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Writer's pictureLeanne Fan

The Tijuana Wastewater Crisis

For those living on the US-Mexico border, daily life is tainted by the noxious stench of human waste and toxic chemicals leaching in from the Tijuana River. In the past five years, the International Boundary and Water Commission has reported that over 100 billion gallons of untreated sewage, industrial waste, and urban runoff have poured into the Pacific Ocean and Tijuana Estuary through from the Tijuana River. This problem is reportedly due to Mexico's tremendous industrial and population growth along with their inadequate sewage infrastructure. Consequently, sewage generated on the Mexico side of the watershed flows into California through the Tijuana River or Tijuana River Valley. This escalating public health crisis has already been reported by local citizens for decades-- but remains unsolved to this day.


Other than the horrible smell, the pollution presents a wide range of health hazards. The sewage contains antibiotic-resistant strains of legionella and E coli, along with many strains that have already been eradicated in the United States, including tuberculosis. Banned pesticides such as DDT and heavy metals have also been found in the waste. 

To make the problem worse, the never-ending mass of raw human sewage, carcinogenic chemicals, viruses, bacteria, and parasites is easily aerosolized by crashing waves, presenting an even bigger problem for those who live near the pollution. These pollutants and pathogens have been found in the air and soil many miles away from the water, putting over 750,000 people at risk.


Vulnerable groups such as seniors, children, outdoor workers, and pregnant women are especially prone to the effects of breathing in this aerosolized raw sewage. Furthermore, border communities often have limited economic resources, and already have an increased risk of chronic diseases. A hazard like this only exacerbates these risks further. 


The sewage not only harms local residents, but also presents a critical risk to our native ecosystem. Three bottlenose dolphins have already died from sepsis resulting from bacterial pollution. The Tijuana River Watershed is also home to some of the most ecologically significant coastal island ecosystems on the Pacific Coast. Over 300 bird species, many of which are endangered and threatened, use the estuary as a stop in the Pacific Flyway. Furthermore, the Tijuana River Mouth Marine Conservation Area is a key nesting habitat for 36 seabird species, two sea turtle species, and four pinniped species. Objects such as waste tires, and other plastic pollution can serve as vectors for disease-carrying mosquitoes and other diseases that may infect native species and their offspring. 


A lack of U.S. Jurisdiction in Mexico makes it difficult for California to address the source of the sewage flow. Efforts from the US and Mexico International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) include constructing diversion structures and pump stations, but they have made little impact so far. Years of inaction on this issue have caused it to get exponentially worse. The IBWC has plans in place to increase the volume of wastewater that can be treated, yet limited funds continue to pose a significant obstacle. While this problem is fixable, it seems that we will only be seeing major improvements several years down the line. 

 



Citations


[1] “Border Water Pollution Economic Impacts | Engage San Diego County.” Engage.sandiegocounty.gov, engage.sandiegocounty.gov/border-pollution.


[2] Little, Joe. “Toxic Tide: The Sewage Crisis at the Border.” NBC 7 San Diego, 1 Jan. 2024, www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/toxic-tide-the-sewage-crisis-at-the-border/3391666/.


[3] “New Report Finds Tijuana River Contamination a Public Health Crisis.” Www.youtube.com, www.youtube.com/watch?v=06EHaeNtzvU. Accessed 22 Feb. 2024.


[4] Rios, Pedro. “San Diegans Hold Their Breath as Newsom Defers to Washington D.C. On Tijuana River Sewage Crisis.” CalMatters, 20 Nov. 2023, calmatters.org/commentary/2023/11/san-diego-tijuana-river-sewage/.


[5] “Sewage Pollution within the Tijuana River Watershed | San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board.” Ca.gov, 2014, www.waterboards.ca.gov/sandiego/water_issues/programs/tijuana_river_valley_strategy/sewage_issue.html.


[6] Singh, Maanvi. “Heavy Metals and E Coli: Raw Sewage in Tijuana River Endangers California Communities.” The Guardian, 15 Feb. 2024, www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/15/us-mexico-california-tijuana-river-illness-public-health.


[7] Team, SDSU News. “New Report: Public Health Crisis Unfolds as Tijuana River Sewage Contamination Escalates.” Www.sdsu.edu, 14 Feb. 2024, www.sdsu.edu/news/2024/02/public-health-crisis-unfolds-as-tijuana-river-sewage-contamination-escalates.


[8] The Tijuana Estuary Is One of the Largest Remaining Coastal Wetlands in Southern California.


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