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In the news

The E.P.A. Promotes Toxic Fertilizer. 3M Told It of Risks Years Ago.

Published:
December 27, 2024
Source:
NY Times
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The agency obtained research from 3M in 2003 revealing that sewage sludge, the raw material for the fertilizer, carried toxic “forever chemicals.”

Case studies
In the news

El Segundo still stinks. Why can’t L.A. fix the problem three years after huge sewage spill?

Published:
December 16, 2024
Source:
LA Times
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On the worst days, Tamara Kcehowski said, she has thrown up when the stench from Los Angeles’ nearby sewage plant overwhelms her El Segundo apartment. She said her dog, Maggie, has even retched alongside her.

Case studies
In the news

Their Fertilizer Poisons Farmland. Now, They Want Protection From Lawsuits.

Published:
December 6, 2024
Source:
New York Times
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For decades, a little-known company now owned by a Goldman Sachs fund has been making millions of dollars from the unlikely dregs of American life: sewage sludge.

Case studies
In the news

Texas farmers say sewage-based fertilizer tainted with “forever chemicals” poisoned their land and killed their livestock

Published:
December 2, 2024
Source:
Texas Tribune
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Tony Coleman recognizes the signs all too well. A cow drools strings of saliva. Then it starts to limp, each step slower. Then it grows stiff. Then it’s quick. There’s nothing to be done. The cow dies.

In the news

Colorado researchers are one step closer to taking the ‘forever’ out of forever chemicals

Published:
November 27, 2024
Source:
NPR News, KUNC
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Scientists at CSU have developed a system that uses visible light to decompose PFAS-type molecules. For now, the technique has only been tested in a laboratory environment. Getting it to work in drinking water, wastewater or soil will take more work, but shows promise.

In the news

Sewage pollution affecting Chula Vista, not just border communities. So, city leaders declare local emergency.

Published:
November 13, 2024
Source:
The San Diego Union-Tribune
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The resolution is largely symbolic, calling on the White House, especially with a forthcoming change in administration, and other top government officials to fast-track more spending for solutions. Chula Vista officials are directed to “explore any and all options to improve conditions in the Tijuana River,” the proclamation reads.

In the news
Videos & podcasts

Florida man claims he was paralyzed following alleged sewage spill in Titusville

Published:
November 7, 2024
Source:
Fox 35
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From paddleboarding to paralysis – that’s what happened to a 15-year-old boy in Titusville. The victim is 18 years old now and learning how to walk again. After almost three years of fighting, Rock Timmins and his family had just settled a lawsuit with the City of Titusville.

In the news

The border crisis Trump doesn’t talk about

Published:
November 2, 2024
Source:
Politico
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom visited the U.S.-Mexico border on Monday — but not for the reason you’d expect. The border crisis that drew the Democrat wasn’t immigration, but sewage. For nearly a century, billions of gallons of sewage have been pouring into Southern California from Mexico, making coastal communities near San Diego the victim of a crisis few people know about.

Case studies
In the news
Videos & podcasts

South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion will help minimize cross-border sewage

Published:
October 29, 2024
Source:
CBS 8
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The expansion will double the capacity and along with improvements in Mexico, help minimize the sewage near the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego.

In the news

Newsom makes first visit to ailing sewage treatment plants along U.S.-Mexico border

Published:
October 28, 2024
Source:
The San Diego Union-Tribune
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Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday toured wastewater treatment facilities on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, marking his first in-person visit to the sites undergoing critical upgrades to reduce rampant sewage polluting Tijuana and south San Diego County communities.

Case studies
In the news
Videos & podcasts

County Supervisor, IB Mayor, residents push for Superfund designation to help Tijuana sewage crisis

Published:
October 24, 2024
Source:
CBS 8 San Diego
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San Diego County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer Thursday submitted a request to the Environmental Protection Agency to look into the Tijuana River Valley for a possible Superfund designation.

In the news
Videos & podcasts

San Diego County plans to go after companies it thinks are behind sewage crisis

Published:
October 22, 2024
Source:
NBC 7 San Diego
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Since October 2018, the United States section of the International Boundary and Water Commission has catalogued more than 200 billion gallons of toxic waste coming into the United States through the Tijuana River Valley

In the news

Half of all global food threatened by growing water crisis, report says

Published:
October 17, 2024
Source:
NBC News
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Densely populated areas such as northwestern India, northeastern China and southern and eastern Europe will bear the brunt of water mismanagement, according to the Global Commission on the Economics of Water.

