Mickelson Expresses Opinions on San Diego Being Flooded by Mexican Sewage, His Hometown
Fresh Take:
Phil Mickelson, the famous golfer hailing from San Diego, began his Wednesday with more than just golf on his mind. He was talking trash—the real deal—about the raw sewage that has been overwhelming his hometown for too long, courtesy of our neighbors south of the border.
This isn't a brand-new predicament; it's a tale that dates back over a century. The burden of untreated sewage pumped into Southern California by Mexico is nothing new. As a matter of fact, the problem has escalated, with Tijuana's growing population contributing to a rise in sewage output and subsequent dumping into the United States. The numbers? Approximately 50 million gallons a day[2].
Imperial Beach, a stone's throw south of San Diego and nestled just north of Tijuana, has borne the brunt of this sewage dumping, resulting in the closure of their beaches since late 2021[1]. The town is also home to the U.S. Navy's Naval Outlying Landing Field and Silver Strand Training Complex.
San Diego County Board of Supervisors' Jim Desmond brought the issue back into the limelight over Memorial Day Weekend. Desmond proposed that it's high time Mexico was held responsible for its actions, but his words fell on deaf ears, which didn't sit well with Mickelson[3].
In true Mickelson style, he joked about the raw sewage being pumped into his hometown. But he also raised serious concerns about the transportation of oil through the Las Flores Pipeline[3].
Things get worse when you consider that the U.S. is shelling out 80% of the costs to treat Mexico's sewage, only to have it poured back into waters bordering California[1].
Now, let's zoom in on the impacts and proposed actions:
- Environmental Desolation: The Tijuana Estuary and the coastal air are under assault from the contaminated wastewater, leading to the prolonged closure of South Bay beaches due to bacterial contamination[2][4].
- Public Health Risks: Residents intrinsically face health threats—from exposure to harmful bacteria and chemicals[1][4].
- Economic Woes: Local businesses in Imperial Beach, especially tourism establishments, are suffering because of the constant stench and pollution[2].
To combat this crisis, Imperial Beach's leaders are urging the U.S. federal government to tighten the screws. This includes urging Mexico to improve its wastewater infrastructure, expediting projects like the rehabilitation of the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, and even considering punitive measures such as limiting border crossings and water sales to Tijuana during public health emergencies[3].
The city is also looking to enforce the 1944 U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty more vigorously, claiming that Mexico has repeatedly flouted its terms[3]. Lastly, there's a call for increased cooperation between U.S. and Mexican authorities to devise sustainable solutions to tackle this crisis[4].
The goal here is to pressure Mexico into improving its wastewater management and find a long-term solution to the sewage disaster that has plagued San Diego and Imperial Beach for far too long.
- In light of the ongoing sewage crisis, there's a growing call for environmental science to be applied in developing lasting solutions to mitigate the pollution and protect the Tijuana Estuary and the coastal air.
- As the climate-change debate reignites, the sewage issue at the U.S.-Mexico border serves as a stark reminder of the need for policy-and-legislation that addresses transboundary environmental challenges, promoting a more sustainable and equitable future.
- Amidst the general news coverage of political happenings, the environmental crisis in San Diego and Imperial Beach stirs conversations regarding the role of politics in influencing environmental-science policies, potentially leading to effective wastewater management and prevention of future sewage disasters.
