Nine residents of Imperial Beach have announced a new lawsuit against Veolia Water, the company responsible for operating the wastewater treatment plant at the U.S.-Mexico border. This lawsuit, which marks the third legal action against Veolia in the past year, aims to address ongoing sewage crises affecting the community.
Key Takeaways
- Nine residents are suing Veolia Water for alleged negligence in wastewater management.
- This lawsuit is a mass action, allowing individual claims to be presented collectively.
- Over 500 documented cases of improper sewage disposal by Veolia have been reported.
- Veolia has called the allegations meritless, attributing issues to increased sewage flows from Tijuana.
Background of the Lawsuit
The announcement was made during a press conference held along the shores of Imperial Beach, where personal injury attorney Brett Schreiber emphasized the community's need for justice. He stated, "This community deserves this. The kids of this community deserve this. All of South San Diego deserves this."
This mass action lawsuit differs from previous class actions, as it allows each plaintiff to present their individual experiences related to the sewage crisis. Schreiber noted that many residents felt ignored when attempting to file individual claims against Veolia, prompting the need for collective action.
Allegations Against Veolia
The lawsuit claims that Veolia has improperly disposed of sewage on more than 500 occasions. Schreiber criticized the company, stating, "This ongoing environmental catastrophe could have and should have been prevented if Veolia had just simply done their job. If any of us had done our jobs as poorly as Veolia has, we would all be fired."
Veolia's Response
In response to the allegations, Veolia Water issued a statement declaring the claims to be meritless. The company explained that they are reviewing the complaint but emphasized that the primary cause of the pollution affecting Imperial Beach is the excessive sewage flows from Tijuana. They noted that much of this sewage does not even enter the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Veolia pointed out that the population of Tijuana has increased by nearly 30% over the last 15 years, while the infrastructure has not kept pace with this growth. They argued that the plant was not designed to handle the current volume of wastewater and that stronger cross-border collaboration is necessary to address the issue effectively.
Community Impact and Future Actions
While the lawsuit currently lists only nine plaintiffs, Schreiber anticipates that more residents will join the action. He described the situation as a human rights issue, expressing hope that the collective power of the community could compel Veolia to fulfill its responsibilities.
"Our hope is that by banding together with, starting with dozens, eventually, hundreds and hopefully thousands or even tens of thousands of members of this community, we can use the power and the deterrent effect of the civil justice system to get Veolia to finally do their job," Schreiber stated.
As the situation develops, the residents of Imperial Beach remain vigilant, seeking accountability and improvements in wastewater management to protect their community and environment.