In the news

San Diego County residents launch second suit over alleged sewage treatment plant failures

Published:
October 16, 2024
Source:
The Hill
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Residents of Imperial Beach in southern San Diego County filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the operators of an international wastewater treatment plant — alleging that the site has failed to contain a cross-border crisis that has long contaminated their community.

In the news

San Francisco takes on the EPA in a case about poop and billions in fines and upgrades

Published:
October 16, 2024
Source:
The Washington Post
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The environmental fight that played out inside the Supreme Court on Wednesday was unusual in many ways: It featured poop, a whopping $11 billion bill, and one of the nation’s greenest cities — San Francisco — battling the Environmental Protection Agency over water pollution rules in a case that could reverberate beyond the Bay Area.

In the news

Amid a Water Crisis, England Asks: Who Should Be in Charge?

Published:
October 14, 2024
Source:
NY Times
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Four decades after privatization, calls to nationalize the water industry have swept across England and Wales amid sewage spills and rising household bills.

In the news

A Year After Historic Civil Rights Settlement, Alabama Slowly Bringing Sanitation Equity to Rural Black Communities

Published:
October 12, 2024
Source:
Inside Climate News
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In 2023, Alabama settled a civil rights complaint alleging that the state was discriminating against Black residents by not providing adequate sewage treatment in a poor, rural county. A year later, slow progress is being made to close the gap.

In the news

A Year After Historic Civil Rights Settlement, Alabama Slowly Bringing Sanitation Equity to Rural Black Communities

Published:
October 12, 2024
Source:
Inside Climate News
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Author:

In 2023, Alabama settled a civil rights complaint alleging that the state was discriminating against Black residents by not providing adequate sewage treatment in a poor, rural county. A year later, slow progress is being made to close the gap.

In the news

Maui Water Quality: No More Wastewater In The Ocean, Locals Say

Published:
October 10, 2024
Source:
Honolulu Civil Beat
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A draft permit would allow the practice to continue of injecting wastewater into the ground close to the ocean. Those who testified at a recent hearing said it's destroying coral reefs.

In the news

People are getting ill from sewage in the sea'

Published:
October 8, 2024
Source:
BBC
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Kitesurfers on Yorkshire's east coast say the water quality is so poor that "people are getting ill". Adrian Cooke uses Fraisthorpe and Bridlington beaches for the sport and believes sewage pollution has become a public health hazard. Yorkshire Water operates several overflow pipes along the coast and is legally permitted to discharge sewage into the North Sea during heavy rainfall.

In the news

Sewage pollution levels in this river are 100 times safe 'limits'. The fight is now on to clean it up

Published:
October 7, 2024
Source:
Big Issue
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Newcastle locals have urged the government to stop water companies pumping “disgusting” sewage into the Ouseburn river. Sewage pollution in the waterway – which runs from near the city’s airport to the Tyne – is a staggering 100 times higher than safe standards. Northumbrian Water control the sewage outfall pipes along the tributary.

In the news

Water firms told to cut customer bills over poor performance

Published:
October 7, 2024
Source:
BBC
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Water companies have been ordered to return £158m to customers via lower bills next year after missing key targets on pollution and leaks. But most customers will only see their bills fall by less than £10.

Case studies
In the news

Mecklenburg sewage spills add to pollution load Helene washed into Catawba River

Published:
October 7, 2024
Source:
The Charlotte Observer
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Heavy rain from Helene caused more than a quarter million gallons of sewage to spill from Mecklenburg County’s wastewater treatment system and into the Catawba River basin.

In the news

Helene caused nearly 1.5M gallons of sewage spills in St. Petersburg

Published:
October 4, 2024
Source:
Tampa Bay Times
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Nearly 1.5 million gallons of untreated wastewater flowed throughout St. Petersburg neighborhoods as Hurricane Helene’s storm surge overwhelmed infrastructure. While sewage discharges occurred citywide, one culprit was responsible for 67% of the pollution

In the news

Creative campaign sheds light on sewage pollution with ocean-based toilet scenes

Published:
October 4, 2024
Source:
Devon Live
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Using a porcelain toilet in ocean scenes, Fryer’s bold images have gained national attention, sparking conversation and even earning a spot on the British Photography Awards shortlist

Publications

Evaluation of post-treatment after wastewater stabilization ponds at municipal wastewater treatment plant

Published:
September 27, 2024
Source:
Nature
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The primary objective of this study was to assess the operational conditions of the municipal wastewater treatment system. This system comprises a wastewater treatment plant that employs the activated sludge process, along with wastewater stabilization ponds as the third stage of treatment.

