Historic storms cause the Tijuana River to overflow, spewing sewage into San Diego and raising public health concerns.
Kiley Price reports for Inside Climate News.
In short:
- The Tijuana River's overflow due to storms brings millions of gallons of sewage into San Diego.
- Residents report a constant sewage odor and health issues, including gastrointestinal illnesses.
- The situation highlights the need for improved sewage infrastructure and public health measures.
Key quote:
“The quality of life is diminished a lot, the price of the house is diminished ’cause who wants to buy a house in the neighborhood that smells like sewage?”
— Jose Cariman, San Diego resident
Why this matters:
This environmental crisis highlights the urgent need for cross-border cooperation and investment in sewage treatment to protect communities from the health hazards of environmental contamination.
Be sure to read Brian Bienkowski’s 2013 piece detailing Detroit’s struggle with sewage runoff: with downpours up 45 percent in the past 50 years, the city's outdated sewer system can't handle the flow.
