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San Diego supervisors renew focus on Tijuana River sewage crisis as residents press for state and federal emergency declarations
Summary
Board and public speakers urged faster action and more testing after independent researchers reported hazardous odors in South County. County health staff said federal agencies including CDC and ATSDR are joining local efforts; supervisors approved consent items that continue county response work.
San Diego County supervisors and public health officials on Sept. 11 renewed emphasis on the cross‑border sewage pollution in the Tijuana River Valley after residents and researchers reported ongoing air and water impacts.
Chairwoman Nora Vargas and Vice Chair Tara Lawson Reimer described recent steps the county has taken to investigate health risks and assist affected residents while urging continued federal and state support. "The National Center for Environmental Health and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry are now collaborating with the county to develop an urgent response effort," Lawson Reimer said, adding that the county asked the Centers for Disease Control and the California Department of Public Health to investigate potential health impacts.
The matter drew extensive public comment from residents and local organizations. Sarah Davidson of Surfrider Foundation said academic monitoring indicates "dangerous levels of hydrogen sulfide in the air in South County" and called for air purifiers and state and federal emergency declarations. Several other residents, including school nurses and parents, described headaches, respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms they say increased during recent odor events.
Public health staff described the county's immediate response. Dr. Kadakia (title given in the hearing as a county public health official) said the county's hazardous incidents response team collected day and night samples after researchers reported elevated readings and that, based on the team's measurements, county staff did not find an "imminent threat of danger related to hydrogen cyanide." She said the county is coordinating additional testing with APCD, CDPH, EPA and CDC, and that federal agencies will perform community assessment surveys.
Vargas said the county has declared a public health crisis previously and that the declaration helped unlock funding and federal participation. She acknowledged continuing community distrust about the sufficiency of testing and distribution of resources such as air purifiers. Amy (county staff) said the Air Resources Board–certified purifiers selected for the county pilot include carbon filters and Energy Star certification and that the county is seeking additional funding to expand distribution.
On procedural matters, the board approved the consent calendar (items 1'4) by roll call vote, a package that included actions and funding related to the county's response; the vote was unanimous. Several public commenters urged the board to press the governor and U.S. officials to declare formal state and federal emergencies to unlock more and faster resources.
Why it matters: Residents in Imperial Beach and other South County communities report recurring odors and health complaints and say they need continuous air monitoring, medical follow‑up and more immediate mitigation. Federal and state involvement could expand testing resources and funding for remediation and protective equipment. The county said it will continue data collection and interagency coordination while seeking additional dollars for air purifiers and infrastructure repairs.
What's next: County staff said federal agencies will visit to perform community assessments; the board directed continued coordination with APCD and other agencies, and staff reported plans to continue testing and distribution of air purifiers while pursuing additional funds and technical support from state and federal partners.
