EPA Demands Mexico Stop Toxic Sewage Flow \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ EPA chief Lee Zeldin urged Mexico to act on decades of cross-border pollution from Tijuana. Toxic sewage and chemicals have contaminated Southern California beaches, sickening swimmers and Navy SEALs. The U.S. plans to issue Mexico a project list demanding action.
Quick Looks
- Main Concern: Cross-border sewage and toxic waste from Tijuana
- U.S. Stance: EPA demands urgent Mexican action
- Trump Involvement: Issue is “top of mind,” Zeldin says
- Impact Area: Southern California beaches, Navy SEAL training site
- Health Effects: Over 1,100 SEALs sickened since 2019
- Mexico’s Response: President Sheinbaum signals willingness to cooperate
- Funding: $653 million invested since 2020
- Key Projects: Floodgates, plant upgrades, sewage diversion
- Bipartisan Support: Rare cross-party backing in Congress
- Environmental Justice: Issue affects public health and coastal access
Deep Look
The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Lee Zeldin, delivered a strong message during his Earth Day trip to the California-Mexico border: Mexico must stop the flow of billions of gallons of toxic wastewater and raw sewage into Southern California’s coastline, or face consequences yet to be defined.
During a visit that included a flyover of the Tijuana River watershed and a tour of the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant in San Diego County, Zeldin made it clear that the long-standing environmental disaster is no longer tolerable — especially with growing public health risks.
“This is not a situation we can ask the American people to endure for another 10 or 30 years,” Zeldin said. “We are out of patience.”
A Crisis Decades in the Making
The 120-mile-long Tijuana River, which originates in Mexico and flows into Southern California, has long served as a conduit for untreated wastewater, trash, and chemical runoff. As Tijuana’s population and industrial base have boomed, the city’s aging sewage infrastructure has collapsed under pressure, sending billions of gallons of contaminated water into U.S. territory.
Since 2018 alone, more than 100 billion gallons of toxic water have crossed the border, prompting beach closures, illnesses among surfers and swimmers, and growing concern from environmental groups and local communities.
But the damage hasn’t just been limited to the beaches.
Public Health Toll: Navy SEALs, Border Agents, Children Affected
One of the most severe impacts has been on the U.S. Navy SEAL candidates, who train in the contaminated waters. From 2019 to 2023, over 1,100 SEAL trainees suffered acute gastrointestinal illnesses, according to the Naval Special Warfare Center. The Navy is currently reviewing whether to relocate its training site due to ongoing exposure.
The pollution also affects Border Patrol agents, lifeguards, schoolchildren, and residents in the South Bay region. Scientists have noted that vaporized sewage foam can enter the air and be inhaled — a lesser-known but highly dangerous mode of exposure.
Billions in Damage Despite Millions Spent
Since 2020, the U.S. has invested over $653 million into mitigation efforts, including upgrades to U.S.-based sewage treatment plants and binational initiatives. However, the crisis persists, largely due to project delays and infrastructure failures in Mexico.
The South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, which treats 25 million gallons per day, was built with funding from both countries, but its role is only secondary in a much larger problem that originates across the border.
Mexico’s Position and Promises
Zeldin met with Alicia Bárcena, Mexico’s Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, during his visit. Bárcena expressed a genuine commitment to resolving the crisis and highlighted the recent full restoration of the San Antonio de los Buenos treatment plant, which had been out of service but returned to capacity this month.
“We are here because we want to solve this — not just for Mexico’s beaches, but for the United States as well,” she said in Spanish.
Zeldin also signaled hope that Mexico’s new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, is serious about environmental cooperation. After a 90-minute meeting with Mexican officials, he said the tone from Sheinbaum’s team suggested a “strong collaborative relationship” could emerge.
The EPA’s Action Plan
Zeldin stated that within the next 48 hours, the EPA will present a formal list of actionable projects to Mexico. These include:
- Installing floodgates in Tijuana to trap solid waste
- Upgrading or replacing failing wastewater treatment plants
- Diverting 10 million gallons of sewage away from ocean outflows
- Enhancing binational water testing and data sharing
Still, Zeldin did not specify what consequences Mexico might face if it fails to act. When asked whether tariffs or other diplomatic penalties were on the table, he simply said, “We’ll go from there.”
Rare Bipartisan Consensus
Flanked by lawmakers from both parties, Zeldin emphasized that the sewage issue is one of the few environmental causes that has drawn bipartisan support in Congress. Leaders from California’s Republican and Democratic delegations have both called for immediate resolution and increased pressure on Mexico.
“This is not a partisan issue — it’s a human issue,” said one California lawmaker accompanying Zeldin. “People are getting sick. Beaches are closing. Our national security and public health are at risk.”
The Road Ahead
While cooperation signals are promising, Zeldin made clear the U.S. is no longer willing to wait indefinitely. The Trump administration, he said, considers the sewage crisis a top-tier environmental priority and will continue pressing for a comprehensive solution.
“We’re going to know soon whether or not Mexico will do its part,” Zeldin said. “But make no mistake — action is no longer optional.”
EPA Demands Mexico EPA Demands Mexico
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