In the news

‘Rivers you think are pristine are not’: how drug pollution flooded the UK’s waterways – and put human health at risk

Published:
September 27, 2024
Source:
The Guardian
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High levels of antibiotics and other drugs have been found in water in the country’s most treasured and protected landscapes, raising concerns over antimicrobial resistance

Case studies
In the news

Is sewage sludge laced with ‘forever chemicals’ contaminating Va. farmland? No one’s testing it.

Published:
September 26, 2024
Source:
VIrginia Mercury
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For decades, American factories have been sending their wastewater to municipal sewage treatment plants across the country, which handle it along with the effluent from other industries, homes and businesses. At the other end of the process, the separated and dried-out solids are often delivered to farmers as free fertilizer. The land application of this “sewage sludge” has long been encouraged by environmental regulators as a way to deal with what would otherwise be a vexing waste disposal problem.

In the news

‘Bamboozled’: IB residents wary of beach reopening with no fix to sewage crisis

Published:
September 26, 2024
Source:
inewsource.com
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Author:

For the first time in more than a thousand days, San Diego County officials reopened some of the shoreline of Imperial Beach on Monday. But many locals say the move gives a misleading illusion of safety.

Case studies
In the news

Budget-strapped towns race for federal funds to fix aging water, sewer systems

Published:
September 25, 2024
Source:
WyoFile
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Waking up to long-overdue system upgrades, dozens of towns that were awarded federal ARPA dollars may see them ‘clawed back’ for lack of resources to complete paperwork.

In the news

Sustainable Solutions: How SUSBIO ECOTREAT Is Transforming Sewage Treatment In India

Published:
September 24, 2024
Source:
DNA India
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India’s rapid urbanization has led to an increasing demand for efficient sewage treatment solutions. Traditional sewage treatment plants (STPs), though effective to some extent, have been facing numerous challenges that hinder their optimal performance.

In the news

New global guidance on managing wastewater and solid waste from antibiotic manufacturing

Published:
September 23, 2024
Source:
Smart Water Magazine
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Author:

The World Health Organization (WHO) has published its first-ever guidance on antibiotic pollution from manufacturing. The new guidance on wastewater and solid waste management for antibiotic manufacturing sheds light on this important but neglected challenge ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) taking place on 26 September 2024.

In the news

From pollution to power: Merging wastewater treatment and energy generation with capacitive MFC innovations

Published:
September 23, 2024
Source:
phys.org
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Author:

Imagine standing on the edge of a new frontier, where waste—something we often view as a problem—becomes the solution. We live in a world that needs innovation, where environmental challenges demand a sustainable approach, and where we need technologies that not only clean but also power our future.

In the news

Sewage seeps into Folsom Lake from problem pipe in El Dorado Hills

Published:
September 23, 2024
Source:
CBS 13
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Officials are warning people to stay out of Browns Ravine at Folsom Lake after a pipe leaked sewage into the water Sunday night. El Dorado Irrigation District spokesperson Jesse Saich said an old pipe on Green Valley Road, just west of Francisco Drive, started leaking at around 9:30 p.m. Sunday. Within 30 minutes, pump trucks were out there working to suck up as much sewage as possible, but Saich said some sewage water did flow into Folsom Lake.

Case studies
In the news

Scientists May Transform Border Sewage Crisis Into Air Pollution Crisis with Enormous Stakes

Published:
September 20, 2024
Source:
Voice of San Diego
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Scientists clashed with government officials over the true toxicity of the air in the Tijuana River Valley. The public is left to decide what’s real.

Case studies
In the news
Videos & podcasts

Bolinas Beach closed indefinitely after human waste found seeping from cliffs

Published:
September 16, 2024
Source:
ABC 7 News
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Community concern in the North Bay is growing following the closure of a popular beach after human waste was discovered leaking from a nearby cliff.

