https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/26/us/mexico-sewage-california-
beaches.html
White sand stretches for miles where Pacific Ocean waves crash into the shore. Nearby, bicycles lean against seaside cottages that are accented by banana and palm trees out front. A rickety wooden pier offers spectacular views of sherbet-hued sunsets over the water.
To the eye, Imperial Beach, Calif., is an idyllic beach town, a playground for tourists and Southern California residents alike at the southern
border with Mexico.
But lately, the view has been ruined by the sea breeze, which reeks of
rotten eggs. The surfers who once prepared for big-wave competitions are gone. So are the tourists who built intricate sand castles and licked ice cream cones on the pier.
Imperial Beach is now the center of one of the nation’s worst
environmental disasters: Every day, 50 million gallons of untreated
sewage, industrial chemicals and trash flow from Tijuana, Mexico, into southern San Diego County.
The cross-national problem traces back at least a century. But it has significantly worsened in recent years as the population of Tijuana has exploded and sewage treatment plants in both countries have fallen into disrepair.
“It’s a public health ticking time bomb that isn’t being taken seriously,”
said Paloma Aguirre, the mayor of Imperial Beach. “We need help.”
Imperial Beach’s shoreline, which has drawn tourists for more than a century, has been closed for more than 1,200 days in a row because of
health concerns.
A growing body of research suggests that even breathing the air may be harmful, as toxic particles in the water can become airborne. There are no overnight solutions, and officials on both sides of the border say that it will take yearslong expansions of sewage treatment plants to stop the pollution.
In the meantime, Ms. Aguirre permanently sealed shut the windows of her
home to keep out the noxious stench.
More than 1,100 Navy recruits have contracted gastrointestinal illnesses after training in southern San Diego waters, the Office of the Naval Inspector General determined. And nearly half of the region’s 40,900 households have experienced health problems, including migraine headaches, rashes and shortness of breath, that were most likely attributable to the sewage, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Things have grown so desperate that when Lee Zeldin, President Trump’s new environmental secretary and a former Republican congressman, arrived last month, even local Democrats cheered. On Earth Day, Mr. Zeldin came to Imperial Beach and vowed to urgently fix the sewage problem, which he said was “top of mind” for Mr. Trump.
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“We are all out of patience,” Mr. Zeldin said.
The crisis has upended life in southern San Diego County — what locals
call South County — which has an unusual mix of touristy beach towns and industrial warehouses. The region is defined by its border with Mexico,
where Spanish and English flow interchangeably and the densely populated hillsides of Tijuana loom in the distance.
But South County residents have felt powerless when it comes to the
complex international dynamics that have allowed so much sewage to
overwhelm their neighborhoods.
“We want to be able to survive,” said Jesse Ramirez, 60, who has owned a skate and surf shop on Imperial Beach’s main drag for three decades. On a recent morning during what would typically be the start of tourist season, his store was entirely empty.
Imperial Beach, known to locals as I.B., was never as glamorous as the wealthy beach spots farther north. It takes its name from Imperial County,
an inland region from which farmers once arrived each summer to escape the sweltering heat.
The city has long been a working-class community, and its nearly four
miles of coastline have functioned as a town square at the southwestern corner of the continental United States.
Not long ago, surfers rode the world-renowned swells at Tijuana Sloughs,
the city’s southernmost beach. Locals walked their dogs on the warm sand and enjoyed the sea breeze and pints of beer on outdoor patios.
But so-called extreme odor events happen more nights than not. Tests have found a disturbing slew of contaminants in the water, including arsenic, heavy metals, hepatitis, E. coli, salmonella, banned pesticides such as
DDT, and more.
“We have watched in horror as the amounts of sewage have catastrophically increased,” said Serge Dedina, a surfer and environmentalist who served as mayor of Imperial Beach from 2014 to 2022. “It’s become kind of like a collective mental health crisis.”
In the 1990s, in an act of binational cooperation, the United States built
a plant on its side of the border to help treat sewage from Tijuana, which often flowed into San Diego beaches via northward currents from Mexico. At the same time, Mexico established a plant in Tijuana as well.
But those plants haven’t kept up with explosive population growth in Tijuana, one of Mexico’s fastest-growing cities. Roughly 2.3 million
people now live in the city, spurred in part by American companies that
built factories there for cheap labor. Aging infrastructure and damage
from turbulent rains have further reduced how much sewage the plants can treat.
The sewage problem now stretches up to Coronado, a wealthy enclave known
for the historic Hotel del Coronado, where rooms regularly go for $1,000 a night and a $550 million renovation just finished after six years.
