City of Imperial Beach Councilmembers, Stakeholder Group Meet with CESPT Director, Tour Tijuana's Wastewater Treatment Plants

On June 14th, 2011 the Director of the State Public Services Commission of Tijuana (CESPT) hosted a tour for San Diego clean water stakeholders to discuss water quality issues in the border region. City of Imperial Beach councilmembers Jim King and Brian Bilbray were joined by Dan Murphy from Surfrider San Diego, Danielle Litke from the Tijuana River Research Reserve, Chris Helmer Environmental Manager for the City of Imperial Beach, IB Patch editor Khari Johnson and WiLDCOAST staff were welcomed at the CESPT headquarters. CESPT Director Ing. Hernando Duran and sub-director of sanitation Ing. Juan Manuel Tamayo briefed the group on the wastewater treatment efforts accomplished by CESPT in the last 20 years. Among these achievements are the recently built Mexican treatment plants Arturo Herrera and La Morita which treat ten and six million gallons per day respectively. Additionally in order to properly dispose the treated wastewater, a new 2300 meter impulsion line was built to divert the treated effluent to Punta Bandera (south of Playas de Tijuana) The total investment in these three plants was 22 million dollars which enable the City of Tijuana to treat wastewater up to tertiary level by means of activated sludge reactors and disinfection by ultraviolet light, allowing the agency to produce water of sufficient quality for reuse in the creation of green areas such as parks and ecological recreation centers in the city.

The group then visited the Arturo Herrera Wastewater Treatment Plant where, the sub-director of sanitation services explained how they have developed a very unique educational program through local schools and fun activities at the treatment plant. The agency has created an interactive space for children to learn the wastewater treatment process. CESPT firmly believes that these educational efforts will lead to increased water conservation.

Additionally, the sub-director informed the group that these tretament plants took a lot of effort to build.

Because they are a state-run yet not state-funded agency, the funding to build these plants came from a Japanese Bank line of credit that had to be approved by the state congress. "we have to pay all of this money back " said the sub-director, "it is definitely a challenge".

The tour ended at the CILA pump station, a system that was put in place to redirect effluent from the Tijuana River during dry weather season and pump it over the city’s canyons to be treated and then discharged at Punta Bandera. Thanks to this operating system beach water quality is ensured in south San Diego Beaches during dry weather season.

"This was a very educational experience for me" said Jim King City of IB councilmember- "it's pretty amazing to see the great efforts Mexico is making to address water quality issues here at the border".

To see pictures from the tour visit: http://www.wildcoast.net/media-center/news/251

NoBS Updates for June and July

 
NoBS updates for June (version Español sigue despues del correo en ingles):
 
Citizen Water Quality Monitoring - Our next Monitoring event is tomorrow Saturday, June 11th, at 9a.m., collecting Water Samples at 3 sites in the Tijuana River Valley. We need volunteers to collect water quality samples and take basic water chemistry measurements on a regular basis for the Tijuana River Valley and Estuary sites. We are looking to train volunteers to collect samples every month, or serve as a back-up for other volunteers at the estuary or throughout the county. If you have attended the training and would like to attend this month's sampling, please Contact dan@surfridersd.org and dylan@sdcoastkeeper.org  for more info and to sign up.  Also, the California State Water Quality Board is asking volunteers to help them document trash levels and water flow with their new CreekWatch app for the Iphone (coming soon for Droids).  If you have an Iphone, check out the app--you can really help them out while you’re in the field.  It also helps them determine impaired water body (303d) listings too.

