San Diego, other cities to pay $ 11.4 million for 2023 wastewater along the Bay of San Diego – San Diego Union -Tribune

San Diego and several other local cities must pay a fine of $ 11.4 million for a wastewater spill in January 2023 which released 9.9 million wastewater gallons to 30 locations between Point Loma and San Diego International Airport.

San Diego officials say that the spill, which has been blamed for the heavy rain and dysfunctions of the sewer pumps, had a significant impact on biological resources in the Bay of San Diego or along the Bay.

San Diego’s fine share is $ 7.5 million. The remaining 3.9 million dollars will be divided between the 12 partner agencies of the city in the Wastewater Joint Powers Authority Metro.

These agencies include the Government of the County, Chula Vista, El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, National City, Poway, Del Mar, Coronado, Imperial Beach, the district of Water Otay and the municipal district of Padre Dam.

These agencies will pay pro-evaluated parties of the $ 3.9 million according to their part of the overall capacity of the sewer system.

Strong rains on January 16, 2023 created a strong influx at pumping station n ° 2, a large pumping station through Harbor Drive of Spanish landing which manages approximately 80% of the waste water pumped at the wastewater treatment plant in Loma.

San Diego officials blame the problem of the heavy intrigue, which they described as a five -year storm event, and a failed sensor that has triggered all the pumps to close.

Since the spill, the sensors have been replaced and the pumps have been reprogrammed. In addition, the crews repaired two of the eight pumps that did not even work before the malfunction of the sensor.

Payment, which was coordinated by the Regional Water Quality Control Council, will go to the state cleaning and reduction account of state water pollution.

San Diego approved the agreement on March 18.