Protect Families from Toxic Air & Water at the California/Mexico Border
Each year, billions of gallons of raw sewage, industrial waste, and trash flow into the Tijuana River Valley, closing beaches and sickening communities. People are even getting sick from breathing the air, which contains unsafe levels of hydrogen sulfide.
In recent years, the U. S. Congress and voters in California have chosen to make investments in fixing and upgrading wastewater infrastructure at the border. The CA state legislature now has multiple proposals before them to provide relief for impacted communities.
Please sign the petition calling on our elected leaders in Sacramento to approve measures that will address immediate public health risks and advance long-term solutions.
In recent years, the U. S. Congress and voters in California have chosen to make investments in fixing and upgrading wastewater infrastructure at the border. The CA state legislature now has multiple proposals before them to provide relief for impacted communities.
Please sign the petition calling on our elected leaders in Sacramento to approve measures that will address immediate public health risks and advance long-term solutions.
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Protect Families from Toxic Air & Water at the CA/Mex Border
Surfrider's Petition to California State Lawmakers
Dear Members of the California Legislature,
There is an environmental and public health catastrophe occurring at the California/Mexico border caused by millions of gallons of contaminated water flowing through the Tijuana River Watershed and out into the Pacific Ocean every day.
This transboundary flow of sewage, trash, and industrial contaminants is destroying the region's ecosystems, crippling local economies, undermining national security, and making people sick. It’s taking away coastal access and valuable recreational opportunities with widespread beach closures throughout south San Diego County. These closures are causing ripple effects throughout the tourist industry, leading to layoffs, lowering property values, and hurting local economies.
This transboundary flow of sewage, trash, and industrial contaminants is destroying the region's ecosystems, crippling local economies, undermining national security, and making people sick. It’s taking away coastal access and valuable recreational opportunities with widespread beach closures throughout south San Diego County. These closures are causing ripple effects throughout the tourist industry, leading to layoffs, lowering property values, and hurting local economies.
People are even getting sick from breathing the air! Fast moving, sewage-contaminated water in the main river channels is releasing unsafe levels of hydrogen sulfide into the air into neighborhoods with homes, schools, and businesses. Affected communities are experiencing persistent and prolonged exposures to hydrogen sulfide at concentrations several times higher than the current state standard, as well as chronic low-level exposures.
Exposure to hydrogen sulfide can cause respiratory and gastrointestinal issues, headaches, fatigue, nausea, and skin irritation. These symptoms have been reported in South San Diego County and disproportionately affect vulnerable and environmentally overburdened communities, including children, low-income households, immigrant communities, Latino and Tribal populations.
We urge you as our elected leaders of California to support policy solutions and funding requests that will provide rapid relief for the dangerous water and air quality conditions in the Tijuana River Valley, as well as long-term solutions to restore a clean and safe environment for everyone who works, lives, and visits in the affected region.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent issue.
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937 people have taken action
Goal: 5,000 people
Protect Families from Toxic Air & Water at the California/Mexico Border
Each year, billions of gallons of raw sewage, industrial waste, and trash flow into the Tijuana River Valley, closing beaches and sickening communities. People are even getting sick from breathing the air, which contains unsafe levels of hydrogen sulfide.
In recent years, the U. S. Congress and voters in California have chosen to make investments in fixing and upgrading wastewater infrastructure at the border. The CA state legislature now has multiple proposals before them to provide relief for impacted communities.
Please sign the petition calling on our elected leaders in Sacramento to approve measures that will address immediate public health risks and advance long-term solutions.
In recent years, the U. S. Congress and voters in California have chosen to make investments in fixing and upgrading wastewater infrastructure at the border. The CA state legislature now has multiple proposals before them to provide relief for impacted communities.
Please sign the petition calling on our elected leaders in Sacramento to approve measures that will address immediate public health risks and advance long-term solutions.