Beaches have been forced to close there as well, so fewer tourists are booking lodging, said John Duncan, the city’s mayor.
“My biggest concern as mayor is that the reputation as ‘the toilet of Mexico’ starts to stick at some point and really hurts us,” Mr. Duncan said.
In addition to the sewage that goes directly into the ocean, another 10 million gallons each day flow into the 120-mile Tijuana River, which
begins in Mexico and winds northward into the United States before
emptying at Imperial Beach, according to the U.S. International Boundary
and Water Commission, which manages the U.S. treatment plant and is
overseen by the State Department.
The river waste comes from factories, as well as from shantytowns in
Tijuana that aren’t hooked up to the city’s sewer system. The river provides habitat for 370 species of birds along the Pacific Flyway, an important migratory pathway. But in recent years, it has essentially
become an open sewer running through southern San Diego neighborhoods and near schools, researchers say.
On a recent day, the water in the Tijuana River appeared fluorescent green and was spotted with foam, what scientists say is the product of
industrial chemicals. Beneath lanky willows, discarded tires clogged the waterway. Crushed milk jugs and scraps of clothing piled up on the river’s muddy banks. The sulfur stench was pungent, even through a respirator
mask.
Along the river, scientists have detected astronomically high levels of hydrogen sulfide in the air, which can cause headaches, fatigue, skin infections, anxiety and respiratory and gastrointestinal problems.
Residents have complained about such symptoms for years, said Paula
Stigler Granados, a public health researcher at San Diego State
University.
“I consider this to be the largest environmental justice issue in the
whole country,” Ms. Granados said. “I don’t know any other place where millions of gallons of raw sewage would be allowed to flow through a community.”
The U.S. boundary commission has secured $600 million to double its
treatment capacity to 50 million gallons per day, according to Frank
Fisher, a spokesman. The Mexican plant is also working on repairs and expanding capacity, he said.
Many worry that the changes will take too long: The expansion at the
American plant alone will take five years. Some short-term ideas that have been floated include trying to treat the river water before it reaches neighborhoods and giving air purifiers to residents.
Mr. Zeldin said when he visited San Diego in April that he was compiling a list of projects that would solve the crisis sooner. He suggested building
a funnel at the Mexican treatment plant that would send sewage farther
from the shore.
Mr. Dedina, the former Imperial Beach mayor, moved there when he was 7 and grew up surfing and lifeguarding. But he surfed those waters for the last time in 2019, he said, heading back to shore despite perfect, 10-foot
waves. The water that day was simply too foul.
“I just said: ‘I can’t do this anymore. I can’t go in the water,’” he
recalled. “It’s like Russian roulette.” In 2022, Mr. Dedina moved Wildcoast, the environmental nonprofit he runs, out of Imperial Beach
because his employees began complaining of toxic fumes. Then, last year,
he and his wife moved to central San Diego, away from the stench. The
health risks in his hometown had become too much.
“I miss the life that I had,” he said. “Grabbing my surfboard, going in the water. It’s gone and it’s tragic.”
It seems odd that this post has failed to generate any chatter in
the newsgroups per the topic. Here are some questions I have.
On 30/5/25 8:00, Doctor Fill wrote:
It seems odd that this post has failed to generate any chatter in
the newsgroups per the topic. Here are some questions I have.
You do not understand Mexico is a sovereign nation.
You have to bribe sovereign nations to do your bidding.
On 30 May 2025, Siri Cruz <chine.bleu@yahoo.com> posted some news:101d2pg$l9av$1@dont-email.me:
On 30/5/25 8:00, Doctor Fill wrote:
It seems odd that this post has failed to generate any chatter in
the newsgroups per the topic. Here are some questions I have.
You do not understand Mexico is a sovereign nation.
You have to bribe sovereign nations to do your bidding.
It would be appropriate to return their illegal alien invaders after
dipping them in it.
On 30 May 2025, Siri Cruz <chine.bleu@yahoo.com> posted some news:101d2pg$l9av$1@dont-email.me:
On 30/5/25 8:00, Doctor Fill wrote:
It seems odd that this post has failed to generate any chatter in
the newsgroups per the topic. Here are some questions I have.
You do not understand Mexico is a sovereign nation.
You have to bribe sovereign nations to do your bidding.
It would be appropriate to return their illegal alien invaders after
dipping them in it.
