Health Crisis in California Linked to Tijuana River Sewage
Many individuals in California are falling ill due to raw sewage that’s surfacing in the Tijuana River before it flows into the Pacific Ocean, as reported by the Associated Press.
Steve Egger, a 72-year-old resident of Southern California, described the situation as “terrible,” noting that the bubbles rising from the sewage release toxic gases into the atmosphere. “Most nights we breathe in a terrible stench,” he shared. Although he and his wife have installed a hospital-grade filtration system that refreshes their air every 15 minutes, they still deal with ongoing headaches, morning congestion, and phlegm.
Doctors have suggested that he relocate, but Egger feels deeply rooted in Southern California. “This is where I have lived my whole life with my family, my parents and grandparents,” he remarked. “This is home.”
The Tijuana River has transported a staggering 10 billion gallons of untreated sewage and industrial waste from Mexico into the U.S. since January 2026, according to figures from the International Waterfront Commission (IWBC), referenced by the Associated Press. Since 2018, the IWBC reports that over 100 billion gallons of untreated sewage, industrial chemicals, and debris have contaminated the river.
The IWBC manages the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, which was established to treat the sewage from Tijuana. Built collaboratively by the U.S. and Mexico in the early 1990s, this facility was intended to handle untreated water flowing into the U.S. The IWBC is obligated to treat this water following a Clean Water Act permit from the San Diego Regional Water Control Board, according to San Diego Coastkeeper.
The current sewage crisis is worsened by several factors, such as extreme weather conditions and insufficient maintenance. Additionally, the San Antonio de los Buenos treatment plant, which is operated by the Mexican government and is meant to release treated water into the Pacific Ocean, is not being maintained adequately.
Exposure to raw sewage is a serious health threat, leading to gastrointestinal infections and respiratory illnesses, as indicated by San Diego Coastkeeper. A study conducted by researchers at San Diego State University in February 2024 emphasized that children, pregnant women, and the elderly are especially at risk from contaminated sewage.
Dr. Kimberly Dixon, who operates a clinic in California with her husband Matthew, also a doctor, noted that patients with asthma see increased symptoms when exposed to air polluted by sewage. “They say, ‘Look, I feel better when the outside smell goes away,’” said Dixon.
Matthew added, “Unless this problem is solved, more and more people are getting sick every day.”
In response to the crisis, a bill introduced by California Democratic Senator Steve Padilla proposes that state standards account for the health risks associated with hydrogen sulfide gas from raw sewage. However, even if the legislation is enacted, it’s anticipated that the new regulations won’t take effect until 2030.
