San Diego’s cross-border sewage crisis worsens as Mexico continues to dump raw sewage into local waters, forcing Navy SEALs to relocate training and causing thousands of illnesses annually among residents.

At a Glance

• Mexico releases millions of gallons of raw sewage daily into San Diego waters, affecting Navy SEALs and local residents
• 39% of Navy special forces gastrointestinal illness cases are linked to contaminated water exposure
• SEAL training has been relocated from Coronado to Oceanside due to waterborne illnesses
• The South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant is overwhelmed, treating 25 million gallons daily but receiving 30 million
• UC San Diego research found 34,000 annual cases of illness at Imperial Beach due to contaminated water

National Security Threat in San Diego’s Waters

The Tijuana River Valley in San Diego has become a dumping ground for trash, raw sewage, and industrial waste flowing from Mexico. A Department of Defense report recently revealed that water contamination from Mexican sewage exceeded safety levels in over 75% of samples tested. This pollution has created a crisis that extends beyond environmental concerns to become a matter of national security, as it directly impacts military readiness along the southern border.

Navy SEALs training in the contaminated waters off Imperial Beach and Coronado have reported hundreds of cases of acute gastrointestinal illness, respiratory issues, skin infections, and headaches. The situation has become so severe that military officials have been forced to relocate SEAL training operations from Coronado to Oceanside, disrupting critical military preparation. The Defense Department’s findings confirm what local residents have experienced for years – their beaches and waterways have become hazardous to human health.

A Cross-Border Infrastructure Failure

At the center of this crisis is the overwhelmed South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant. Despite being designed to process 25 million gallons of sewage daily, the facility regularly receives upwards of 30 million gallons, causing constant overflow into American waters. The financial burden of addressing this international problem has fallen disproportionately on American taxpayers, with Mexico contributing just $16.8 million to the plant’s construction compared to the United States’ $239.4 million investment.

San Diego County officials have expressed frustration with Mexico’s repeated broken promises to address the sewage discharge. While Congress has allocated $550 million for plant expansion and repairs, experts estimate that fully addressing the infrastructure needs would require closer to $900 million. The ongoing diplomatic situation leaves American communities suffering the consequences of pollution originating from across the international border.

Health Crisis for Military and Civilians

The human toll of this environmental disaster continues to mount. Research from UC San Diego found approximately 34,000 annual cases of illness at Imperial Beach alone due to contaminated water. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) has recommended relocating, rescheduling, or canceling military training when bacteria levels exceed safety standards. This recommendation acknowledges the severity of the health risks but fails to address the root cause of the problem.

“Mexico just dumped 6 million gallons of sewage into the Tijuana River — after promising they wouldn’t,” said San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond on X today. “We are at the mercy of a foreign government that continues to pollute our waters — while we get stuck with the consequences.”

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin recently announced that Mexico plans to activate a facility to reduce sewage leakage, stating: “Mexico is stating that their pump station Cila will be activated to fully capture leakage headed to the U.S. tomorrow. Mexico has further communicated that they are working to complete their international collector repair by this weekend.” However, similar promises have been made and broken in the past, leaving many San Diego residents skeptical about meaningful progress.

Looking Forward: Solutions and Accountability

San Diego’s contaminated waters represent a complex international challenge requiring diplomatic coordination, substantial infrastructure investment, and political will from both nations. For the thousands of residents and military personnel affected by this ongoing crisis, the need for a permanent solution grows more urgent with each passing day.

Until both nations fully address the infrastructure deficiencies and enforce environmental standards, communities along both sides of the border will continue to suffer the health consequences of this preventable disaster.