The residents of a California beach city are having their lives disrupted by sewage seeping in from Mexico, often likened to being stuck in a portable toilet.
Shannon Johnson, a resident of California, resides a short distance from the clear waters and “ideal little curls” of Imperial Beach. However, Johnson and her two young children have not visited the beach in a year.
Johnson, who used to be involved with the Surfrider Foundation and has resided in Imperial Beach for the past decade, remarked, “Whenever we pass by the beach, people are always questioning, ‘Will it be clean? When will it be repaired?'” The beach is located in a small town called Imperial Beach, which has a population of 26,000 and is located 20 minutes away from the city of San Diego.
A recent report from San Diego State University found that the water is contaminated with heavy metals, dangerous chemicals, and harmful bacteria such as E. coli. The contamination is considered a serious health issue by researchers and has led to beach closures for over 700 days in a row. This has left residents, like Johnson, feeling trapped indoors with no resolution in sight.
Prebys Foundation
In the past five years, more than 100 billion gallons of raw sewage have been released into the Pacific Ocean at the coast of the town of Tijuana, Mexico via the Tijuana River. This has resulted in pollution of the air, water, and soil, and poses threats to both the environment and public health.
The issue has intensified since the 1930s. of bullying
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At the core of the issue are two old sewage treatment plants located on opposite sides of the border between the United States and Mexico: the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant and the San Antonio de los Buenos Wastewater Treatment Plant. The former, built in the late 1990s in San Diego County, was designed to handle the increasing amount of sewage from the expanding population in Baja California, Mexico.
According to the report from SDSU, being exposed to hazardous germs and chemicals in polluted waters can have various negative impacts on one’s health, both in the short and long term. These risks can range from gastrointestinal problems to neurological disorders.
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In 2023, the existing problems with the infrastructure of the plant worsened. On January 11, Mexico began its efforts to improve the San Antonio de los Buenos Wastewater Treatment Plant in Tijuana, where large amounts of sewage are released into the Pacific Ocean on a daily basis. The country has agreed to spend $33 million to replace the old plant and has also given $50 million to the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant.
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In the year 2022, $300 million of governmental funds were allocated for the restoration of the facility, giving hope to certain locals. Marvel Harrison, a 67-year-old psychologist who relocated to Imperial Beach in 2020 with her retired spouse, expressed their sense of relief upon hearing about the assigned funds.
Since that time, the facility has accumulated $150 million in necessary fixes, delaying the plans for growth and leading California’s Governor Gavin Newsom to request an extra $310 million from Congress.
Harrison and her spouse’s plans for the future in Imperial Beach depend on finding a prompt resolution. In 2015, they embarked on constructing their waterfront home, choosing expensive elements such as personalized windows to create a seamless indoor-outdoor living area. However, as almost ten years have passed, the windows remain closed and they are considering relocation.
Marvel Harrison
“I am searching for alternative locations where we could potentially live. This realization is quite disheartening, as this is the place and lifestyle we had envisioned for our retirement,” she expressed, acknowledging the constraints of being in our sixties, “we cannot delay indefinitely.”
Johnson has encountered a comparable dilemma. Although her spouse’s family has a long-standing history in Imperial Beach dating back to the 1950s, she shared that they frequently consider alternative choices. “We choose to live here to enjoy the outdoors, but unfortunately, we do not feel secure or at ease being outside,” she expressed.
In a collection of letters from community members compiled by Harrison calling on elected officials to take action, one resident described the stink as “akin to being trapped in a portable toilet” — a smell so strong it wakes you up at night.
The possible effects on health extend beyond the foul odor.
The smell in the air is not the only concern. Recent research has discovered proof of ocean pollution near the Tijuana River through sea spray droplets which could spread far enough to affect locations such as schools and homes that are normally not exposed to the contamination. The effects of this type of contamination through air are still unknown and require more investigation, as stated in the report by SDSU. This has left certain community members searching for answers.
Johnson, who has suffered from health problems and experienced two unexplained blockages in her lung arteries, expresses concerns about the potential impact of her surroundings on her well-being. She questions whether the air she is inhaling is a contributing factor.
Her children, ages 9 and 10, attend elementary school near the river valley, where the smell can be especially strong. “They’re like, ‘Why is it so smelly? Is it safe?'” Johnson said. “I’m like, yeah, I guess so. What am I supposed to tell them?”
Prebys Foundation
Residents’ concerns have resulted in lifestyle shifts that extend beyond being unable to savor the beach.
Harrison, who stated that her community is constantly plagued by anxiety, is cautious about hosting guests at her residence due to the potential negative effects on health. She shared that sewage is a frequent topic of discussion among her friends and acquaintances.
She remarked, “The scent affects not only the surrounding atmosphere, but also adds to the prevalent stress and unease in everyone’s daily life in this location.”
One more thing to keep in mind is the negative influence of sewage on wildlife. There has been an increase in the number of bottlenose dolphins washing up on the shores of San Diego, and it is thought that they may have died from a bacterial infection often found in polluted water. The SDSU report states that these dolphins act as a warning for potential exposure to harmful bacteria for humans.
The report highlights several serious health concerns found in sewage, including diseases from Mexican humans and livestock which have been eliminated in California, as well as antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
“According to Dr. Paula Stigler Granados, one of the lead authors of the report, there is a possibility of health hazards in both the short and long term due to exposure. This highlights the necessity for thorough monitoring and further research.”
The city of Imperial Beach is currently facing numerous issues stemming from contaminated sewage. However, Johnson’s main objective is clear: “I only wish for a solution to be found, allowing my children to return to a clean, enjoyable beach as it should be.”
Source: cbsnews.com