Last November 24, 2024, during our Youth Leadership Summit, Angela Qian, Emma Tian, Allison Zhou, and Andrew Chen presented an eye-opening report on Alviso’s environmental challenges. They focused on air and water quality, the installation of monitoring sensors, and the importance of better environmental data for the community.

Alviso’s History

The speakers shared Alviso’s historical struggles with mercury contamination, which began during the Gold Rush. Mercury from mining operations polluted rivers and flowed into the San Francisco Bay, where it transformed into the toxic substance methyl mercury. This pollution has had lasting effects on marine life and human health, particularly in Alviso, where the contamination remains severe. The presentation helped the audience understand how these historical issues continue to impact the area today.

Sensor Installations

The team discussed how they installed sensors in Alviso on March 3, 2024, to monitor air and water quality. They explained that air quality sensors, funded privately through programs like Purple Air, are not widely available, leaving large gaps in coverage. In contrast, water sensors are publicly funded, allowing for better monitoring of aquatic health. This disparity in sensor availability created challenges in gathering complete data for air quality but provided reliable insights into water conditions.

Conclusion

The speakers concluded that their original hypothesis—that Alviso’s air and water quality would be significantly worse than Santa Clara County’s average—was only partially correct.

• Water Quality: The data disproved the hypothesis, showing stable and healthy conditions.

• Air Quality: Sparse sensor coverage and incomplete data left air quality results inconclusive, though some areas showed signs of pollution.

The presentation emphasized the importance of improving air sensor coverage and engaging the community in environmental monitoring efforts.

Future Plans

To address the challenges, the speakers outlined several next steps:

1. Expanding air sensor coverage through fundraising and installations, particularly in industrial zones.

2. Increasing community engagement through newsletters, meetings, and collaboration with organizations like Alviso in Action.

3. Partnering with groups such as Gardner Healthcare, Valley Water, and local officials like David Cohen’s office to strengthen environmental initiatives.

Final Thoughts

This presentation at the Youth Leadership Summit highlighted the critical environmental issues faced by Alviso and inspired attendees to think about ways to contribute to a healthier community. By focusing on both challenges and opportunities, the speakers underscored the importance of collaboration, better data, and active involvement in creating a sustainable future for Alviso.