In the news

Ocean City, Assateague shut down ocean access as medical waste washes ashore

Published:
September 15, 2024
Source:
The Baltimore Banner
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Assateague State Park, Ocean City and other beaches along the Maryland coast have closed access to the ocean due to “a significant amount of medical waste washing onshore,” Maryland State Parks wrote on X Sunday afternoon.

Case studies
In the news

Environmental Groups Face Off With EPA to Control Manure Pollution

Published:
September 14, 2024
Source:
Circle of Blue
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For the third time in two decades the Environmental Protection Agency appeared in federal Appellate Court this week to defend its admittedly flawed approach to regulating the billions of pounds of manure running off into the nation’s waters from large industrial animal feeding operations. But unlike the previous Appellate Court cases in 2005 and 2011, when the plaintiffs were the major agricultural trade organizations seeking to weaken or eliminate agency regulations, this time the case was brought by 13 national and local environmental organizations arguing that after years of inaction EPA needs to drastically strengthen its oversight.

Case studies
In the news

San Diego County air pollution officers to develop alert system for noxious sewage odors

Published:
September 13, 2024
Source:
The San Diego Tribune
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The air district's governing board also agreed to deploy air purifiers to impacted households in South County using federal grant dollars

Case studies
In the news

San Diego Residents Sue Veolia Water Over Untreated Sewage

Published:
September 13, 2024
Source:
ENR California
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As beach closures in the San Diego area stretch past 1,000 days due to raw sewage flows from Mexico, residents of Imperial Beach have filed a lawsuit against Veolia Water, accusing the engineering consultant—who also manages the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant on the U.S. side of the border for the International Boundary and Water Commission—of not doing enough to stop toxic sludge flows.

Case studies
In the news

Clear and Present Danger: Karachi's marine life and coastline under threat

Published:
September 13, 2024
Source:
The Tribune Express Pakistan
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Karachi’s coastline is deteriorating due to plastic and sewage waste, putting marine life at serious risk.

Case studies
In the news

Sewage discharged into sea in Kato Pyrgos sparks concerns for pollution

Published:
September 12, 2024
Source:
In-Cyprus PhileNews
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Environmental concerns have escalated over the fishing shelter in Kato Pyrgos, Cyprus, due to the discharge of liquid waste and sewage into the sea.

Case studies
In the news

Bellingham beach closed due to ‘serious’ sewage spill

Published:
September 12, 2024
Source:
My Northwest News
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A Bellingham beach is temporarily closed after a sewage line was hit. According to The Bellingham Herald, officials are calling the spill “serious” as 25,000 to 50,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled out at Bloedel Donovan beach Wednesday.

Case studies
In the news

New report finds more than half of Idaho wastewater treatment plants violated Clean Water Act

Published:
September 12, 2024
Source:
Idaho Capital Sun
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More than half of Idaho’s wastewater treatment plants violated Clean Water Act pollution discharge limits at least once last year, while some plants routinely violated limits for years, according to a new report by the Idaho Conservation League.

Case studies
In the news

How a California county got PFAS out of its drinking water

Published:
September 12, 2024
Source:
NPR
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Yorba Linda is a small, sunny city southeast of Los Angeles. It’s perhaps best known for being the birthplace of President Richard Nixon. But in the past few years, Yorba Linda has picked up another distinction: It’s home to the nation’s largest per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) water treatment plant of its kind, according to the city.

Case studies
In the news
Videos & podcasts

Class action lawsuit filed against company responsible for taking care of Wastewater Treatment Plant

Published:
September 12, 2024
Source:
ABC 10 News San Diego
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Author:

Settling in Imperial Beach was a dream come true for Marvel and her husband. Years later, she says it’s become a nightmare because of the pollution in the water and in the air from the sewage in the Tijuana River Valley.

In the news

Climate change stalling cleanup of Boston rivers, EPA report card says

Published:
September 11, 2024
Source:
wbur
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Improvements to Boston’s three major rivers are slowing or stalled, and climate change is a major culprit. The assessment, from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's annual report card, covers the Charles, Mystic and Neponset Rivers. Every summer, the EPA issues letter grades to segments of the rivers and their tributaries, so the public can track improvements in water quality.

In the news

Wetland plan to cut down on sewage approved

Published:
September 11, 2024
Source:
BBC
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Plans to create a wetland to reduce the amount of sewage discharged into a West Yorkshire beck have been approved.Yorkshire Water will build the wetland at South Elmsall wastewater treatment works to help reduce storm overflow discharges into Frickley Beck, a tributary of the River Don.

