400 million gallons of sewage heading for US; Why won't Mexico stop it?

Mexico is preparing to release approximately 400 million gallons of sewage into the Tijuana River, an ongoing environmental issue that has plagued US communities and beaches for decades, officials warned. The discharge, resulting from maintenance on Tijuana’s sewer system, is expected to make its way across the border into the United States.

San Diego Supervisor Jim Desmond criticized the approach taken by Mexican authorities, asserting that instead of rerouting the waste to a treatment facility, they allow it to flow directly into the river, ultimately impacting US waters.

"Every time there's maintenance being done on their side of the border, instead of diverting it (sewage) to a treatment plant, it just goes into the river, the gullies and eventually ends up in the US, and into the ocean," Desmond told Fox News.

The toxic runoff from the Tijuana River has led to numerous beach closures and environmental hazards in Southern California. The pollution, which has persisted for decades, is exacerbated by the lack of accountability from Mexican officials, Desmond said. "I think it's really time for federal action," he stated. "There needs to be some type of repercussions for those actions. Unfortunately, their lack of an adequate sewage system is our problem. It's not their problem."

The pollution doesn’t just impact beaches; it also poses health risks to local residents, particularly those living near the Tijuana River. According to Desmond, the stench from the sewage has made children and elderly residents sick. Additionally, he pointed out that Navy SEALs and recruits train near the contaminated waters, exposing them to potential health hazards.

Lee Zeldin, head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), announced that he plans to visit the San Diego border to address the "disgusting Mexican sewage" crisis. His visit is expected to focus on potential solutions and federal actions that could be taken to mitigate the situation.

Desmond suggested that the US could leverage border control measures, such as restricting visas or limiting the number of people allowed to cross, as a way to pressure Mexico into taking responsibility for its sewage problem. "They put it (sewage) into the big drainage ditch called the Tijuana River that flows downhill, and unfortunately downhill is the United States," he added.