Results of San Diego County’s first federal health investigation into the effects of Tijuana River wastewater contamination are available.
The Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) investigation brought the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to the county’s South Bay and Nestor communities the weekend of October 17, 2024.
Results from in-person household interviews showed that most residents in the area have health conditions, symptoms, and quality of life issues that they associate with the River Valley sewage crisis Tijuana.
“We are grateful to all the residents who participated in the CASPER survey and for the partnership with the CDC to make this happen,” said Dr. Ankita Kadakia, interim county public health officer. “These results confirm the concerns expressed by South Bay residents and the real impacts of wastewater contamination on people’s lives and physical and mental health. Collecting this information represents an important step in strengthening our collaboration with local, state and federal partners.
About the CASPER survey
Over three days starting October 17, 2024, investigators visited 480 households where 333 households opened the door and 189 agreed to be interviewed. Homes were grouped into select clusters designed to represent the 40,911 households in the South Bay and Nestor communities.
The assessment covered household experiences, health symptoms related to wastewater contamination, and household concerns about air and water quality. Participants were also asked how they obtained their information and what resources they needed.
What do the results say?
THE the full assessment is publicly available on an interactive County dashboard website (sandiegocounty.gov/southregionhealth). Here are some highlights:
- 81% of respondents said the health of their household was one of their top concerns.
- 67 percent think their health has deteriorated
- 69% said one or more household members were experiencing health symptoms due to the sewage crisis.
- The most commonly reported symptoms were headache, nausea or upset stomach, cough and throat irritation.
- 18 percent sought medical care because of the sewage crisis
Concerning the impacts of the wastewater crisis on daily life:
- 80% said their quality of life had been negatively affected
- 65% took extra steps to avoid certain areas like river water and beach water.
- 71% reported being able to smell sewage inside their home, outside their home and in their neighborhood.
- Among those who could smell sewage, almost 70% said the smell of sewage was strongest at night.
- 72% said they close their windows to reduce odors
- 59 percent have made some or more changes to their daily activities and routines due to the wastewater crisis.
- More than half have reduced time spent on beaches, outdoors or in parks
- 70 percent said the sewage crisis had caused one or more disruptions to their household.
Mental health effects:
- 38% said their anxiety and worry had increased
- 59% said their overall stress increased
CASPER also found that 67 percent of households use bottled water or water from another source and 28 percent reported changing drinking water sources since the start of the water crisis. wastewater. Another 71 percent said they don’t believe tap water is safe.
When it comes to how people receive information, 55 percent said their most trusted source is the county health department, followed by friends, family and their doctor. Social media was identified as the most useful source of information, at 57 percent.
Collaboration and ongoing actions
The county is in the lead collaboration with several agencies and bring them together for regular meetings to address air and water issues related to the Tijuana River Valley crisis.
Based on the assessment results, the county identified the following priority actions to address with collaborating partners.
- Communication: Share health information and resources in multiple formats, including on social media and through community outreach workers.
- Drinking water: Educate the community on how drinking water is tested and kept safe.
- Mental health issues: Promote mental health services and resources.
- Healthcare Providers: Inform service providers about monitoring activities and current projects.
- Concerns About Pets: Get involved with area veterinarians, hospitals and animal organizations.
More actions around the crisis
The CASPER investigation is not the only assessment addressing wastewater contamination in the southern region of the county.
The federal Chemical Exposure Assessment (CEA) Survey of the CDC’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) was completed in November 2024. It surveyed 2,150 San Diegans who live, work, or play around the Tijuana River Valley and the South San Diego County on the effects of proximity to wastewater contamination. The results of the ACE survey should be available in the coming months.
Following formal requests from local congressional delegations and months of discussions with the county, ATSDR agreed to add another assessment, this time to monitor and analyze hydrogen sulfide in the air and its effects on human health. This additional assessment could take approximately two years.
To learn more about health concerns and the impacts of wastewater and pollution in the Tijuana River Valley and the CASPER investigation, visitsandiegocounty.gov/southregionhealth.
Mental health resources are available for anyone feeling emotionally affected by the Tijuana River Valley sewage crisis.San Diego Access Crisis Lineby calling 1-888-724-7240 or 988.
THE CASPER investigation came after a May 2024 county request to the California Department of Public Health seeking support to combat pollution in the Tijuana River Valley. The county also formally contacted the CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health in June 2024 to request a survey called Epi-Aid in the Tijuana River Valley. Epi-Aid was verbally approved in July 2024.