Case studies
In the news
Videos & podcasts

Toxic sewage flow slows into Tijuana River after Mexico brings new pump online

Published:
September 11, 2024
Source:
NBC 7 San Diego
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https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/flow-of-toxic-sewage-into-tijuana-river-reduced/3620951/

Case studies
In the news

County sends hazmat team to investigate report of new toxic gas in Tijuana River Valley

Published:
September 10, 2024
Source:
The San Diego Tribune
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Discovery of a second, potentially lethal gas in the Tijuana River Valley where sewage from Mexico routinely spills over the border into south San Diego communities prompted South County school districts to cancel outdoor activities Monday and officials to reiterate calls for emergency assistance.

Case studies
In the news

Charity sea swim cancelled over sewage discharge

Published:
September 10, 2024
Source:
BBC
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Organisers of an annual charity sea swim say they cancelled the event amid concerns about sewage in the water.

In the news

Warning after 17 Devon beaches hit with sewage alerts

Published:
September 9, 2024
Source:
Devon Onlive
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A number of beaches and popular swimming spots in Devon have been hit with pollution warnings and alerts after a week of torrential rain last week. Charity and campaign group Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) has warned that 17 spots across Devon should be avoided today, due to sewage pollution and risk of pollution.

In the news
Videos & podcasts

Nearly 34,000 gallons of sewage spilled on Camp Lejeune

Published:
September 9, 2024
Source:
WITN-TV
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Case studies
In the news

Southern California officials plead for help as cross-border sewage crisis poisons air

Published:
September 9, 2024
Source:
Fox 5 San Diego
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Southern California’s border-adjacent communities are pushing for emergency assistance from regional and state agencies as they contend with a cross-border sewage crisis that is poisoning the air they breathe.

In the news

Pollution in Water from Antibiotic Manufacturing is ‘Driving Drug Resistance’

Published:
September 9, 2024
Source:
Health Policy Watch
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Manufacturers of antibiotics are dumping waste into waterways that is driving antimicrobial resistance (AMR), warns the first-ever guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) on waste water management and AMR.

In the news
Videos & podcasts

Dangerous levels of toxic gases linked to sewage detected in Imperial Beach

Published:
September 9, 2024
Source:
CBS 8
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Imperial Beach parents blasted San Diego County Supervisors during a Wednesday board meeting over their failure to address toxic air and water quality at the U.S.-Mexico border. For nearly two hours, parents criticized the County for stating that the air quality was not a health threat.

Case studies
In the news

Public advised to avoid affected waters following sewage spill at Kailua-Kona Pier

Published:
September 8, 2024
Source:
KITV Island News
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Author:

On Sunday, September 8, 2024, it was reported that a sewage spill had occurred at the Kailua Kona Pier. Officials state that an unknown amount of sewage had spilled from a restroom and onto the pier, which entered the ocean. Warning signs have now been posted.

Case studies
In the news

Researchers studying sewage crisis pull out of South County amid reported high levels of sewer gas

Published:
September 6, 2024
Source:
The San Diego Tribune
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Researchers studying the health and environmental impacts of the cross-border sewage crisis said Friday they are temporarily pulling their teams collecting air and water samples in southern San Diego County communities because of “concerningly high” levels of hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas.

Publications

Guidance on wastewater and solid waste management for manufacturing of antibiotics

Published:
September 3, 2024
Source:
World Health Organization (WHO)
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Control of pollution from antibiotic manufacturing is a key part of safeguarding the longevity of antibiotics for all. Pollution contributes to antibiotic resistance and potentially undermines the effectiveness of medicines. High levels of antibiotics in water bodies downstream of manufacturing sites have been widely documented. Currently, antibiotic pollution from manufacturing is largely unregulated and quality assurance criteria typically do not address environmental emissions.

Publications

Using HF183 to Estimate Watershed-Wide Annual Loadings of Human Fecal Pollution from Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems

Published:
September 1, 2024
Source:
MDPI
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This study aimed to quantify the contribution of poor-performing OWTSs relative to other sources of fecal pollution in an arid watershed, sampling for HF183, a DNA-based human marker. The loading estimate approach used in this study could be applied to other watersheds facing similar challenges in prioritizing resources for monitoring and mitigation among co-located human fecal sources.

