Tijuana River Sewage Crisis

Last Updated: October 10, 2024

Every year, billions of gallons of toxic pollution flow across the U.S./Mexico border down the Tijuana River, bringing untreated sewage, hazardous industrial chemicals and trash into the Tijuana Estuary and Pacific Ocean. This pollution has led to years of beach closures in Imperial Beach and Coronado, and growing threats to public health from waterborne and airborne pathogens, and severe impacts to valuable coastal and marine habitats and the local economy.

Imperial Beach’s public beach has been closed for Over 1,000 consecutive days, and counting. 

The failure to treat the sewage is a complex cross-border problem, with years of neglect and lack of funding in both the U.S. and Mexico that has caused the crisis to worsen. It is now an environmental, social justice and public health catastrophe that continues to disproportionately impact communities in South County San Diego. San Diego Coastkeeper took up this issue in 2023, and we are committed to using every means at our disposal to address the Tijuana Sewage Crisis.  

Learn more by checking out our two-part blog series ‘Understanding the Tijuana River Sewage Crisis’:

 
Help researches gather important health data and community concerns. Take the community survey by SDSU’s research project, Healthy Water Healthy Air.

Tijuana River: ACTION Timeline

November 13, 2024

Daily Air Quality Monitoring Established to Drive Public Health Recommendations

In response to growing air quality concerns due to Tijuana River pollution—particularly high levels of Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S), an airborne byproduct of untreated sewage, decomposing organic matter, and hazardous industrial activities—The San Diego Air Pollution Control District established monitoring stations in three locations throughout souther San Diego to provide residents with reliable air quality readings and response system.

 

November 13, 2024

August 8th, 2024

Binational Coalition, “One Coast One Community” is Formed

Coastkeeper began collaborating with a binational coalition comprised of non-profit (Proyecto Fronterizo de Educación Ambiental) and academic partners (San Diego State University and Tecnológico Nacional de México) on both sides of the border to generate and share data and information on a centralized platform: One Coast, One Community.

One Coast One Community logo

August 8th, 2024

April 15, 2024

Tijuana River Designated as ‘Endangered’

The Tijuana River becomes designated as one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2024 by American Rivers, citing “pollution causing sickness, forcing beach closures, and endangering local economies”.

April 15, 2024

April 11, 2024

Coastkeeper Files Lawsuit

San Diego Coastkeeper and Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation (CERF) file lawsuit against the federal government for over 600 violations of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) South Bay International Treatment Plant’s Clean Water Act Discharge Permit.

April 11, 2024

March 22, 2024

$156 Million Approved for South Bay Plant Repairs

Congress includes $156 million in supplemental funding for the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant in the FY24 budget in response to pressure from Coastkeeper’s Border Pollution Coalition.

March 22, 2024

March 11, 2023

State Bill Introduced to Hold U.S. Corporate Polluters in Tijuana Responsible

Coastkeeper supports SB1178 from Senator Steve Padilla, which would force California companies contributing to TJ River pollution to pay into a cleanup fund.

March 11, 2023

December 28, 2023

Clean Water Act Notice Filed

San Diego Coastkeeper and CERF put Feds on Legal Notice for Polluted Discharges from Border Wastewater Treatment Plant.

December 28, 2023

November 2023

Letter to President Biden

Border Pollution Coalition send letter to President Biden requesting a federal emergency declaration, and Biden’s support for increased Congressional funding to repair the South Bay Treatment Plant.

 

November 2023

Summer 2022

Feds Admit South Bay Treatment Plant is Near Failure

IBWC admits that it needs at least $150 million of additional funding to repair the plant, following decades of neglect and deferred maintenance. 

Summer 2022

December 2010

Tijuana River Mouth Designated as MPA

Tijuana River Mouth State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA), becomes designated as California’s southernmost marine protected area (MPA) due to advocacy led by San Diego Coastkeeper.

December 2010

1997-2023

Cross Border Tijuana River Pollution Worsens

Failing sewage infrastructure in Mexico and negligent operation of the South Bay Plant by the U.S. government result in chronic pollution of Tijuana River and coastal communities.

1997-2023

1997

South Bay International Treatment Plant Completed

This 25 million gallon per day sewage treatment plant comes online, treating sewage from Tijuana and discharging it into the Pacific Ocean.

1997

1934

International Boundary Commission Ordered to Investigate Tijuana River Pollution

Growing concerns about sewage pollution of the Tijuana River led to the eventual establishment of IBWC, treaty agreements between the U.S. and Mexico and construction of the South Bay International Treatment Plant.

1934

ways you can help

Demand Urgent Action

Add your voice to the petition below, led by our friends at Surfrider Foundation, to call on the President and Congress to act now to address this national emergency. 

Support Clean Water

Your support directly fuels San Diego Coastkeeper's efforts to relentlessly uphold the Clean Water Act and protect the health of our inland waterways and coastal waters.

Support Important Research

Help SDSU's "Healthy Water, Healthy Air" research project gather valuable health data and concerns to better understand the impacts of pollution on our communities.