San Diego Politician on 'Environmental Catastrophe' of Sewage Dumping from Mexico

Tijuana River Sewage Crisis

• 🇲🇽 Mexico has been dumping millions of gallons of raw sewage into the Tijuana River, which flows directly into the United States near San Diego.
• ⚠️ In just the past few days, an estimated 6 million gallons were dumped, with expectations of up to 400 million gallons during construction.
• 🌊 The polluted river, described as a cement culvert, carries garbage, sewage, and chemicals, leading to the closure of Imperial Beach for over a thousand days.

Health and Environmental Impacts

• 🤢 The sewage dumping has caused stomach illnesses among US Navy Seals, forcing them to relocate for training.
• 🌎 San Diego residents are also frequently getting sick due to the polluted water entering the US.
• 🚨 This situation is labeled an environmental catastrophe impacting the southern border.

Causes and Administration's Role

• 📈 The crisis has worsened during the Biden administration due to a significant increase in people living in Tijuana without adequate infrastructure, leading to more sewage being dumped.
• 🇺🇸 A treatment plant on the US side, funded by American taxpayers, attempts to clean water from Tijuana but is overwhelmed by the volume.
• 🗣️ President Trump has criticized Mexico's faulty sewage system, noting that the US sells fresh water to Mexico while receiving sewage in return.

Proposed Solutions and Actions

• 🤝 San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond advocates for making this Mexico's problem and demanding they stop dumping sewage.
• ✈️ EPA Administrator Lee Zeldon plans to visit the affected area, and his team has expressed concern and awareness of the issue.
• ⚖️ Desmond suggests that tariffs and trade deals with Mexico should include provisions to halt sewage dumping into the United States.