In the news

Sea sickness: the pharmaceutical pollution problem

Published:
September 1, 2024
Source:
Back to Blue Initiative
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Author:

Pharmaceuticals have been found in wastewater, surface water, sediments, groundwater and drinking water as a consequence of inappropriate disposal, treatment and management—and all of these contaminated waters inevitably reach the ocean, contributing further to the global problem of ocean pollution.

Case studies
In the news

Something’s Poisoning America’s Land. Farmers Fear ‘Forever’ Chemicals.

Published:
August 31, 2024
Source:
NY Times
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Fertilizer made from city sewage has been spread on millions of acres of farmland for decades. Scientists say it can contain high levels of the toxic substance.

In the news

Nature-based solutions on display at Stockholm World Water Week

Published:
August 30, 2024
Source:
Euro Reporter
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From a polluted Seine River grabbing the spotlight during this year’s Olympic Games to California’s shrinking lakes offending the olfactory senses of its citizens, it seems like this week’s World Water Week couldn’t come soon enough, writes Dimple Roy, Water Management Director of International Institute for Sustainable Development.

In the news

NMCG approves 9 projects worth Rs 265 cr to reduce pollution in Ganga

Published:
August 30, 2024
Source:
Business Standard
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The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has approved nine significant projects worth Rs 265 crore aimed at reducing pollution and enhancing the ecosystem of the Ganga river, according to an official statement.

In the news

Federal agency says sewage odors aren’t its fault. Local air pollution officers disagree.

Published:
August 30, 2024
Source:
The San Diego Tribune
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The San Diego Air Pollution Control District said it could seek an order of abatement should the IBWC not act quicker to prevent further discharges of pollution

In the news
Videos & podcasts

6,700-gallon sewage spill closes a portion of Will Rogers State Beach

Published:
August 30, 2024
Source:
CBS - KCAL
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Roughly one mile of Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades is closed Friday because of a 6,700-gallon sewage spill. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health officials closed ocean waters one-half mile north and one-half mile south of Sunset Boulevard due to contamination from the spill.

In the news

Aquatic Life Under Threat as Pollution and Warmer Waters Wreak Havoc

Published:
August 30, 2024
Source:
The Guardian
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Research makes clear that the problem caused by sewage and climate change is more urgent than previously thought

Case studies
In the news

San Diego Congress Members Want the State Dept to Do More to Stop Record-Breaking Tijuana Pollution

Published:
August 29, 2024
Source:
The San Diego Tribune
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Officials ask why State Dept. has not considered giving Mexico an official diplomatic reprimand over sewage flow

In the news

Young innovators design solutions to water scarcity

Published:
August 29, 2024
Source:
UNICEF
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Around the world, young people are coming up with new technologies that could enable access to safe, clean water for all

Case studies
In the news
Publications

Engineers develop all-in-one solution to catch and destroy 'forever chemicals'

Published:
August 28, 2024
Source:
Science Daily
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Chemical engineers at the University of British Columbia have developed a new treatment that traps and treats PFAS substances -- widely known as "forever chemicals" -- in a single, integrated system.

In the news

Public awareness about sewage pollution is the first step - monitoring is the next

Published:
August 28, 2024
Source:
King's College London
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As we face the effects of a changing climate, it is increasingly important to assess how we maintain and preserve the natural resources we depend on, particularly water. Public awareness in the UK about sewage pollution in drinking water sources has led to positive changes in legislation. Dr Randa Kachef, Lecturer in the Department of Geography, explains how her work through the Thirst water quality research project is helping to tackle sewage pollution in the Thames.

In the news

Thames Water says it needs 59% bill rise to survive

Published:
August 28, 2024
Source:
BBC
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Thames Water has warned it will not survive unless it is allowed to increase water bills by almost 60% over a five-year period.

In the news

Seven days of continuous sewage discharge recorded

Published:
August 28, 2024
Source:
BBC
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Untreated sewage was continuously discharged into a Site of Special Scientific Interest for seven days. Storm overflows at two water treatment plants in Cumbria have been discharging into sites that flow into Windermere since last Thursday, United Utilities figures show.

In the news

Fish on Prozac: chemical residues in wastewater mess with bodies, behaviour and sperm

Published:
August 27, 2024
Source:
The Conversation
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Author:

Antidepressants have helped millions of people worldwide since the 1950s. But have you ever wondered what happens to these drugs once they leave our bodies? We wanted to study the effects of pharmaceutical pollution on freshwater fish.

