SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — Jorge Saenz is an independent contractor who sells food items to clients throughout the San Diego area and often works late hours to supply his customers.
He says it’s not unusual for him to get home as the sun is starting to rise.
When he gets out of his car, there are many times he can’t ignore an unmistakable odor in the air.
“It smells pretty bad,” said Saenz, referring to the stench of raw sewage coming from the nearby Tijuana River Valley.
Saenz lives in Coral Gate, which is the closest neighborhood to the Valley.
He said he’s put up with the stink for 14 years, the entire time he has lived in the neighborhood.
He said it’s always been there, but over the last few years, it’s been harder and harder to miss, especially at night.
“My ex-neighbor moved for that reason, said ‘I can’t stand it and it’s not getting fixed,’ this is about two years ago.”
As a way to help Saenz and others cope with the smell, the County of San Diego, led by Supervisor Nora Vargas, has invested $100,000 to buy about 400 air purifiers.
A lottery system was instituted because almost 4,000 people signed up for the devices.
The drawing was restricted to residents who live near the Tijuana River Valley and in Imperial Beach, where the sewage-tainted water empties into the ocean also creating a stench.
“It’s not enough, it’s just a patch,” Saenz said. “What are we going to do? It’s a quick fix inside the house, but the problem is still outside, and I believe people are getting sick from it.”
Through a statement, Vargas defended the purifier program.
“I’m proud to share that we are currently in the outreach phase of our pilot program to distribute air purifiers in the Tijuana River Valley,” she said. “I brought forward this initiative to provide immediate relief to our families who have long endured the severe impacts of pollution. While we continue to work with federal, state, and local partners on comprehensive, long-term solutions, these air purifiers represent our ongoing effort to improve daily lives. I am committed to continuing these efforts and addressing this crisis. I appreciate the community’s patience and support as we move forward.”
Last week, a $400 million dollar contract was awarded to remodel the International Wastewater Treatment Plant that treats incoming sewage from Tijuana.
The work is expected to double the facility’s capacity to clean tainted water.
But critics say since the project is expected to take five years to complete, residents in the area will continue to suffer in the years ahead.