San Diego County reveals plan to tackle horrific Tijuana sewage spill at southern border: Swift action is possible

San Diego is done waiting for Mexico to fix its sewage nightmare.County supervisors voted this week to pursue a new sewage treatment system on the US side of the border, aiming to stop polluted water from the Tijuana River before it reaches San Diego communities and beaches.The plan, spearheaded by Supervisors Paloma Aguirre and Terra Lawson-Remer, would be developed in three phases, with the county spending $1.8 million to study potential treatment systems over the next year and a half.“We’ll keep working with Washington and Mexico, but we will set the pace and we won’t wait on anyone else’s timeline,” Aguirre said of Tuesday’s vote.The need is painfully visible — and sometimes downright nauseating.Millions of gallons of sewage-contaminated water can pour across the border, foul the Tijuana River and ultimately wash into the Pacific.Beach closures have reached as far north as Coronado, one of San Diego’s most popular seaside destinations.

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By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story Video posted by TV personality Chef Andrew Gruel previously showed murky yellow-green water washing onto Coronado’s normally packed summer beach.“This is Coronado currently,” it read.

“High tourist season.High heat of summer.

No beach access.”The pollution isn’t just an eyesore.Researchers have found that sewage-related contaminants can become airborne, while hydrogen sulfide — the gas notorious for its rotten-egg smell — has reached 4,500 times higher than typical urban levels near one South Bay hotspot.County officials have even offered eligible households free air purifiers to help residents deal with odors and reduce exposure to the gas, according to NBC.The new system would provide another line of defense after existing treatment and divers...