In the news

Diseases spread in Gaza as sewage contaminates camps and coast

Published:
August 26, 2024
Source:
BBC
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The waters on parts of Gaza’s Mediterranean coastline have started turning brown as health experts warn of the spread of open sewage and diseases across the territory. Satellite images, analysed by BBC Arabic, show what appears to be a large discharge of sewage spill off the coast of Deir al-Balah.

In the news

How using microbes to mine human waste for power could help reduce reliance on fossil fuels

Published:
August 24, 2024
Source:
CBC News
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Biogas created at B.C. sewage plant can be cleaned, sold back to provincial gas provider, researchers say

In the news

Drinking Water Is at Risk in Parts of Long Island, Study Finds

Published:
August 23, 2024
Source:
NY Times
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Decades of pumping have allowed saltwater to threaten the aquifers that supply many communities, including Long Beach and Great Neck.

In the news

Submerged monitors get a quick read on Tijuana River wastewater

Published:
August 22, 2024
Source:
KPBS
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More than two years of testing has researchers convinced they have a faster way to detect untreated sewage in the Tijuana River. The new tools are called fluorescence monitors. San Diego State University (SDSU) scientists have submerged several of them beneath a platform in the mouth of the Tijuana River. They’re measuring pollution in a river estuary that’s notorious for fecal contamination.

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REPORT: 58% of Idaho's Wastewater Treatment Plants Violated Clean Water Act Standards

Published:
August 22, 2024
Source:
Big Country News
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A new report finds pollution violations at wastewater treatment plants have been a problem in more than half of Idaho's communities. The Idaho Conservation League's annual study of the state's sewage treatment plants says 58% violated Clean Water Act standards during 2023.

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The 'citizen scientists' testing Thames pollution

Published:
August 21, 2024
Source:
BBC
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Water companies that pollute the River Thames have "no accountability", a group of "citizen scientists" who monitor the waterway have said. The groups, which include Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) and Water Testing River Thames (WTRT), have been testing at 24 sites between Oxford and Teddington, west London, between mid-March and mid-August.

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South Bay plant awarded $400M contract to expand facility by border water authority

Published:
August 21, 2024
Source:
CBS 8
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California's elected leaders Wednesday applauded the International Boundary and Water Commission's announcement that it has awarded the contract for a project to expand the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant.

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After massive sewage spill that polluted beaches, L.A. agrees to spend $20 million on improvements

Published:
August 20, 2024
Source:
Los Angeles Times
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Three years after a massive spill at a Los Angeles wastewater facility sent millions of gallons of sewage into Santa Monica Bay, the city has agreed to spend more than $20 million on improvements to remedy the environmental blunder, according to a settlement with federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.

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After $615 Million and 16 Months of Tunneling, Alexandria, Virginia, Is Close to Fixing Its Sewage Overflow Problem

Published:
August 20, 2024
Source:
Inside Climate News
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Another 700 municipalities have similarly antiquated combined sewer systems, designed to overflow into rivers and creeks during storms and heavy rains. Climate change is making the problem much worse.

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UH Hilo researchers track sewage leakage rate into Kahaluʻu Bay

Published:
August 19, 2024
Source:
University of Hawai'i
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Marine scientists from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo conducted an eye-catching experiment on August 9, along the coastline of Kahaluʻu Bay, just south of Kailua-Kona. The team introduced a small amount of fluorescein dye, which glows bright green under sunlight, into a local residence’s sewage disposal system. This test was designed to track whether the dye would reach the shoreline and, if so, how quickly.

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Pollution violations continued at ID sewage plants in 2023, report says

Published:
August 19, 2024
Source:
Public News Service
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A new report finds pollution violations at wastewater treatment plants have been a problem in more than half of Idaho's communities. The Idaho Conservation League's annual study of the state's sewage treatment plants says 58% violated Clean Water Act standards during 2023.

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Water treaty between Mexico and U.S. faces biggest test in 80 years

Published:
August 16, 2024
Source:
NPR
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Eighty years ago, the United States and Mexico worked out an arrangement to share water from the two major rivers that run through both countries: the Rio Grande and the Colorado. The treaty was created when water wasn't as scarce as it is now.

