SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Concerns are skyrocketing in the South Bay around the decades-long Tijuana sewage crisis as more sewage flows closer to home.
"It's very frustrating, and you know, it's not going to get better,” said Dr. Matthew Dickson, a physician at South Bay Urgent Care in Imperial Beach who sees it in his patients that come to him for help.
“It's like clockwork. We don't need to know the numbers; you could just smell it,” he explained.
In a statement on Wednesday, the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission announced that Mexico had informed them it’s already started dumping roughly five million gallons of wastewater into the Tijuana River.
Five million gallons being released for five days and taking a toll on local communities directly.
"The patients, our community who lives down there, this was in the middle of the night, they weren't notified. I'm concerned about their health," said Dr. Kimberly Dickson, a physician at South Bay Urgent Care in Imperial Beach.
She also sees firsthand whenever the sewage crisis becomes unbearable and directly impacts those residents in the area, especially children.
"Thousands of kids right near this area that are exposed at home and at school on a daily basis. It's very, very concerning. Hydrogen sulfide should not be in a community setting," she said.
Dr. Paula Granados, an associate professor in the School of Public Health at San Diego State University, calls it alarming.
"Considering the threshold that we're looking at, that's set by the standards through California Air Resources Board is 30 parts per billion, but now we're talking 400 to 500 parts per billion," Dr. Granados said. "It's definitely not gonna feel good living close to those numbers where wherever you are. ”
This move only worsens an already grim situation for the residents in the area. Although it's exacerbated, they’re callng for more action at all levels to make it safe again for those who live there.
"This is new territory for everybody, but it shouldn't be in a community setting. And we shouldn't have people exposed to it day in and day out."
ABC 10News reached out to San Diego County officials, and they said they are monitoring the situation.