On Fri, 30 May 2025 09:00:28 -0600, Doctor Fill <DF@cocks.net> wrote:
On 5/29/2025 1:17 PM, Leroy N. Soetoro wrote:<snip>
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/26/us/mexico-sewage-california-
beaches.html
<snip>Imperial Beach is now the center of one of the nation’s worst
environmental disasters: Every day, 50 million gallons of untreated
sewage, industrial chemicals and trash flow from Tijuana, Mexico, into
southern San Diego County.
When did Republicans suddenly start caring about the environment?
On 6/1/2025 2:07 AM, Governor Swill wrote:
On Fri, 30 May 2025 09:00:28 -0600, Doctor Fill <DF@cocks.net> wrote:
On 5/29/2025 1:17 PM, Leroy N. Soetoro wrote:<snip>
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/26/us/mexico-sewage-california-
beaches.html
<snip>Imperial Beach is now the center of one of the nation’s worst
environmental disasters: Every day, 50 million gallons of untreated
sewage, industrial chemicals and trash flow from Tijuana, Mexico, into >>>> southern San Diego County.
When did Republicans suddenly start caring about the environment?
Nixon created the EPA. Ronald Reagan wrote a personal check to ensure
that when the U.S.Marine base in Torrey Pines shut down part of it
became Torrey Pines State Park.
Doctor Fill wrote this post while blinking in Morse code:
On 6/1/2025 2:07 AM, Governor Swill wrote:
On Fri, 30 May 2025 09:00:28 -0600, Doctor Fill <DF@cocks.net> wrote:
On 5/29/2025 1:17 PM, Leroy N. Soetoro wrote:<snip>
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/26/us/mexico-sewage-california-
beaches.html
<snip>Imperial Beach is now the center of one of the nation’s worst
environmental disasters: Every day, 50 million gallons of untreated
sewage, industrial chemicals and trash flow from Tijuana, Mexico, into >>>>> southern San Diego County.
When did Republicans suddenly start caring about the environment?
Nixon created the EPA. Ronald Reagan wrote a personal check to ensure
that when the U.S.Marine base in Torrey Pines shut down part of it
became Torrey Pines State Park.
More than 40-some years ago.
And they both did some bad stuff during their tenures.
On 6/1/2025 8:54 AM, Chris Ahlstrom wrote:
Doctor Fill wrote this post while blinking in Morse code:
On 6/1/2025 2:07 AM, Governor Swill wrote:
On Fri, 30 May 2025 09:00:28 -0600, Doctor Fill <DF@cocks.net> wrote:
On 5/29/2025 1:17 PM, Leroy N. Soetoro wrote:<snip>
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/26/us/mexico-sewage-california-
beaches.html
<snip>Imperial Beach is now the center of one of the nation’s worst
environmental disasters: Every day, 50 million gallons of untreated >>>>>> sewage, industrial chemicals and trash flow from Tijuana, Mexico, into >>>>>> southern San Diego County.
When did Republicans suddenly start caring about the environment?
Nixon created the EPA. Ronald Reagan wrote a personal check to ensure
that when the U.S.Marine base in Torrey Pines shut down part of it
became Torrey Pines State Park.
More than 40-some years ago.
And they both did some bad stuff during their tenures.
George Herbert Walker Bush ordered U2 flights over Rocky Flats in
Jefferson County, Colorado to obtain evidence that Rockwell Corporation
was illegally dumping solvents used in the machine shops (making
plutonium triggers for H-bombs) into the Broomfield water supply, and followed through by bringing criminal charges against Rockwell executives.
Doctor Fill wrote this post while blinking in Morse code:
On 6/1/2025 2:07 AM, Governor Swill wrote:
On Fri, 30 May 2025 09:00:28 -0600, Doctor Fill <DF@cocks.net>
wrote:
On 5/29/2025 1:17 PM, Leroy N. Soetoro wrote:<snip>
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/26/us/mexico-sewage-california-
beaches.html
<snip>Imperial Beach is now the center of one of the nation’s worst >>>>> environmental disasters: Every day, 50 million gallons of
untreated sewage, industrial chemicals and trash flow from
Tijuana, Mexico, into southern San Diego County.
When did Republicans suddenly start caring about the environment?
Nixon created the EPA. Ronald Reagan wrote a personal check to
ensure that when the U.S.Marine base in Torrey Pines shut down part
of it became Torrey Pines State Park.
More than 40-some years ago.
And they both did some bad stuff during their tenures.
