Let’s start at the top – The Original Surfers –
what we’re all about
Sewage in San Diego Beaches: The Original Surfers isn’t just teens talking about having fun at the beach. The Original Surfers first and foremost is about protecting the ocean. Period. So, we know some of you aren’t interested in The Original Surfers being serious. That’s okay. But we’re going to follow our hearts… right on down to the beach and ocean where we hang out and play.
Let’s get dirty
So, let’s get dirty. Let’s talk about sewage on San Diego’s beaches.
Sewage in the ocean in San Diego
A 2022 study by San Diego State University scientists found that the bacterial outbreaks in the San Diego River that force frequent local beach closures are caused primarily by leaks in aging sewer pipes, not by homeless encampments or failing septic tanks.
Fecal bacteria in the San Diego River is a HUGE problem because the river flows into the ocean. It contaminates ocean water. This forces the closure of beaches.
These are San Diego beaches. Where we surf and swim. And where dolphins and other marine animals swim and live.
This puts your health and safety at risk.
Sewage at San Diego beaches!!!! Yuk… but sadly, so true.
A couple of San Diego teens here at The Original Surfers can’t be the only ones that see this. Or you would think.
Sewage in our Ocean puts San Diego’s largest industry at risk – Tourism
Putting aside all the San Diegans that are affected, let’s talk money. Tourism is San Diego’s biggest industry.
The visitor industry, directly and indirectly, employs 214,000 San Diegans. Visitors spend roughly $13.6 billion annually.
San Diego hosts 28.8 million visitors each year and is a top U.S. travel destination.
The industry generates more than $1.0 billion annually in state and local transient occupancy, sales, and property taxes.
In case you missed that – San Diego tourism generates $1.0 billion annually in tax revenue!
How do you think tourists will react when they learn that San Diego’s Ocean is polluted with fecal matter?
What do you think tourists are going to do when they learn that the ocean – the very reason so many of them come to San Diego in the first place, is polluted with sewage?
They might just choose to go on vacation or have their convention someplace else. Or so it would seem.
Right?
You can’t call it SHIT!!!
Oh yea. Let’s be honest. The sewage that we’re talking about is fecal matter.
Also known as SHIT.
“But you’re just teens (17 and 15, by the way), at The Original Surfers. You can’t say this!!!!”
Yes, you might protest. “Shit” is a bad word. Really?
Saying it is worse than swimming in it?
Really?
You’re kidding, right?
Say the word SHIT is worse than allowing fecal matter to be in the ocean at our beaches?
You’re serious?
Get real. I don’t care if we are teens. Let’s be honest.
Don’t get confused by what’s happening in Coronado and Imperial Beach
Recent closures of beaches in Coronado and Imperial Beach are unrelated to bacterial outbreaks in the San Diego River. Those closures are the results of sewage being released south of the international border.
How is the City of San Diego ignoring the ocean sewage crisis?
Recently San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria released the Proposed Budget for the City of San Diego 2024. A review of the budget reveals funding for “stormwater.”
This is almost all for flooding caused by rain. The only thing in the budget that might remotely be related to sewage pipes is the Pump Station D Upgrade. Which is needed. This is the Morena Street pump station that keeps overflowing.
But don’t get confused. This is not related to the sewage coming from San Diego’s old leaky sewage pipes.
The pipes in question are the pipes between homes, apartments, commercial buildings (read: where people poop), and the pump stations.
And based upon what I see in the 2024 Proposed Budget, there is no money being spent on upgrading/replacing/ fixing these old leaky sewage pipes.
All of the costs in the 2024 Proposed Budget are for storm drain replacement or repairs. These are not the old leaky pipes coming from buildings (where people poop and where sewage comes from) to the pump stations.
So, don’t be fooled or confused.
None of the 2024 Proposed Budget is going to fix the sewage problem.
Who is going to pay?
According to news reports, the cost of replacing the pipes, which could run into billions of dollars, would be passed on to sewer and water ratepayers by the sewer agencies that fund the upgrades.
This is freaking shocking. Sewage on San Diego beaches!!!!! Sewage in our ocean!!!
You can call our sports team “San Diego Sewage.” Dang…
The 2022 San Diego State Study says very clearly that old sewage pipes are the main cause of sewage in San Diego beaches and ocean.
What are we going to do about all of this?
We thought there would be a public outrage when people figured out that the number one reason why there is sewage in our ocean here in San Diego is old sewage pipes and the City of San Diego is ignoring the problem.
But it’s crickets.
We’re not going to take this lying down, so to speak. The war has just begun.
The Original Surfers aren’t going to give up. We’ve just started actually.
Stay tuned…