San Diego City Wire

San Diego County News Center

The County of San Diego is expanding its ongoing response to health concerns in South County related to raw sewage exposure in the Tijuana River Valley. This week, the County is enhancing its public health-focused website and finalizing an agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for a community assessment.

“For years, the communities in the Tijuana River Valley have endured the severe impacts of pollution, creating one of the biggest environmental and social justice crises of our time,” said Chairwoman Nora Vargas. “As Chairwoman, I have been advocating tirelessly for a stronger response, and this agreement with the CDC is a direct result of those efforts. While this is a critical next step in addressing the long-term impacts of cross-border pollution, I remain committed to continuing this fight and finding solutions that truly improve the quality of life for our South County families.”

In May 2024, the County contacted the California Department of Public Health requesting support in addressing the situation. Additionally, a formal request to the CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) requesting an Epi-Aid investigation into the Tijuana River Valley was submitted on June 25. The Epi-Aid was verbally approved on July 31, 2024.

The CDC-led investigation will assess household-level impacts in San Diego County's South region related to sewage exposure from the Tijuana River Valley. It will examine air and water exposures, occupational and other environmental exposures, health effects in at-risk populations, identify information gaps, assess community needs, and produce household-based information.

Formally known as a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER), it will be conducted collaboratively by the County, California Department of Public Health, and San Diego State University. CASPERs are typically conducted when public health needs are not well known and population-representative data are needed.

The survey will involve several hundred households. The timing and publication of data and any after-action reports will be managed by the CDC.

The Public Health Services South County website, originally established on February 16, 2024, as a central location for health information related to the Tijuana River Valley Sewage Crisis, is being renamed Surveillance Bulletin: South Region Health Concerns to better reflect its expanding scope. Currently tracked data include surveillance for gastrointestinal symptoms among individuals seeking medical attention in emergency departments. Also tracked are communicable gastrointestinal diseases that state law requires medical providers disclose.

Starting this week, respiratory syndromic surveillance tracking reports of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease symptoms will be added to address concerns regarding respiratory impacts from odors attributed to Tijuana River Valley sewage. The page is updated each Wednesday.

“Raw sewage flows and associated odors should not be anyone’s everyday worry,” said Dr. Ankita Kadakia, interim County Public Health Officer. “Public Health Services has worked with the community to address their concerns about this ongoing pollution for more than a year. The expanded website and pending partnership with the CDC are part of our continuing commitment to be responsive and transparent to everyone in our region.”

To date, no significant unexplained respiratory increases in syndromic surveillance have been observed.

The updated site also features a link to the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) webpage focused on investigations into numerous odor complaints from communities surrounding the Tijuana River Valley. The APCD is an independent government agency separate from San Diego County with its own governing board.

---