The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the County of San Diego are once more partnering to survey South Bay households about health concerns arising from the ongoing Tijuana sewage crisis.
On Sept. 9, the county announced the survey, Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER), as the second of its kind to follow up on a 2024 survey focusing on a new group of randomly selected households. Residents will be asked about experiences, concerns, and impacts from sewage and pollution in the Tijuana River Valley all the way to the coastline.
Two years ago, affected households reported health symptoms such as headaches, nausea, cough and throat irritation. The county said many households also reported declining quality of life and described steps they were taking to avoid contaminated areas.
According to the county these findings elevated regional awareness and supported advocacy for increased state and federal funding.
Bilingual teams wearing badges and reflective vests will visit neighborhoods in the Tijuana River Valley this month to hear directly from residents.
“Hearing from a new sample of representative families will help us continue to validate and respond to the community’s experiences,” said Dr. Sayone Thihalolipavan, the county’s public health officer. “By comparing this assessment to the one from 2024, we can better identify what is working and what more needs to be done to support our South Bay neighbors.”
Teams will visit randomly selected households from 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sept. 17 and Sept. 18, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sept. 19. They will conduct 20-minute interviews in English or Spanish. Participation is voluntary and anonymous.
“We can’t fully understand or solve the Tijuana River pollution crisis without hearing directly from our South Bay residents living with its impacts every single day,” said Supervisor Paloma Aguirre, who represents District 1 and serves as chair pro tempore. “Our neighbors’ experiences and stories provide critical insight and information that will help guide the County of San Diego and our federal partners in tackling the sewage pollution. South San Diego’s health and experiences matter, and I encourage every neighbor to make their voice heard by participating in the CASPER survey.”
To learn more, visit: sandiegocounty.gov/southregionhealth.
