Following 31 consecutive extensions of a local state of emergency regarding sewage in the Tijuana River Valley, the San Diego City Council on Tuesday opted to seek a national declaration.
The largely symbolic resolution passed 7-0. With its passage, the city officially will urge the federal government to recognize the local crisis on a national basis, as well as ask for total funding of the Environmental Protection Agency’s infrastructure solution to the pollution.
Councilwoman Vivian Moreno, who put forward the resolution and represents San Diego’s southernmost communities such as Nestor, Egger Highlands, San Ysidro and Otay Mesa, said she feared for the health of her young child during an especially egregious incident amid a recent heat wave.
In early September, high levels of noxious gases such as hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen cyanide were measured by scientific teams in the river valley and noticed by residents miles from the border due to the rotten egg smell. Ultimately, crews from San Diego County determined there was no immediate health risk, but many residents – including Moreno – believed the crisis had reached its nadir.
“We’re left feeling like the federal government has forgotten about us,” she said during Tuesday’s council meeting.
The City Council first declared a state of emergency because of the pollution, ranging from raw sewage to industrial runoff, in 1993. Imperial Beach put out a similar declaration in 2017, followed by the county in 2023.
The glacial pace of action left many South Bay residents speaking at the meeting angry, wondering where millions of dollars intended to solve the crisis have gone. Others complained of chronic health issues they associate with the bacteria and foul odors coming from the valley.
Since October 2018, the United States section of the International Boundary and Water Commission has catalogued more than 200 billion gallons of toxic waste coming into the country through the Tijuana River Valley.
According to a city document, the commission has spent just $4 million of $40 million allocated for infrastructure maintenance at the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The city also sued the commission to force compliance 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 commission 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.
“Over the last three decades, the federal government has said [the people of the South Bay] don’t matter enough to take action,” Council President Sean Elo-Rivera said. “I wish this was one we could solve on our own, but we need the federal government to get this done.”
U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla and Rep. Juan Vargas, D-San Diego, announced a bill in early September intended to consolidate all infrastructure project efforts in the Tijuana River watershed under the Environmental Protection Agency. The intent is to avoid more decades of red tape and get the project done, they said.
The bill is before Congress’ Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Following the gas and odors in the South Bay, the county Board of Supervisors acted, with Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer asking cities in her north coastal district to pledge funding to help purchase more air purifiers for residents in South Bay coastal communities. She said she will match donations with county grant funding.
Board Chairwoman Nora Vargas secured resources and support from the California Air Resources Board.
“This commitment from the state is a critical step toward securing the necessary resources and partnerships to protect the health of our residents and the environment,” Vargas said.
Additionally, workers broke ground Monday on an infrastructure improvement project at the wastewater treatment plant.
“This is a major victory for our residents, but the fight is far from over,” Vargas said.