Tijuana Estuary Second Saturday Volunteer Stewardship Event - Saturday, June 11th, 9am to 12pm at Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center. Join the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve for trail maintenance and invasive plant removal. No experience necessary! Individuals, families and groups are welcome to participate. Volunteers must work in long pants and boots or sturdy shoes. Please wear sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. Gloves and tools provided. Volunteers under 18: Must bring signed permission forms, available by request, and volunteers under 16 must attend with an adult. For more information contact Danielle Litke @dlitke@parks.ca.gov
 

NoBS Quarterly Workshop - the second quarter workshop will take place June 16th 6:30 to 8pm at Mark's house in IB - 321 Daisy Ave. Imperial Beach, CA. The NoBS campaign will be holding quarterly workshops to work on the 2011 Campaign plan/goals, coordinate events/volunteer opportunities and train new volunteers on the issues/policies outlining the campaign. If you are interested in attending or helping out with these workshops please send me some of your ideas at dan@surfridersd.org This quarter we will focus on planning for Tijuana River Action Month, and other important campaign action items.
 
 
Ocean Friendly Gardens is coming to IB! Join us Sunday July 17th at 10am at the entrance to the Tijuana Estuary for our next Lawn Patrol!!
We will take a quick walk up Imperial Beach Blvd and surrounding streets around the Estuary and check out some gardens that are mostly ocean friendly and some that are not so ocean friendly and talk about the difference. We will also visit City Hall in IB.
 
Lawn Patrols are a great way to learn about what makes an Ocean Friendly Garden ocean friendly, the impacts that the choices we make in our gardens have on the health of our local environment, and what easy steps you can take to turn your garden into an OFG!  We talk about soil health, plant choices, how to retain rainwater on-site, and how to use organic choices instead of chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides!
 
 
Next Monthly Tijuana River Action Network Meeting - The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 27th at 6:30 - 8pm in (location TBD). Network meetings are a great way to meet and share ideas with staff and volunteers from Fundacion la Puerta, Proyecto Fronterizo, Fundacion Que Transforma, Alter Terra, Surfrider Foundation, Border Encuentro, Grupo Ecologista Tijuana, Tijuana Calidad de Vida, Tijuana Estuary, WiLDCOAST, Tijuana River Citizens’ Council, 4 Walls International, and more. The agenda for the meeting will be posted to the TRAN blog.  Visit the blog: http://tijuanariveractionnetwork.blogspot.com/ for more information about the Network and notes from the past meetings. If interested in attending please contact Dan@surfridersd.org.
 
Become a fan of NoBS at:
 
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=119244691440340#!/pages/NoBS-No-Border-Sewage-Campaign-Border-Sewage-Affects-Us-All/317796537442?ref=search&sid=aWd8NJo_Yhyq2wzUrV0nfw.670169746..1
 
As always check out the blog http://www.bordersewagecoalition.blogspot.com/  for the latest news, and here is the link to photos from the winter flooding in the Tijuana River Valley, Stewardship events and monthly water testing. http://www.flickr.com/photos/surfridersandiego/sets/72157625743131314/
 
 
 
SPANISH
 
Vigilancia de Calidad de Agua por Ciudadanos- Nuestro próximo evento de Vigilancia será mañana, sábado, 11 de junio, a las 9 a.m., donde estaremos recogiendo muestras de agua en 3 sitios diferentes en el valle del Rio Tijuana. Necesitamos voluntarios para obtener muestras de calidad de agua, y para tomar medidas químicas básicas regularmente para los sitios del Rio Tijuana y el estuario. Necesitamos voluntarios para entrenar en obtener muestras cada mes, o para ser disponibles como reemplazos para otros voluntarios en el estuario, o a través del condado entero. Si usted ha atendido la sesion de entrenamiento y le gustaria contribuir colectando muestras este mes, por favor contacte a dan@surfridersd.org o dylan@sdcoastkeeper.org para más información, y para registrarse. También, déjenos saber si está regresando como voluntario o si es nuevo(a) al programa.  En adición, la Junta Estatal de Calidad de Agua de California está buscando voluntarios para ayudar documentar niveles de basura y flujo de agua con su nuevo app para el iPhone CreekWatch (próximamente para el Droid). Si usted tiene un iPhone, busque el app y ayúdelos mientras esta en el campo.  Este app le ayudara a la Junta determinar listados de agua afectadas (303d) también.