On 6/1/2025 2:07 AM, Governor Swill wrote:
On Fri, 30 May 2025 09:00:28 -0600, Doctor Fill <DF@cocks.net> wrote:
On 5/29/2025 1:17 PM, Leroy N. Soetoro wrote:<snip>
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/26/us/mexico-sewage-california-
beaches.html
<snip>Imperial Beach is now the center of one of the nation’s worst
environmental disasters: Every day, 50 million gallons of untreated
sewage, industrial chemicals and trash flow from Tijuana, Mexico,
into southern San Diego County.
When did Republicans suddenly start caring about the environment?
Nixon created the EPA. Ronald Reagan wrote a personal check to ensure
that when the U.S.Marine base in Torrey Pines shut down part of it
became Torrey Pines State Park.
On 01 Jun 2025, Doctor Fill <DF@cocks.net> posted some news:101hgt3$234da$2@dont-email.me:
On 6/1/2025 2:07 AM, Governor Swill wrote:
On Fri, 30 May 2025 09:00:28 -0600, Doctor Fill <DF@cocks.net> wrote:
On 5/29/2025 1:17 PM, Leroy N. Soetoro wrote:<snip>
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/26/us/mexico-sewage-california-
beaches.html
<snip>Imperial Beach is now the center of one of the nation’s worst >>>>> environmental disasters: Every day, 50 million gallons of untreated
sewage, industrial chemicals and trash flow from Tijuana, Mexico,
into southern San Diego County.
When did Republicans suddenly start caring about the environment?
Nixon created the EPA. Ronald Reagan wrote a personal check to ensure
that when the U.S.Marine base in Torrey Pines shut down part of it
became Torrey Pines State Park.
Ahnold helped pass the Global Warming Solutions Act to cut emissions to
1990 levels by 2020, the Low Carbon Fuel Standard and the Million Solar
Roofs Initiative.
https://www.schwarzeneggerclimateinitiative.com/
Ahnold famously later said, "Nobody gives a shit about the climate".
Doctor Fill wrote this post while blinking in Morse code:
On 6/1/2025 2:07 AM, Governor Swill wrote:
On Fri, 30 May 2025 09:00:28 -0600, Doctor Fill <DF@cocks.net> wrote:
On 5/29/2025 1:17 PM, Leroy N. Soetoro wrote:<snip>
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/26/us/mexico-sewage-california-
beaches.html
<snip>Imperial Beach is now the center of one of the nation’s worst
environmental disasters: Every day, 50 million gallons of untreated
sewage, industrial chemicals and trash flow from Tijuana, Mexico, into >>>>> southern San Diego County.
When did Republicans suddenly start caring about the environment?
Nixon created the EPA. Ronald Reagan wrote a personal check to ensure
that when the U.S.Marine base in Torrey Pines shut down part of it
became Torrey Pines State Park.
More than 40-some years ago.
"Chris Ahlstrom" <OFeem1987@teleworm.us> wrote in message news:101hpj0$26i8u$1@dont-email.me...
Doctor Fill wrote this post while blinking in Morse code:
On 6/1/2025 2:07 AM, Governor Swill wrote:
On Fri, 30 May 2025 09:00:28 -0600, Doctor Fill <DF@cocks.net> wrote:
On 5/29/2025 1:17 PM, Leroy N. Soetoro wrote:<snip>
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/26/us/mexico-sewage-california-
beaches.html
<snip>Imperial Beach is now the center of one of the nation’s worst
environmental disasters: Every day, 50 million gallons of untreated >>>>>> sewage, industrial chemicals and trash flow from Tijuana, Mexico,
into
southern San Diego County.
When did Republicans suddenly start caring about the environment?
Nixon created the EPA. Ronald Reagan wrote a personal check to ensure
that when the U.S.Marine base in Torrey Pines shut down part of it
became Torrey Pines State Park.
More than 40-some years ago.
So that's the answer, at least 40-some years ago...
vegas wrote this post while blinking in Morse code:
<snip>
Your nym should be "lost wages", as you waste time crossposting nonsense here.
On 30/5/25 14:02, Stan wrote:
On 30 May 2025, Siri Cruz <chine.bleu@yahoo.com> posted some
news:101d2pg$l9av$1@dont-email.me:
On 30/5/25 8:00, Doctor Fill wrote:
It seems odd that this post has failed to generate any chatter in
the newsgroups per the topic. Here are some questions I have.
You do not understand Mexico is a sovereign nation.
You have to bribe sovereign nations to do your bidding.
It would be appropriate to return their illegal alien invaders after
dipping them in it.
We cannot violate the eighth amendment of our sovereign nation.
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