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By Miriam Raftery
Mexican sewage has contaminated beaches from South Bay to North County in recent months
July 1, 2023 (San Diego)—
Three San Diego Congressional members have asked President Joe Biden to declare a federal state of emergency over the Tijuana River sewage crisis that has prompted numerous closures of beaches across San Diego County in recent months.
Congressman Juan Vargas announced on Twitter that he and two other Democratic representatives from San Diego, Sara Jacobs and Scott Peters, made the request yesterday. Their effort comes three days after San Diego County Supervisors declared a county state of emergency.
Board chairwoman Nora Vargas and Vice Chair Terra Lawson-Remer introduced the emergency proclamation, which asked Governor Gavin Newsom and President Joe Biden to declare state and federal emergencies that would “suspend red tape that may hinder response efforts, and expedite access to federal resources for San Diego County.”
Since Dec. 28 of last year, 38 billions of gallons of raw sewage have crossed the international border flowing north from a broken sewage plant in Punta Bandera, compounding long-standing issues of sewage contamination along the Tijuana River.
County officials say this is the same process utilized to help clean up contaminated water in Flint, Michigan.
“We cannot spend years waiting for the fixes to be made – we need action now,” said Lawson-Remer, noting that each of delay means “another 35 million gallons of waste that enters California waters.”. Her district includes Imperial Beach, that has been closed every day this year.
The seawater contamination poses hazards to swimmers and lifeguards, also threatening San Diego’s tourism industry.
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