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More than 4 billion people don’t have access to clean water at home

Published:
August 15, 2024
Source:
Vox
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But on Thursday, a new study published in Science reported that 2 billion was a huge underestimate. New analyses reveal that 4.4 billion people across low- and middle-income countries — over half of the world’s population — don’t have safe household drinking water.

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Debby overwhelmed Tampa Bay sewers, spilling millions of gallons of pollution

Published:
August 10, 2024
Source:
Tampa Bay Times
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The deluge from Tropical Storm Debby this week swamped Tampa Bay’s sewage systems, causing millions of gallons of raw and partially treated wastewater mixed with rain to overflow into streets, canals and natural waterways.

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CDC to probe health risks connected to Tijuana River sewage flow

Published:
August 9, 2024
Source:
NBC 7
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has agreed to investigate the potential health risks associated with sewage flowing into the Tijuana River and across the border into southern San Diego County.

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Climate change is making us sick, literally

Published:
August 8, 2024
Source:
Yale Climate Connections
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In hundreds of U.S. cities and towns, extreme rainfalls are overwhelming outdated sewer systems, flooding waterways with untreated sewage.

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Rising Waters From Tropical Storm Debby Put North Carolina Waste Sites at Risk

Published:
August 8, 2024
Source:
NY Times
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Tropical Storm Debby brought intense rainfall and flooding threats to North Carolina this week, highlighting the vulnerability of hog lagoons and wastewater treatment plants.

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WTF Is Going on With the Poop Protests and the Seine During the Paris Olympics: An Investigation

Published:
August 6, 2024
Source:
Cosmopolitan
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The Olympics are in Paris this year, which...chic! And for reasons that remain slightly confusing, the city *really* wants everyone to get in the Seine, a river that—much like your ex—looks good but is kinda toxic depending on what day it is.

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Over 11 million gallons of wastewater spill at Hinesville water pollution plant

Published:
August 6, 2024
Source:
WTOC 11
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The City of Hinesville says over 11 million gallons of wastewater has spilled at a wastewater pollution plant.

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Occurrence of specific pollutants in a mixture of sewage and rainwater from an urbanized area

Published:
August 5, 2024
Source:
Nature
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Urban runoff appears to be a pathway for transferring new emerging pollutants from land-based sources to the aquatic environment. This paper aimed to identify and describe the groups of pollutants present in rainwater surface runoff as well as their mixture with wastewater in the combined sewer system from urbanized catchments and to determine the correlations between these pollutants.

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All air monitors have yet to be deployed. Here’s what one from San Ysidro is showing about foul sewage odors

Published:
August 5, 2024
Source:
San Diego Tribune
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Nearly a year ago, the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District committed to deploying six air-monitoring sensors in and around the Tijuana River Valley after residents complained about frequent, noxious odors stemming from cross-border sewage spills.

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‘It’s just raw profiteering’: the people refusing to pay their water bills in response to the sewage crisis

Published:
August 4, 2024
Source:
The Guardian
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There are many of us across England and Wales who have opened our water bills and glanced at the payment breakdown only to be jolted into annoyed sarcasm. “Really?” you say to the water company’s logo. “I’m paying you to dispose of sewage, am I? And how is that working out for us all?”

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Water Pollution Complicates Work For IB Lifeguards

Published:
August 2, 2024
Source:
Imperial Beach Eagle & Times
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Jumping into the ocean in Imperial Beach is not allowed due to the sewage pollution coming from Mexico, which has closed the beach for over 900 days. The job of the lifeguards is to help swimmers in trouble, and their task has been complicated by the unsafe water, which has been known to cause ear and respiratory infections, stomach viruses, and much more.

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Massive spill has 1.7 million gallons of sewage ending up in Tar River

Published:
July 31, 2024
Source:
WITN
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People are being told to stay away from an area of Rocky Mount after a massive sewage spill. The overflow started around 6:00 p.m. on Thursday and continued until 1:00 p.m. Sunday. The city says the area got more than four inches of rain starting Tuesday, causing the sewer system to become overloaded.

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Lake Tahoe health advisory reduced after 85,000-gallon sewage spill

Published:
July 30, 2024
Source:
Reno Gazette Journal
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The health advisory placed on two beaches in Lake Tahoe after an 85,000-gallon sewage spill in Carnelian Bay was cut back to only Carnelian West Beach on Monday, according to the North Tahoe Public Utility District.