San Diego City Wire

Months of preparation culminated on Thursday morning as volunteers commenced interviews with residents near the Tijuana River Valley, focusing on sewage pollution and its impact on health. Over 80 individuals from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), San Diego County, and local universities are participating in this effort. They will conduct interviews until Saturday, engaging with selected households living near the polluted river valley.

The initiative is part of a CDC-developed survey known as CASPER, which stands for Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response. Interview teams are active in 30 single-block areas that were partly chosen based on odor complaints from residents. A total of 210 randomly selected households will be visited to gather health information from residents.

Upon completion of all surveys, the CDC will analyze responses over the coming days, weeks, and months. The findings will assist the County and other agencies in making informed decisions regarding further actions and resources to support the community.