eager to commemorate such a momentous milestone, DEQ challenged Utahn’s to celebrate digitally and submit their creations on social media. Here are a few of the highlights.

Working with Nature: Planting Trees on the Jordan River

The Jordan River Commission has spent the last two years planting 4,000 trees and large shrubs across the Jordan River Parkway. Learn more about these trees and their important role in revitalizing the river in this week Utah DEQ Blog.

Answers to your questions about greenhouse gas and Tier 3 vehicle standards.

Answers to Your Questions about Greenhouse Gas, Tier 3 Vehicle Standards

On March 31, 2020, EPA and NHTSA announced a final rule revising the GHG/CAFE standards. This week’s Utah DEQ Blog takes a deep dive into the rule and how it affects Utah.

Inversion Season 2019-2020

On March 31, DEQ’s Division of Air Quality called an end to the 2019-20 inversion season and stopped issuing its Action Forecasts for PM2.5 pollution. Utah residents have taken air quality seriously. Efforts by citizens and regulators alike have resulted in improved air quality in Northern Utah.

EPA Calls for Enforcement and Compliance Discretion During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Enforcement of regulations that directly affect human health will take priority as Utah DEQ works with regulated communities on a case-by-case basis to determine reasonable exemptions to environmental rules. The department will continue monitoring sources of pollution to protect the safety and health of Utah residents.

Water Quality: Only Flush Toilet Paper

The COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in residents flushing other paper products down the toilet. This has caused an increase in backed-up toilets and overflowing sewer lines in Utah and across the country. Even wipes marketed as “flushable” will clog pipes.

5 Tips To Better Teleworking

As promoters of clean air and reduced emissions, DEQ’s Division of Air Quality has learned a few things about working from home. We didn’t expect to be sharing these tips during a pandemic. Nonetheless, here are some tips on how to make the most of teleworking in the coming weeks.

Operations During COVID-19

To reduce the spread of COVID-19 and encourage the practice of social distancing to help “flatten the curve,” the scientists, engineers and staff of Utah’s Department of Environmental Quality are mostly working remotely. During this time, the department will conduct business as usual.

COVID-19: Your Drinking Water is Safe

The Utah Department of Environmental Quality wants residents to know that their public water supply is safe. In the case of quarantine or outbreak related to the coronavirus, public drinking water systems are designed to continuously deliver safe drinking water to your tap.

Going Green at Work: Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference

Although many of us make environmentally friendly choices at home, we don’t always stop to consider the many ways we could go green in our workplace. DEQ offers you some simple tips to help make your workplace a little “greener.” Going green at work is easier than you think!

Image of men installing an underground storage tank

Keeping an Eye on Underground Storage Tanks

Out of sight, out of mind. The old adage reminds us that ignorance is bliss. Luckily for Utah residents, the engineers and scientists at DEQ’s Division of Environmental Response and Remediation are not ignorant of one important out-of-sight risk—underground storage tanks.

Understanding Tier 3 in Utah

Since Gov. Gary Herbert announced that Utah refineries would produce Tier 3 gas, residents have had a lot of questions about the cleaner fuel. In this installment of #IamUtahDEQ video series, we take a ride with Glad Sowards, a policy analyst with Utah’s Division of Air Quality, to answer all your Tier 3 questions.

Is Pollution from Wood Smoke Going Down?
All Your Burning Questions Answered

Utah residents take wood-burning bans seriously and it’s paying off. A recent study found that wood-burning’s contribution to air pollution in Utah has declined by a factor of 4 to 5 over the past 10 years.

DEQ Menu