Both! This is a complex international problem that has been going on for decades. Internationally-owned factories operating in Mexico, many of which are U.S.-based, are contributing to the industrial contamination that crosses the border, and the U.S.-managed International Treatment Plant in San Diego County—meant to protect U.S. residents—has faced years of deferred maintenance due to neglect and lack of funding by the U.S. government. Mexico is almost finished repairing its wastewater treatment plant, and the U.S. has just broken ground on repairs here that are expected to take at least five years to complete. Greater prioritization is needed from both federal governments to address this issue as one of the most egregious public health emergencies in the United States.

This onslaught of pollution is linked to common illnesses such as asthma, gastrointestinal issues, and skin infections. Even more severe illnesses like hepatitis and flesh-eating bacteria have been reported by members of the U.S. military and Border Patrol. A recent study by UC San Diego's Scripps Institute of Oceanography demonstrated that the pollution is not just in the water — it's also in the air. You can choose not to go into the ocean, but you can't choose not to breathe. People sitting on the dry sand at the beach, at a seaside restaurant, or even in their own homes are at risk of developing adverse health conditions from aerosolized pollution.

Thank you for your advocacy! In addition to signing the petition to the Trump administration, you can talk to your friends and reshare our content on social media to help build awareness. You could also make a donation to directly support our Clean Border Water Now program. If you live in the San Diego area, you can volunteer with our Surfrider San Diego Chapter.

The County of San Diego, with assistance from the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, conducted an economic impact study to measure the impacts of border pollution on local businesses. Preliminary results reveal that 74% of local businesses have been negatively impacted, 30% have laid off staff, 50% have lost more than $100,000 in revenue, the City of Imperial Beach has experienced $1-1.5 million in property tax damage, and the estimated revenue loss for tourism is over $500,000 annually. Some businesses have been forced to close, and many residents have lost their livelihoods.

This problem has been going on for close to a century. Surfrider got involved about 30 years ago after recognizing the extremely harmful impact transboundary pollution was having on our ocean, beaches, and coastal recreation. Since then, we have been investing our volunteer and staff time, legal expertise, and financial resources towards addressing this issue. This has included:

• Community engagement and coalition efforts like Tijuana River Action Month. 

• Watchdogging and sharing information with the public— including testing water quality and sharing the results, which regularly demonstrates fecal bacteria levels that are unsafe for ocean recreation.

• Holding cleanups in the Tijuana River Valley, which we’ve had to cancel because our volunteers were getting sick.

• Working with community focus groups and the EPA to brainstorm, design, and vet the comprehensive infrastructure solutions needed to stop the flow of trans-boundary pollution. 

In 2018, after more than a decade of on-the-ground education and outreach without a firm solution in sight, Surfrider filed a citizen lawsuit under Clean Water Act section 505 against the IBWC to address the rampant and egregious water pollution. Additionally, Surfrider has worked jointly with many co-plaintiffs in three related cases, which led to a strong global settlement with the IBWC in 2022. This settlement supports water quality and public health protections by improving monitoring, communications, reporting efforts, and advancing wastewater infrastructure improvements. 

Surfrider is pushing for federal-level intervention to stop the flow of toxic pollution, and to restore and protect this special part of our shared coastline. We are advocating for:

• Prioritization of this issue as a national emergency with immediate funding, interagency coordination, and public health resources for impacted communities.

• Full funding of the already vetted Comprehensive Infrastructure Solution to improve wastewater infrastructure and treatment capacity in the border region.

• Funding for a river diversion project that would address what we now understand to be the most serious risk to public health — dangerous levels of hydrogen sulfide and other aerosolized gasses in residential communities in the Tijuana River Valley.

• Annual funding through the Department of State or another federal agency for ongoing maintenance needs of infrastructure to ensure we don’t end up in this situation again.