The County of San Diego and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched a second Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) survey in neighborhoods adjacent to the Tijuana River Valley.
The survey follows an earlier CASPER conducted in October 2024 and will focus on impacts from the ongoing Tijuana River Valley sewage pollution crisis.
“We appreciate that the CDC recognizes the value of continuing to document community health concerns created by the ongoing flows of pollution across the border,” said County Public Health Officer Sayone Thihalolipavan, MD, MPH. “New information collected will allow us to check in on how people are doing, learn about any new concerns and any resource needs while work on a permanent solution to flows moves ahead.”
From Sept. 17 through Sept. 19, volunteers wearing vests and official badges will be visiting randomly selected neighborhoods near the Tijuana River Valley. Residents will be invited to participate in an in-person voluntary, anonymous 20‑minute survey at their homes.
The survey asks about residents’ experiences, concerns, and any physical or behavioral health effects that may be linked to sewage pollution in local water and air.
The new effort will help public health officials understand how sewage pollution continues to affect South Bay communities and identify any changes over the past two years.
Survey responses will come from a new group of households in the same general area and will guide public health planning, emergency response, and support efforts to secure additional state and federal funding and action.
Results from the second CASPER will be shared once available. Results from the first CASPER can be found on the County’s website.