The New River holds the dubious distinction of being called North America’s most polluted river. It starts in Mexicali, Mexico, flows past homes in the California border town of Calexico and winds up in the Salton Sea. It is made up of 70% waste material and contains raw sewage, disease-causing bacteria, heavy metals and toxic chemicals. It is so dangerous that Border Patrol agents are not required to go in the river to stop illegal immigrants who use it as a “safe” crossing point.
Much of Calexico’s largely Spanish-speaking population is made up of new immigrants with little political or financial power to do something about the problem. The Calexico New River Committee is trying to push a multi-part project to encase, clean, and treat the river. CalEPA has made them one of six environmental justice pilot projects, but the project has a long way to go.
How do you go about cleaning up a mess this big when you are a small, rural, immigrant town with little or no money? And how thirsty must this state be for water agencies to actually WANT the water (if you can call it that) from this river?
Update November 20, 2006
The new Mexicali sewage treatment plant went on line in September 2006. As a result, the river flow has been reduced by 20%.
In September 2006, Miguel Figueroa replaced Pablo Orozco as executive director of the Calexico New River Committee.
The New River Committee is currently working on several other projects to improve the health of their community:
They are trying to raise $800,000 in order to qualify for $4 million in federal transportation funds. The money will be used to commission an Environmental Impact Report that is the essential step in beginning to mitigate the pollution problems in the New River.
The NRC is starting an outreach program that will raise community awareness about the health risks of being exposed to the polluted river water - The Children’s Health Risk Reduction Plan. Figueroa says many people in the community aren’t aware of the exact contaminants in the river, nor do they realize it’s a cause of illness.
In January 2007, a detailed health survey of the residents who live near the river will be released.
- New River Committee, City of Calexico
- Virtual clean-up solution, New River Committee video
- Environmental Justice Program, California Environmental Protection Agency
- Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board
- Clean Water Team - Citizen Monitoring Program
- List of California waters that do not meet water quality standards, 2002 report from the State Water Resources Control Board
Listen to the commentary
December 22nd, 2006 at 9:05 am
Thank you for re-broadcasting this program. Miguel, the CNRC Board and the community have been doing an outstanding job continuing to raise awareness for this issue. California Connected has allowed people from across the state to also understand the issue and offer their help and support. Best regards to Joe Angier, John Ridley and the crew.
January 6th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Can’t chlorine be poured into the polluted river to kill the germs? Or whatever method is used for sewage plants?
Dave
January 8th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
How can we stop this? This is creating germ resistant bacteria. This must be stopped.