United States - Recent

Residents living along California’s Imperial Beach are growing increasingly concerned about the health risks posed by the level of pollution in the area, with some considering it dangerous to even get in the water.

Alarm bells have been raised after water samples taken from the beach in San Diego County were found to be toxic and sewage-linked bacteria were found in the air.

Locals have been expressing their worry over related public health issues, and many do not dare get into the water, while some are even avoiding walk by the beach altogether.

"Especially having a kid, I don't like to go in the water because I know that it's polluted all the time. I don't know, it's just like more concerning and that's why we don't really like to go in the water," said Rachel Ortiz, an Imperial Beach resident.

The Surfrider Foundation, a non-profit environmental group, conducted comprehensive water quality testing of beaches across the United States last year, and named the beach as the most polluted in its latest Clean Water Report, after 100 percent of samples showed bacteria levels far beyond what is considered safe by the state.

Much of the contamination is coming from the adjacent beach town of Tijuana on the Mexican side of the border.

"Imperial Beach is definitely an exception because of the massive amounts of contaminated water, crossing through the Tijuana Watershed. So that one, it does stand out on the reports, but other common causes are old infrastructure that hasn't been updated or kept up with the growth of the population," said Sarah Davidson, manager of the Clean Border Water Now Program under the Surfrider Foundation.

The Tijuana River, which traverses the U.S.-Mexico border, was listed on an annual report on river protection in April, titled 'America's Most Endangered Rivers' - soon after local environmental groups sued the federal government for failing to control border sewage and violating the Clean Water Act.

Following years of pressure from activists, the U.S. Congress has this year budgeted 156 million U.S. dollars to fix and expand the area's crumbling wastewater treatment plant. But until that work is completed, thousands of Imperial Beach families will have to live with toxic water and air.

On top of the serious health risks, many locals are also lamenting how the focal point of their town is now unfit for purpose.

"[I've heard that] people are starting to get respiratory illnesses. I've also heard that people are recommended to have air purifiers in their homes if they don't. They originally started doing the studies on Navy Seals and then surfers, but now it's just affecting the whole community. People are really suffering here, it's like a beach town without a beach you can't use," said resident Shanna Crowe.

Shotlist:
Imperial Beach, California, USA - Recent:
1. Various of beach gate;
2. Various of Imperial Beach resident Rachel Ortiz, her family entering beach gate, looking at sea;
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Rachel Ortiz, Imperial Beach resident:
"No [I don't want to go in the water]. Not really. Especially having a kid, I don't like to go in the water because I know that it's polluted all the time. I don't know, it's just like more concerning and that's why we don't really like to go in the water.";
4. Various of beach, people, lifeguard tower;
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sarah Davidson, manager, Clean Border Water Now Program, Surfrider Foundation (ending with shot 6):
"Imperial Beach is definitely an exception because of the massive amounts of contaminated water, crossing through the Tijuana Watershed. So that one, it does stand out on the reports, but other common causes are old infrastructure that hasn't been updated or kept up with the growth of the population.";
6. Various of Tijuana River, water pollution;
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Shanna Crowe, Imperial Beach resident (starting with shot 6/partially overlaid with shout 8):
"[I've heard that] people are starting to get respiratory illnesses. I've also heard that people are recommended to have air purifiers in their homes if they don't. They originally started doing the studies on Navy Seals and then surfers, but now it's just affecting the whole community. People are really suffering here, it's like a beach town without a beach you can't use.";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
8. People walking by sea;
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
9. Various of surfers, people on beach.

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