SAN DIEGO — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has officially pressed Mexico to curb the flow of billions of gallons of sewage and toxic chemicals spilling from Tijuana and contaminating the Pacific Ocean along Southern California’s coast. This contamination has led to beach closures and has adversely affected Navy SEALs who conduct training exercises in these waters.
During an Earth Day visit to the California-Mexico border, EPA head Lee Zeldin demanded Mexico take responsibility for its environmental impact. His visit included a tour of a sewage treatment facility in San Diego County that operates as a secondary treatment facility, and an aerial inspection of the Tijuana River. Zeldin also planned to discuss the pollution issues directly with Navy SEALs affected by the sewage.
Zeldin disclosed that the EPA will soon provide Mexico with a detailed list of projects necessary to address the long-standing environmental crisis. However, he refrained from elaborating on the possible consequences should Mexico fail to implement these solutions, although he assured the issue is a priority for President Donald Trump. There has been no discussion about tariffs as a potential measure.
“We’re going to know whether or not Mexico is going to do its part to resolve this issue,” Zeldin emphasized, outlining the expectation for Mexico’s cooperation. Meanwhile, Mexico’s Environment and Natural Resources Secretary, Alicia Bárcena, affirmed her nation’s commitment to resolving the issue. After a productive meeting with Zeldin, she expressed optimism about finding sustainable solutions to stop untreated wastewater from affecting beaches in both countries.
The Tijuana River stretches approximately 120 miles (195 kilometers) near the coastline from Mexico into Southern California, emptying into the Pacific Ocean. The growing population and industrial activities in Tijuana have exacerbated the pollution problem, sending more than 100 billion gallons of untreated sewage — burdened with industrial toxins — into waterways feeding into San Diego County. This contamination has affected not only beachgoers but also schoolchildren, border patrol agents, and others who breathe in vaporized pollutants.
A consideration is underway by the Navy to potentially relocate its training grounds for SEAL recruits following reports of 1,168 acute gastrointestinal illness cases recorded between 2019 to 2023. Border-adjacent California beaches have experienced frequent closures over the past four years due to pollution. Over $653 million has been allocated since 2020 to tackle the environmental dilemma, though Mexican government delays have hampered progress, said Zeldin. Improvements are anticipated with the relatively new administration under President Claudia Sheinbaum, who took office in October.
After talks with Mexican officials in San Diego, Zeldin senses that Sheinbaum and her environmental secretary are interested in fostering a “strong collaborative relationship.” Zeldin stressed the urgency of the matter, vowing not to request additional patience from Californians who have been enduring the sewage inundation.
Cross-party lawmakers who joined Zeldin during this tour voiced rare bipartisan consensus on the importance of clean-up efforts. The tour also took him to the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, a U.S. facility jointly funded with Mexico to treat around 25 million gallons of sewage per day as a secondary measure.
Mexico is actively developing several wastewater treatment initiatives aimed at reducing pollution and upgrading existing plants. Secretary Bárcena pointed to the now-fully operational San Antonio de los Buenos plant making a positive impact. Nonetheless, Zeldin insists on the completion of numerous other projects—like the installation of floodgates in Tijuana to capture trash and the potential diversion of 10 million gallons of sewage from reaching coastal areas.