Thursday

07-10-2025 Vol 2017

South Bay Residents Voice Concerns Over Tijuana River Pollution Crisis

The South Bay community is expressing significant concern over ongoing air quality, drinking water safety, and health outcomes stemming from the Tijuana River pollution crisis.

A recent survey released on Tuesday revealed alarming insights from 2,099 residents living near the International Border.

Conducted last November by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the survey showcases the rising unease within the community.

An overwhelming 67% of respondents indicated they do not believe the area is safe for visiting, working, or living.

Health concerns are paramount, with 97% of participants expressing worries about air quality directly related to the sewage crisis.

Lifestyle changes have been made by 80% of those surveyed, who are taking steps to avoid affected areas.

Additional findings reveal a troubling trend: 70% of respondents are relying on bottled water for drinking, with only 21% comfortable consuming tap water.

Moreover, 64% reported at least one new or worsening physical health symptom linked to the sewage crisis within the past month.

The most frequently mentioned symptoms include headaches, congestion, coughs, and runny noses.

Parents also reported their children’s school attendance being negatively impacted, with over 60% indicating that their child had missed preschool or school due to symptoms believed to be connected to the crisis.

These results echo those found in the Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response completed last October, expanding participation and focusing efforts on individual rather than household-level assessments.

Reported physical symptoms, as well as mental health issues attributed to the sewage crisis, were prevalent in both studies.

Concerns regarding community safety and the safety of tap water have emerged as common themes in both surveys.

In 2024, residents have noted the presence of high levels of noxious gases, including hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen cyanide, in the river valley.

These gases were detected by scientific teams and prompted complaints from residents due to the pervasive rotten egg smell permeating the air kilometers from the border.

While crews from San Diego County assessed the situation and found no immediate health risk, many residents believe the ongoing crisis has reached a critical turning point.

In a shared letter to the EPA, Reps. Juan Vargas, Scott Peters, Sara Jacobs, and Mike Levin articulated their concerns.

The letter described how recent conditions, including a heat wave, intensified noxious odors and caused disruptions in sleep due to the fumes reported by constituents.

In response to the crisis, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors recently voted 3-1 to promote a proposed action plan aimed at addressing the Tijuana River sewage crisis.

The change followed the appointment of Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre to the board during the July 1 Special Election.

Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, who represents District 3, reiterated the community’s frustrations, noting the complaints from families about children’s health and beach closures.

She announced that the county’s congressional delegation has secured a budget of $650 million to address the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, but emphasized that these changes would take time to implement.

Lawson-Remer stressed the necessity for a strategic county-level plan to address the situation comprehensively, poised to act as funding becomes available.

Anticipatively, another public health assessment will take place within the next two years, conducted by the CDC/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

This assessment will focus on evaluating the Tijuana River Valley for hazardous substances, examining health outcomes, and addressing community concerns regarding pollution.

The assessment aims to compile environmental data from various governmental and research agencies, reviewing air quality, surface water, sediment, soil, and fish tissue data.

Additionally, it will highlight information gaps where insufficient data compromises the ability to determine health risks and will offer recommendations to agencies, community members, and others on how to minimize harmful exposures.

As the South Bay community awaits action and further assessments, the urgency to secure safe living conditions remains a pressing concern for those impacted by the Tijuana River pollution crisis.

image source from:nbcsandiego

Abigail Harper