San Diego Coastkeeper


Border Communities

Border Communities Water Pollution Right-to-Know and Education Project

The presence of sewage in coastal waters is a significant environmental and public health risk that dramatically impacts border communities in the United States and Mexico. Pathogens in sewage-contaminated waters can cause a wide range of illnesses - eye, skin and upper respiratory tract infections, gastroenteritis, dysentery and viral illnesses like hepatitis A, among many others (SMBRP 1995; SCCWRP 2000). Children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems are at the greatest risk of illness. The U.S. EPA estimates that between 1.8 and 3.5 million swimmers get sick in the United States alone every year as a result of sanitary sewer overflows. Because of a current lack of data, there are no corresponding illness estimates for Mexico. However, the Bight 98 study conducted by the Southern California Coastal Water Monitoring Project showed that bacterial standards were exceeded five times more often at Mexican beaches than U.S. beaches, owing to the presence of human fecal contamination in the water, entering beaches as untreated sewage (SCCWRP 2000). Perhaps most distressing is the chronic lack of official public information on beach pollution and complete absence of beach closures in Mexico.

To address existing transboundary water pollution issues and shortcomings, the Border Communities Project seeks to protect public health and natural resources along the U.S. - Mexico border and significantly increase community awareness of water quality issues, pollution prevention practices and citizen participation in border region. This project is carried out by the Ja-Jan Coalition, a binational coalition of environmental and community organizations working in partnership with academic institutions and regional stakeholders. Presently members and advisors of the Ja Jan Coalition include: UABC, SDSU GSPH, UCSD Regional Workbench, Pro Esteros, Proyecto Fronterizo, Pro Peninsula, Centro Educativo Tipai, Environmental Attorney C.G.Z., Grupo Ecologista Gaviotas, TRNERR, Benjamin Casillas, among others. Monitoring takes place on a bi-weekly basis and involves measuring levels of indicator bacteria at high public use beaches in the border region from Imperial Beach (US) to Ensenada (Mexico). These data are disseminated to the public in the form of bilingual beach reports in electronic format (through e-mail and project website). In addiction, a significant amount of educational presentations and community events are carried out each year in Baja California to increase awareness of water pollution issues, knowledge of pollution prevention practices and citizen participation.