Chula Vista city declares state of emergency over sewer crisis in South Bay

CHULA VISTA, Calif. (KGTV) — Chula Vista joins other cities in declaring a state of emergency due to the Tijuana River sewage crisis.

The city council unanimously approved a resolution introduced by Mayor John McCann Tuesday evening.

Mayor McCann said people in the city complained about the smell. He says most complaints come from people in the southwestern part of the city.

The mayor said the announcement was intended to raise awareness of the problem and attract the attention of the state and federal governments, which would lead to more funding to address the problem.

The state of emergency in Chula Vista comes after others including Imperial Beach, San Diego and the county issued emergency declarations.

ABC 10News has been working on this issue for decades; Recently, the ongoing odor and calls for the closure of beaches have been increasing.

In recent months, the CDC has surveyed households about the impact of sewage on families. The state treasurer also visited the region and promised to push for more financial resources.

Just two weeks ago, officials celebrated the beginning of repairs and expansions at the international wastewater treatment plant, a project that will cost nearly $400 million in federal funds.

While Chula Vista residents think the city’s proclamation is a start, others think shutting down trade and commerce at the border would solve the problem in a heartbeat, even if just one day.

The mayor hopes the federal government will heed and support Governor Newsom’s calls to declare a state of emergency in the area.