Free air purifiers available for South Bay residents: Here's how to apply
CHULA VISTA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — Residents in South Bay communities near the Tijuana River Valley can apply for a free air purifier part of a new program.
The San Diego County Air Pollution Control District's (SDAPCD) new program will give out free air purifiers to some households impacted by the odors from the sewage flows at the U.S.-Mexico border.
EPA Chief Lee Zeldin to visit US-Mexico border, examine Tijuana sewage crisis
Most households in the southern San Diego communities of Otay Mesa West, San Ysidro, Egger Highlands, Nestor, the Tijuana River Valley, and the City of Imperial Beach can apply for the Air Improvement Relief Effort (AIRE) Program.
Residents can visit sdapcd.org/AIRE to check eligibility for the program by their address.
SDAPCD says priority will be given to homes with children and people over 65 years of age, and in communities closest to the Tijuana River Valley.
Those that are chosen will receive a free air purifier and up to two replacement filters that will be shipped by the manufacturer.
CDC health survey shows impacts of Tijuana sewage crisis on South Bay residents
SDAPCD noted that due to limited quantities not all eligible households will receive an air purifier.
Residents in southern San Diego County have been dealing with impacts from the cross-border pollution for years, including air and water quality.
Toxic sewage from Tijuana River impacts Imperial Beach Little League
SDAPCD says the air purifiers will be given to homes directly impacted by the hydrogen sulfide odors, which smells similar to 'rotten eggs,' that is produced by the transboundary wastewater and sewage flows near the Tijuana River Valley. The air purifiers help to improve air quality by reducing contaminants and pollutants in a room.
The health and environmental impacts from the sewage pollution caught the attention of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which sent officials to conduct a public health survey in late 2024. The results of that study found a majority of residents said they have health concerns, symptoms and quality-of-life issues.
In early April, EPA Chief Lee Zeldin posted on social media intentions to visit the U.S.-Mexico border in the coming weeks to see first-hand the impacts from the sewage crisis after years of repeated calls for action from the federal government.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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