This week’s high heat, combined with untreated wastewater flows from Mexico in the Tijuana River Valley, has led to elevated hydrogen sulfide emissions, county officials announced Friday.
The gas, often recognized by a strong rotten egg smell, is being tracked by the San Diego Air Pollution Control District’s network of monitors.
According to the county, work to repair a broken pump in Tijuana’s sewage infrastructure may also be contributing to the foul smells. The US International Boundary and Water Commission reported a pump failure at Mexican Pump Station PB1 caused transboundary flows at Stewart’s Drain on Saturday and Sunday. While odor reports tend to rise regionwide during heat events, the Tijuana River Valley experiences dry-weather flows of untreated wastewater…