CDC Commences Evaluation of Border Pollution in San Diego County
On Thursday, select residents of South Bay began receiving visits from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The federal agency is collaborating with the county in a health assessment to determine the impact of the sewage pollution crisis in the Tijuana River Valley.
The CDC and the county are conducting a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response, or CASPER. From a larger 30-block section of homes near the border, a total of 210 households were chosen to participate in the survey.
Importance of the Assessment
Nora Vargas, Chair of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, emphasized the significance of the assessment. She stated that it is a crucial tool in addressing the public health crisis caused by the Tijuana River Valley's sewage pollution. She urged all residents to participate and share their experiences to help gather the necessary information to secure more resources and ensure the safety and well-being of families.
The teams will arrive in small groups, carrying identification to reassure residents of their official role. They will be wearing reflective vests and are bilingual in English and Spanish. The interviews will be anonymous and are expected to take around 15 minutes.
Survey Schedule
The visits will continue through Saturday, with timings set between 2 to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Dr. Ankita Kadakia, the county’s interim public health officer, stressed the importance of hearing directly from people who live near the Tijuana River Valley. She encouraged residents to speak with interviewers and provide honest answers if they receive a visit from a CASPER interview team.
The responses gathered will be used to guide decisions about the river valley and its nearby residents.
CDC's Role in the Assessment
Dr. Aaron Bernstein, director of the CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, highlighted the CDC's longstanding support for the CASPER method. He noted that the interviews would provide firsthand insights into how the sewage contamination is impacting the daily lives of residents, thereby informing solutions.
The San Diego City Council recently passed a resolution requesting a national emergency concerning the sewage outflow at the border. The council had previously approved 31 years of consecutive extensions of a local state of emergency on the situation.
Call for Federal Intervention
The resolution is largely symbolic, officially urging the federal government to recognize the local crisis as a national one. It also calls for full funding of the Environmental Protection Agency’s infrastructure solution to the pollution.
In early September, high levels of harmful gases such as hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen cyanide were detected in the river valley by scientific teams and residents due to the rotten egg smell even miles from the border. Although crews from San Diego County determined there was no immediate health risk, many residents believed the crisis had reached a turning point.
San Diego City Councilwoman Vivian Moreno expressed frustration, stating, "We’re left feeling like the federal government has forgotten about us."
History of the Pollution Crisis
The San Diego City Council first declared a state of emergency due to the pollution—ranging from raw sewage to industrial runoff—in 1993. Imperial Beach issued a similar declaration in 2017, followed by the county in 2023.
Since October 2018, the United States section of the International Boundary and Water Commission has recorded more than 200 billion gallons of toxic waste entering the United States through the Tijuana River Valley. According to a city document on Tuesday’s resolution, the commission has spent just $4 million of $40 million allocated for infrastructure maintenance at the broken South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The city had even sued the USIBWC to make the commission comply with the Clean Water Act. A total of $300 million was appropriated through the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement for the wastewater plant. In August, the USIBWC announced it will use the more than $400 million in federal funding secured by San Diego’s Congressional delegation to repair and expand the plant.
Bottom Line
The situation in San Diego County is a clear example of how local environmental issues can escalate into national emergencies, requiring the intervention of federal agencies like the CDC. It also underscores the importance of community participation in addressing these crises. The outcome of this health assessment will undoubtedly shape the future course of action in dealing with the Tijuana River Valley sewage pollution crisis. What are your thoughts on this issue? Feel free to share this article with your friends and discuss. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is available every day at 6pm.
