New Tijuana River water samples are 'very close to that of raw sewage', scientists warn

Researchers from San Diego State University's Water Innovation and Reuse Lab continued conducting water sampling in the Tijuana River Valley this week, with early assessments suggesting pollution levels remain extremely high.

The team collected water samples from the Hollister Street Bridge, with one of its members noting the water's green, murky appearance and pungent odor. "It smells like sewage," Alex Grant told Fox 5 San Diego.

Grant highlighted that the river consistently brings contaminated water across the border, posing risks to nearby residents and coastal areas where the sewage ends up. The researchers aim to inform decision-makers and engage the public about the water quality status to drive improvements. Their ongoing efforts include deploying sensors throughout the estuary to obtain real-time pollution data.

The samples collected will be tested in the lab for indicators such as E. coli, enterococcus, total dissolved nitrogen, and dissolved organic carbons. Preliminary results suggest that the water is highly polluted, with measurements closely resembling those of raw sewage.

Beachgoers have been consistently told to stay away from the region's beaches. Tijuana Slough, Imperial Beach Shoreline, Coronado Shoreline and Silver Strand Shoreline are among those rendered unsafe to bathe in.

Authorities warned beachgoers that the water contains sewage and may cause illness. The waters will remain closed until sampling and field observations conclude that they are safe again, something that doesn't seem to be close in the future.

Just in June, more than 14.5 billion gallons of untreated raw sewage seeped into the shores from Mexico, according to the International Boundary and Water Commission.

Now, a new spot called "Goat Canyon" is responsible for at least one million gallons more every day, according to Border Report.

According to Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre, the flow is a result of a $33.3 million treatment plant that is being built in Tijuana, one of several projects underway south of the border to mitigate sewage flows. Reuters reported that the plant is scheduled to come online by September 30.

Aguirre has described the situation as "the biggest environmental and public health disaster in the nation that nobody knows of," according to a Reuters report. Imperial Beach was recently deemed the most polluted in the country by the Surfrider Foundation.