The Guardian – Raw Sewage Crisis on the US-Mexico Boarder

Heavy metals and E coli: raw sewage at US-Mexico border a ‘public health crisis’

This article covers the story of a raw sewage run off into the Tijuana River, which is contaminating the Pacific Ocean, the air, and soil in the region. Tijuana and San Diego have been attempting to raise awareness to their state and national governments about the issue for decades now. Bacteria such as antibiotic resistant strains of E coli and legionella could be present in the water, as well as tuberculosis which has been nearly eradicated in the United States. These contagions can be spread into the air by crashing waves in the ocean and general stench. This is a result of nothing done to prevent contamination of the river for decades and the issue is intensifying. A $310m bill was issued by Joe Biden to improve wastewater treatment, but the bill is yet to be approved by congress.

Two specific examples of successfully engaging writing:

• The sewage also poses a grave risk to local ecosystems. The researchers point to a recent case in which bottlenose dolphins stranded in San Diego were found to have died from sepsis caused by a bacteria that is commonly transmitted through exposure to faeces or urine.
  • Engages reader with the use of an animal example (which occurred from human waste, making the reader feel bad indirectly).
• “‘Everybody who lives here has been affected by it one way or another,’ said Aguirre, who has herself been to urgent care a few times after contracting illnesses, including viral pharyngitis, after spending time near the water.”
  • Engages the reader by providing an example of a local citizen affected by the issue.

Two specific examples of what doesn’t work so well about the article:

• “California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, and Congressman Scott Peters, whose district borders Imperial Beach, have also urged urgent action. ‘In the history of this issue, we have never had as much attention on it as we have had these past 12 months,’ said Aguirre. ‘Is it enough? No.’”
  • This is a quote bomb and is confusing.
• “Communities on both sides of the border have been raising the alarm about this contamination for decades, complaining of the near-constant stench in the air, and pushing for better wastewater infrastructure. Unprecedented storms in recent years, exacerbated by the climate crisis, have put even more pressure on faltering sewage systems – and increased public health risks.”
  • Drops a fact about unprecedented storms that do not deal with the rest of the article, and makes the mind wonder elsewhere. Also puts the focus on the climate crisis instead of the sewage crisis.