  
Evento Voluntario del Estuario de Tijuana Cada Segundo Sábado Mensual- sábado, 11 de junio, 9 a.m. a 12 en el centro de visitantes del estuario de Tijuana. Únase a la Reserva de el Estudio del Estuario Nacional del Rio Tijuana para la preserva y conservación de plantas nativas. No se requiere experiencia previa!  Individuos, familias y grupos son cordialmente invitados a participar. Todo voluntario deberá trabajar en pantalones largos y botas o zapatos fuertes.  Por favor traiga bloqueo de sol, lentes solares y sombreros. Guantes y herramientas serán proveídos.  Voluntarios menores de 18 años: tienen que traer formas de permisos firmadas, las cuales tenemos disponibles, y voluntarios menores de 16 años tienen que ser acompañados por un adulto. Para más información contacte a Danielle Litke a dlitke@parks.ca.gov.
 

NoBS Taller Trimestral- el primer taller tomara lugar el 16 de junio de 6:30 a 8:00 p.m. en la residencia de Mark en Imperial Beach: 321 Daisy Ave., Imperial Beach, CA. La campaña NoBS estará conduciendo talleres trimestrales para trabajar hacia la campaña de trabajo del 2011, coordinar eventos y oportunidades para voluntarios, y para entrenar nuevos voluntarios en cuestiones de política subrayando la campaña. Si está interesado en atender o ayudar con estos talleres, por favor envíeme sus ideas a dan@surfridersd.org. Este trimestre estaremos concentrando en la planificacion del Mes de Accion del Rio Tijuana, y otros puntos mayores para la campaña.
 
Jardines Concientes del Oceano vienen para IB! Acompañenos el domingo, 17 de julio a las 10 a.m. en la entrada al estuario de Tijuana para nuestra proxima patrulla de patios!!
Estaremos tomando una caminata breve por Imperial Beach Blvd y las calles adjacentes al Estuario, y estramos viendo algunos jardines que son en gran parte benignos al oceano, igual como algunos que no son tan benignos, y platicaremos acerca de las diferencias.  Tambien visitaremos City Hall en IB.
 
Las Patrullas de patio son una perfecta manera para aprender que es lo que hace un Jardin Benigno al Oceano benigno, los impactos que tienen nuestras decisiones en nuestros jardines contra el medio ambiente, y que pasos faciles usted puede tomar para convertir su jardin en uno que beneficia el oceano! Estaremos hablando acerca de salud del suelo, opciones de plantas, como retener agua de lluvia en su sitio, y como utilizar opciones organicas en vez de fertilizantes quimicos, herbicidas, y pesticidas!
 
Proxima Reunion Mensual del Enlace de Accion para el Rio Tijuana - La proxima reunion esta programada para miercoles, 27 de julio de 6:30 p.m. a 8 p.m. (sitio sera determinado).  Reuniones de enlace son una gran manera para conocer y compatir ideas con miembros de la organizacion y voluntarios de la Fundacion la Puerta, Proyecto Fronterizo, Fundacion Que Transforma, Alter Terra, Surfrider Foundation, Border Encuentro, Grupo Ecologista Tijuana, Tijuana Calidad de Vida, Tijuana Estuary, WiLDCOAST, Tijuana River Citizens’ Council, 4 Walls International, y mas. La agenda para esta reunion sera publicada al blog TRAN.  Visite el blog:  http://tijuanariveractionnetwork.blogspot.com/ para mas informacion acerca del Enlace, y notas de reuniones pasadas. Si esta interesado(a) en atender, por favor contacte a Dan@surfridersd.org.


Hágase Fan de NoBS en:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=119244691440340#!/pages/NoBS-No-Border-Sewage-Campaign-Border-Sewage-Affects-Us-All/317796537442?ref=search&sid=aWd8NJo_Yhyq2wzUrV0nfw.670169746..1
Como siempre, vea nuestro blog en http://www.bordersewagecoalition.blogspot.com/  para las últimas noticias. Aquí está el enlace a fotos de la más reciente inundación del valle del rio Tijuana, eventos de administración, y pruebas de agua mensuales:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/surfridersandiego/sets/72157625743131314/