IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif. — Efforts are underway to combat the persistent sewage odor plaguing South Bay communities. The city of San Diego placed large rocks in the Tijuana River Valley. They're supposed to help prevent the water from splashing and mitigate the smell of sewage.
"When I go outside I can smell it yeah in the backyard we can smell it," said Nancy who lives in Imperial Beach.
Millions of gallons of sewage-contaminated water flows from the Tijuana river toward Imperial Beach each day. Residents say the nauseating odor is only getting worse.
"Even if you try closing the windows or the doors the smell still gets into the house so that's just an example of how bad it was," said George Campillo, an Imperial Beach resident.
A new project is meant to help cutdown on the strong smell. The city of San Diego placed boulders along the river at Saturn Boulevard, a place known as a hot spot area for the foul smells.
"I work close by to the estuary and I know there's a lot of buildup that gets trapped over there and with the heat the gases just come out," Campillo said.
The rocks are meant to mitigate the high levels of hydrogen sulfide in the water that becomes airborne. CBS 8 asked Imperial Beach residents if they think the project will make a difference.
"The smell it's not gonna do nothing. It's nothing. Hopefully it will keep the trash from coming over to our side like the bottles and whatever. We will see what happens with that," said Imperial Beach resident Lance.
Campillo also said he has doubts the project will help.
"I don't think it effects the actual problem. I think the problem is with the relationship of us and Tijuana," he said.
CBS 8 reached out to Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre's office. She says she's hopeful the project will help mitigate the smell but says it won't solve the main issue which is the river itself. She is headed to Washington D.C. Tuesday to advocate for an emergency declaration.