Overview
- San Diego County Supervisor Paloma Aguirre asked Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a state emergency for the Tijuana River crisis after the County Board labeled it an emergency 22 times.
- UC San Diego monitors found hydrogen sulfide peaking at 4,500 parts per billion, far above California’s 30 ppb one‑hour limit, as more than 100 billion gallons of sewage and industrial waste have crossed the border since 2018.
- County and CDC sampling found most nearby homes smell sewage indoors and many families report illness, and local clinics saw respiratory visits jump 130% when river flows spiked.
- Short‑term steps continue, including more than 10,000 air filters for households and ongoing beach closures, even as Navy SEALs training nearby have fallen ill.
- A U.S.–Mexico agreement to upgrade wastewater plants is underway, and EPA chief Lee Zeldin says key fixes will take about two years, leaving residents asking for faster action now.