SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Frustration is growing among South Bay residents as they continue to deal with a severe sewage crisis. On Saturday, dozens gathered at a public health forum to find answers and voice concerns over the pollution flowing from Mexico into the Tijuana River Valley, which has also left local beaches contaminated.
The forum, held at Mendoza Elementary School, featured Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, a pediatrician known for her role in exposing the Flint, Michigan water crisis a decade ago, when the city’s water was contaminated with lead. She drew parallels between the Flint crisis and the ongoing sewage contamination in Imperial Beach.
“I would like to see this community, as they have been, continue to be loud, continue to fight back, and continue to use science to speak truth to power,” Hanna-Attisha urged.
Imperial Beach beaches had only recently reopened for swimming before being closed again due to high pollution levels. The source of the contamination is a mix of sewage and chemical runoff from Mexico, which flows into the Tijuana River and out to the ocean. Residents have long complained about the smell, with many reporting respiratory issues and other health problems.
Bethany Case, a local resident, described the impact on the community, “It’s in our lungs, it’s in our sinuses, it’s in our skin.”
Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre has been a vocal advocate for addressing the crisis, which she says has also affected her own health. She, along with other local and state leaders, has been pushing for the situation to be declared a state or national emergency.
“I just sent a letter to President Biden’s chief of staff with a renewed call, now that we understand the very severe and concerning levels of hydrogen sulfide,” Aguirre said. “It’s very consistent with the symptoms and signs of upper respiratory conditions we’ve been experiencing.”
State Senator Steve Padilla echoed the frustration, vowing to continue pushing for solutions. “It’s always frustrating, because people are being affected by this, and these are folks that I represent,” he said. “I’m going to continue to be a very stubborn voice to lift this issue up.”
For many residents, the slow progress in addressing the crisis is a growing concern. Case emphasized the long-term impact, particularly on vulnerable people.
“This is going to continue to affect people who are immunocompromised, who are younger, who are older,” she said. “As time moves on, the mess is only going to get bigger.”
Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are expected to arrive in the area in two weeks to interview residents about the health effects of the sewage contamination.
