Kettleman City is an unincorporated, predominantly Latino farmworker community in Kings County, California, situated between Highway 41 and Interstate 5 and within the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. With a population of about 950 and a poverty rate nearly triple the state average, residents face significant socioeconomic barriers, limited access to healthcare, and a lack of local government representation. 

Air pollution is a major concern, with community members exposed to nearby Kettleman Hills hazardous waste facility, heavy diesel truck traffic, pesticide drift from surrounding agriculture, and legacy oil and gas contamination. These overlapping pollution sources contribute to high rates of asthma, and respiratory illness. 

The district has teamed up with Aclima and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to launch a community air monitoring project guiding future actions as a part of SMMI. Using Aclima’s advanced sensors, the project collects detailed, block-by-block data on air quality throughout the community. This provides residents with clear information about local pollution and helps guide actions to improve air quality, focusing on the areas and people most affected.

In April of 2025, Kettleman Hills residents and stakeholders met to discuss these pressing air quality issues and explore solutions for a healthier, more equitable future.