As a resident of Imperial Beach and an attorney representing victims of the Tijuana Sewage crisis, I have seen firsthand the devastating impact of this crisis on our community. The South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, operated by Veolia Water West Operating Services, Inc. under a multimillion-dollar federal contract, has failed to properly operate and maintain the plant, leading to the exposure of residents to sewage-contaminated air, water, and soil.

Accountability and Repairs

Despite the allegations against Veolia, the federal government recently awarded the company a new no-bid contract worth approximately $27 million, nearly double the value of its prior contract. This has raised concerns among residents, who feel that the company is not being held accountable for its actions. The funding for long-overdue repairs comes from federal appropriations and infrastructure investments, not from the pockets of Veolia.

The purpose of the lawsuits filed against Veolia is not to stop progress but to ensure that the companies and entities alleged to have harmed our community are held responsible if the evidence establishes liability. A repaired plant does not erase years of exposure, and new infrastructure does not undo the negative health impacts, economic losses, and disruption that residents allege they have suffered.

As a community, we deserve more than assurances. We deserve action, transparency, and accountability from those who were paid to protect us against the sewage crisis. The current situation did not happen overnight, and it is time for those responsible to answer for their actions and failure to perform.

Original reporting: Voice of San Diego — read the source article.