Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
August 10, 2007
4. Water Quality
Calexico residents blame ailments on New River - Imperial Valley Press
SEWAGE PLANT:
Mexican water agency backs Bajagua bid; Two U.S. hearings may decide fate - San Diego Union Tribune
DRINKING WATER:
Water issues on tap; Gripes resume over discoloration - Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Calexico residents blame ailments on New River
By Victor Morales, staff writer
CALEXICO — The vast majority of residents queried in a survey said living along one of the most polluted rivers in the
Eighty-three percent of those surveyed said they believe they have been harmed by their close proximity to the
The most common health symptoms attributed to the river were runny nose or itchy eyes (77 percent of those surveyed).
Other symptoms reported included coughing, headaches, nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath, wheezing, nose bleeds, skin irritation and asthma.
Seventeen percent surveyed attributed their cancer or the cancer of a neighbor to the river.
“The fear in the future is that one will have cancer,” said Alma Valencia, 52, whose backyard banks the river.
The survey, commissioned by the nonprofit Calexico New River Committee and conducted by Jennifer Miller, a graduate student at
The study was conducted to better understand public perception and create a “strategy” to clean up the river, said Miguel Figueroa, executive director of the New River Committee.
Figueroa said he will present the study to U.S. Rep. Bob Filner, D-Chula Vista, during his visit to
The survey was based entirely on interviews and none of the interviewee’s claims have been scientifically confirmed.
The survey identified 314 households nearest to the river, which originates in
The river contains sewage and waste, according to the New River Committee. It contains various disease agents such as hepatitis A and B, typhoid and tuberculosis, according to the study. High levels of fecal coliforms, DDT and other toxins have been detected in the river.
Thirty random households were selected for the survey and interviewed in early 2005.
Residents interviewed Thursday by the Imperial Valley Press supported the survey’s findings.
“Every day we all have minor headaches,” said Elvira Ramirez, 37, whose home sits about 50 yards from the river.
“It seems rare to me that my 15-year-old daughter is so young and already has headaches,” she said.
The study indicated most residents surveyed acknowledged the contamination that is in some cases as close as one-eighth of a mile away from their homes. Ninety-seven percent of household members surveyed indicated they did not go into the river and 67 percent reported they limited their activities near the river altogether.
“There is obviously awareness of pollution, but why we are here is to continue to inform the residents of the effects of the pollution,” Figueroa said.
The survey also indicated that due to the smell the river sometimes emits, “most” residents said they believe the threat is airborne rather than just through direct contact with the river.
Ramirez attributed the breakdown of her new air-conditioner to an airborne acid the river releases.
“They say it’s a chemical or something that eats up the metal,” she said.
The findings of the survey suggest residents were fairly knowledgeable of the pollutants in the river. Most residents cited chemicals and untreated sewage, and to a lesser degree, pesticides and other forms of contamination polluting the river.
She recalled a night three years ago when a pregnant woman covered in mud from the river came to her door asking to use the phone.
“Coming out of the river like that; I say it’s very dangerous,”
Still, 97 percent of those surveyed said they liked living in the neighborhood.
Safety, a sense of community and affordability were the most popular reasons for staying in the area.
“Right now we are in no condition to go with the low prices the homes are selling for,” Ramirez said. #
http://www.ivpressonline.com/articles/2007/08/10/news/news02.txt
SEWAGE PLANT:
Mexican water agency backs Bajagua bid; Two
By Mike Lee, staff writer
A
Bajagua LLC has long said the proposed facility would help reduce the amount of Mexican sewage that flows into the
Yesterday, the company released a translated copy of a letter from
They also expressed “great interest” in seeing the $170 million construction plan move ahead, according to the translated letter.
The parcel – about 80 acres along the
Jim Simmons, the company's managing partner, hailed the news as a victory for clean water.
“There were those who have doubted
But it's still unclear whether Bajagua will get to build its facility.
The
Sally Spener, a spokeswoman for the boundary commission, said yesterday that her agency is evaluating
In recent weeks, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board said they support upgrading the San Ysidro plant over building a facility in
Treatment upgrades are necessary because the boundary commission's plant in San Ysidro fails to meet Clean Water Act standards. A solution was supposed to be completed by September 2008, but the boundary commission recently said it can't meet that deadline.
Two federal court hearings will be held in coming weeks to sort out the debate about building the Bajagua plant or retrofitting the San Ysidro facility.
On Aug. 24, Bajagua's attorneys are expected to contend that the company should become an official party to the legal proceedings. At a Sept. 14 hearing, a central question will be which project – if any – should get the judge's blessing for a deadline extension. #
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070810/news_7m10bajagua.html
DRINKING WATER:
Water issues on tap; Gripes resume over discoloration
By Stephen Wall, staff writer
Her glass full of discolored water said it all.
Zermeno showed up with the unsightly liquid at this week's City Council meeting to remind elected officials that she and her neighbors are tired of brown water coming out of their taps.
"They keep saying it's going to get better," said Zermeno, who has lived on
It's not the first time Zermeno and other angry residents have gone before the council to demand action.
For nearly three years, city officials have been trying to get rid of discolored water by replacing old rusty steel lines with plastic PVC pipes.
The city has spent about $1.2million to replace nearly 28,000 feet of pipe since the water-line replacement program began. As a result, most of the city no longer gets rust-stained water.
However, the problem has persisted in some northside neighborhoods that have yet to receive the new pipe.
"Their neighborhood seems to be one of the last little holdouts that still has some issues," said Eric Fraser, the city's water-wastewater director.
Fraser said 6,000 feet of pipe still must be replaced. The vast majority of the new lines will be in areas that have had discolored-water problems.
Crews plan to install a major transmission line on
Fraser said every pipe in the city is flushed once or twice a year to remove sediment and enhance water circulation.
In addition, crews flush water mains in neighborhoods with recurring problems on a monthly basis.
In light of this week's complaints, Fraser said the flushing now will be done every two weeks.
Despite its unpleasant appearance, Fraser said the water meets all state and federal drinking water standards. Fraser said the city spends more than $125,000 annually to test its water and make sure it is safe.
If people or pets happen to drink the discolored water, it will not make them sick, officials said.
Fraser said several water department employees and their families live in
Residents who experience discolored water are urged to immediately call the water department at (909) 370-6131.
"You can't call us two days after the problem occurred and expect us to resolve it," Fraser said. "That's like calling the Fire Department two days after a fire and your house has already burned down."
Fraser said complaints have dropped significantly since the pipeline replacement program began.
Residents say they stopped calling to complain because nothing gets done if they do report a problem.
"Who else are we going to scream and holler at?" said Kris Wyatt, a 27-year-old
"Nobody does anything anyway. We're fighting a losing battle. How many times are you going to hit your head against a wall before you figure out it hurts?" Wyatt said.
Zermeno said residents are tired of having to pay their water bills even though the water is rust-stained.
"It's very irritating to have our clothes ruined," Zermeno said. "It's not healthy to have to drink this water or use this water to brush our teeth or take a shower or bath."
Fraser said residents who wash their clothes in discolored water should not use bleach. Instead, they should call the city and request a laundry additive that will typically take out any type of rust stain as long as bleach wasn't used.
He said the city will reimburse for damaged clothes when it is documented that the problem was related to discolored water.
Councilman Richard De La Rosa, who represents the neighborhoods with the worst problems, said he expects flaws in the system to remain until all the old pipes are replaced.
"If there is still a problem after the project is completed, we will continue with extra funding to replace other water lines," De La Rosa said. #
http://www.dailybulletin.com//ci_6588845?IADID=Search-www.dailybulletin.com-www.dailybulletin.com
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