Overview:
Local cities, including Coronado, may have to shell out a portion of $11.4 million to cover the fine for a sewage spill that happened in 2023 along San Diego Bay and San Diego River.
Coronado will be required to pay part of an $11.4 million fine for a sewage spill that happened in 2023 if terms of a tentative settlement are finalized with the San Diego Water Board.
The spill, unrelated to the Tijuana River Valley sewage crisis, discharged roughly 9.9 million gallons of untreated wastewater into San Diego Bay and the San Diego River at 30 locations, according to the City of San Diego.
A failed sensor triggered all pumps to shut down at Pump Station #2 and resulted in the overflow. The city blamed extreme rainfall from a “five-year storm event” and the fact that two of the eight pumps were out of service.
Pump Station #2 handles a significant portion of sewage flows from the city of San Diego and participating agencies of the Metro Wastewater Joint Powers Authority (Metro JPA).
Metro JPA agencies include Chula Vista, Coronado, Del Mar, El Cajon, Imperial Beach, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, National City, Poway, the county government, the Otay Water District and the Padre Dam Municipal Water District.
According to San Diego, station #2’s sensors have now been replaced and the two out-of-service pumps have been repaired. The city said via email those pumps were replaced in the weeks after the spill.
In February 2023, the San Diego Water Board directed the city of San Diego to investigate the issue.
Since then, the Water Board and the city have tentatively agreed to a settlement that outlines the terms of the $11.4 million fine.
According to the Water Board, this potentially would be the largest settlement that has been proposed to the Water Boards.
The Water Board said via email that this potentially would be the largest settlement that has been proposed to the Water Boards.
San Diego is responsible for approximately $7.5 million of the settlement. The rest would be paid by the 12 Metro JPA agencies based on their share of sewer system capacity.
A spokesperson for Coronado said the city does not have information to share about the spill, or the amount Coronado is responsible for, at this time.
The $11.4 million payout will go into an account that provides grants for pollution cleanup when there are no responsible parties available to undertake the work.
San Diego approved the settlement in March. The Water Board is expected to vote on adoption at a June 11 meeting. If the water board approves the settlement, the city of San Diego said they project payment will happen in June or July.
