Calexico New River Committee

IV Press – Suds in New River a ‘nuisance,’ official says

By ALEJANDRO DAVILA
Staff Writer

CALEXICO — It may have looked like snow, but it was actually a vast amount of detergent foam that appeared in the New River on Tuesday.

The New River, which originates in Mexico and ends in the Salton Sea, was at one time considered the most polluted in the country.

“We get foam periodically,” said Jose Angel, California Regional Water Quality Control Board assistant executive officer. The discharge comes from the Zaragoza wastewater treatment lagoons, Angel said, and “it’s soap, basically.”

But the foam does carry some bacteria, so people need to stay away from it, he said. “It’s a nuisance. It’s a concern (for) people,” Angel said referring to the foam, but “it’s not uncommon.”

Foam comes seasonally, he said, and is not measured. There have been talks with Mexican agencies on the issue, but action is expected to take time, Angel said.

The last time this amount of discharge was seen was in early 2010, said Miguel Figueroa, executive director of the New River Committee.

The amount of foam that appeared this week, “you don’t see it every day,” said Figueroa. When these “non-biodegradable detergents” come in contact with the New River it becomes contaminated, he said.

On windy days the contaminated foam could become airborne, Figueroa said, and this can have an impact on residents throughout the Valley.

“This is obviously a public health issue,” Figueroa said.

Staff Writer Alejandro Davila can be reached at 760-337-3445 or adavila@ivpress online.com