EARTH DAY: EPA Chief Visits Sewage Emergency on Border

Leave a CommentEARTH DAY: EPA Chief Visits Sewage Emergency on BorderCommentary, Environment

Summary

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is traveling to San Diego on Earth Day, April 22, 2025, to address a decades-long public health and environmental crisis caused by sewage flowing from Tijuana, Mexico, into the U.S. via the Tijuana River. The crisis has led to beach closures in areas like Coronado and Imperial Beach, environmental degradation of the Tijuana River Valley, and health issues, including illnesses among Navy SEALs training in contaminated waters. Zeldin emphasized the urgency of finding permanent solutions, citing concerns over public health, air quality, and economic impacts from prolonged beach closures.

Mexico recently completed the San Antonio de los Buenos Wastewater Treatment Plant, which processes 18 million gallons of sewage daily, while the U.S. is upgrading the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, a five-year project aimed at reducing transboundary flows by 90%. Despite these efforts, a recent spill of 5 million gallons per day into the Tijuana River occurred due to repairs on Mexico’s infrastructure, highlighting ongoing challenges. Zeldin plans to meet Mexico’s environmental secretary, confer with local officials and businesses, and tour the border to assess the situation.

Funding tensions persist: the U.S. allocated $250 million under a Biden-signed bill and $300 million via the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), but Zeldin noted Mexico’s failure to obligate $88 million of its USMCA funds. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum acknowledged a shortfall in delivering 1.3 million acre-feet of water to Texas under the 1944 Water Treaty, citing drought, and proposed a solution to the U.S.

A Toxic Tide Overwhelms the Border

For decades, a toxic tide of untreated sewage, industrial waste, and chemical runoff has surged across the U.S.-Mexico border, transforming the Tijuana River Valley into a public health and environmental disaster zone. Centered near San Diego, California, this escalating crisis—driven by failing infrastructure, rapid urban growth in Tijuana, and complex binational coordination—threatens communities, ecosystems, and economies on both sides of the border. On Earth Day 2025, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is visiting San Diego to confront what he calls a “public health and environmental crisis” that demands urgent action. Here’s a deep dive into the sewage crisis, its impacts, and the path toward solutions.

The scale of the crisis is immense: since 2018, over 100 billion gallons of raw sewage, trash, and polluted stormwater have flowed from Tijuana into the U.S., with a record 44 billion gallons in 2023 alone. On average, up to 40 million gallons of untreated or partially treated wastewater cross the border daily, contaminating the Tijuana River and the Pacific Ocean. In April 2025, Mexico released 5 million gallons per day into the river for five days during repairs to a critical junction box, underscoring persistent infrastructure challenges.

The Tijuana River watershed, a shared U.S.-Mexico resource, carries not only sewage but also hazardous chemicals like DDT, heavy metals, and pathogens such as E. coli. These pollutants flow through Imperial Beach, degrade the ecologically vital Tijuana River Estuary, and reach as far north as Coronado, where beaches face ongoing closures.

Root Causes of the Crisis

Several factors fuel this environmental catastrophe:

  • Aging Infrastructure: Tijuana’s sewage system, including Pump Station Cila and the San Antonio de los Buenos Wastewater Treatment Plant, is outdated and often nonfunctional. Spills, like a 6-million-gallon incident in February 2025, occur when systems fail or are overwhelmed by heavy rains.
  • Tijuana’s Growth: Rapid urbanization and industrial activity, including maquiladoras, have outpaced wastewater treatment capacity. The city’s population boom increases the volume of untreated waste.
  • Binational Challenges: The 1944 Water Treaty governs shared water resources, but implementation is complex. A 2022 U.S.-Mexico agreement pledged $474 million ($330 million from the U.S., $144 million from Mexico) to address the crisis, yet progress is slow, with Mexico yet to obligate $88 million of its USMCA funds.

Public Health and Economic Impacts

The sewage crisis poses severe health risks. Contaminated water and aerosolized toxins cause respiratory issues, skin rashes, and gastrointestinal illnesses, disproportionately affecting low-income and minority communities. Navy SEALs training in polluted waters have also reported illnesses. In Imperial Beach, beaches have been closed for over 1,200 consecutive days, with yellow “Keep Out of Water” signs a grim fixture since 2021. Residents report a pervasive “sewage smell” disrupting daily life.

The economic toll is significant. Prolonged beach closures deter tourists, costing San Diego County millions annually. Local businesses, fisheries, and property values suffer, with Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre noting that real estate values have plummeted due to odors and closures.

Environmental Degradation

The Tijuana River Estuary, a critical wetland and habitat for endangered species, is choking on pollutants. Toxic runoff kills marine life, disrupts migratory bird populations, and degrades coastal water quality as far south as Baja California. The presence of persistent chemicals like DDT and heavy metals in sediments creates long-term ecological challenges, threatening the estuary’s status as a “Wetland of International Importance.”

Zeldin’s Earth Day Visit and Federal Response

On April 22, 2025, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is visiting San Diego to address the crisis. “There is nowhere more important for me to be tomorrow than on the border in California, dealing with this very important public health and environmental crisis,” Zeldin said at a news conference. His itinerary includes meeting Mexico’s environmental secretary, hosting a press conference with affected Navy SEALs, visiting the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, and taking a helicopter tour of the border.

Zeldin’s visit signals heightened federal attention, with Coronado Mayor John Duncan calling it a “critical turning point of awareness.” The EPA is focused on accelerating solutions, emphasizing the need for Mexico to address its infrastructure challenges while leveraging U.S. investments.

Progress and Ongoing Efforts

Recent developments offer hope. Mexico’s San Antonio de los Buenos Wastewater Treatment Plant, completed in early 2025, processes 18 million gallons of sewage daily and is expected to be fully operational by spring. The U.S. broke ground on expanding the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant in October 2024, a $400-million project expected to double capacity and reduce transboundary flows by 90% by 2029.

The U.S. has committed significant funding: $250 million under a 2024 bill and $300 million through the USMCA. However, Zeldin noted that Mexico has yet to allocate its $88 million USMCA share, a point of ongoing discussion. Broader U.S.-Mexico coordination under the 1944 Water Treaty, including addressing Mexico’s shortfall of 1.3 million acre-feet of water owed to Texas, remains a priority, with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum proposing solutions to bridge the gap.

A Path Forward

Resolving the sewage crisis demands coordinated action:

  • Infrastructure Upgrades: Completing and maintaining treatment plants on both sides of the border is critical. Mexico must prioritize its USMCA funds, while the U.S. ensures timely project execution.
  • Binational Cooperation: Strengthening the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) and the 1944 Water Treaty framework is essential for accountability.
  • Community Advocacy: Local leaders like Aguirre and residents voicing concerns on platforms like X are driving urgency.
  • Climate Resilience: With drought and heavy rains exacerbating the crisis, climate-adapted infrastructure is vital.

A Call to Action

The Tijuana River Valley sewage crisis is a public health emergency, an ecological tragedy, and a call for stronger U.S.-Mexico collaboration. As Lee Zeldin’s Earth Day visit highlights the issue, the stakes are clear: without swift action, communities like Imperial Beach, Coronado, and Tijuana will continue to suffer. Residents, policymakers, and advocates must rally to demand accountability and investment to protect the region’s health, environment, and future.

For more information or to get involved, visit the EPA’s Border Water Infrastructure Program or follow local advocacy groups like San Diego Coastkeeper.

Published: April 22, 2025

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