San Diego's Water Quality: Is It Safe?

San Diego is known for its stunning beaches, beautiful weather, diverse wildlife, and world-class surf breaks. However, this biodiverse region has been facing severe water pollution for decades, with contaminated water flowing into the ocean and affecting the health of its residents. The pollution is caused by stormwater runoff, sewage, harmful chemicals, and trash, which have led to beach closures and impacted the local economy. With increasing climate change, the problem is only expected to worsen. This has sparked activism and efforts to address the issue, but it remains a significant challenge for San Diego.

Stormwater pollution

Stormwater is untreated water that flows directly into rivers, lakes, and the ocean, carrying with it any pollutants it picks up along the way. This can include yard debris, such as grass or leaves, trash, litter, and chemicals from soaps, car washing, fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. These pollutants can introduce harmful chemicals, choking hazards, and physical hazards like string from masks, which can injure or kill wildlife.

One of the primary sources of stormwater pollution in San Diego is yard waste and trash left on curbs, in gutters, alleys, or streets. This waste can block storm drains and water pathways, causing flooding in communities. Another source is irrigation water runoff, which can carry excess nutrients, chemicals, and waste into storm drains, leading to algae blooms in freshwater and saltwater.

To address this issue, the City of San Diego encourages residents to report stormwater pollution by emailing swppp@sandiego.gov, calling the Storm Water Pollution Hotline at 619-235-1000, or using the Get it Done App. Residents can also help reduce stormwater pollution by properly disposing of waste, reducing irrigation runoff, and capturing and reusing runoff water.

In recent years, San Diego has faced additional water pollution challenges due to transboundary pollution from the US/Mexico border. In June 2023, the San Diego Board of Supervisors proclaimed a local emergency due to increased wastewater discharges, infrastructure failures, and runoff into the Tijuana River Valley, leading to beach closures and negative economic impacts on the surrounding communities.

Transboundary pollution

San Diego is one of the most biodiverse areas in the world, with a rich tapestry of wildlife and multicultural identities. However, stormwater pollution is a persistent threat to the region's water quality. Stormwater is untreated, allowing it to carry pollutants directly into rivers, lakes, and the ocean. This type of pollution can be caused by yard debris, trash, and litter, soaps from car washing, fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides, which introduce harmful chemicals and choking hazards into the environment.

On June 27, 2023, the San Diego Board of Supervisors declared a local emergency due to water pollution at the US/Mexico border, specifically in the Tijuana River Valley. This crisis resulted from record rainfall, seasonal monsoons, increased wastewater discharges, and infrastructure failures, leading to beach closures in Imperial Beach, Coronado, and San Diego. The economic impacts of these closures were significant, affecting tourism, local businesses, youth activities, and property values.

To address this crisis, Surfrider San Diego has advocated for youth engagement and utilized art as a tool for activism. They also worked with other organizations to design a "Stakeholder Solution" and contributed to the Comprehensive Infrastructure Solution (CIS) pursued by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2021. The CIS included improved monitoring, communication, reporting, and infrastructure upgrades to reduce transboundary flows and beach closures. Despite these efforts, the combination of climate change and a failing regional wastewater infrastructure continues to exacerbate the problem.

Sewage pollution

San Diego is one of the most biodiverse areas in the world, and this rich natural environment is threatened by stormwater pollution. Wildlife, from invertebrates to large animals like the California Sea Lion, faces hazards from choking hazards to injuries caused by pollutants.

To combat stormwater pollution, Project Clean Water suggests source reduction, including picking up litter and pet waste, reducing the use of fertilizers and pesticides, and repairing leaking vehicles. They also recommend capturing rainwater with barrels and redirecting gutters and downspouts to permeable landscapes to prevent runoff.

Transboundary pollution from Mexico is another severe issue for San Diego. The Tijuana River Watershed carries contaminated water, including stormwater runoff, raw sewage, harmful chemicals, and trash, into the Pacific Ocean at Imperial Beach. This has resulted in widespread illnesses and beach closures in South San Diego County. The San Antonio de los Buenos Wastewater Treatment Plant in Mexico also discharges approximately 35 million gallons of untreated sewage into the ocean daily, affecting the coast during the summer months.

The Surfrider Foundation has been advocating for solutions to this public health and environmental justice emergency for over 30 years, filing lawsuits and working with community groups to build awareness and find a collective path forward. Despite these efforts, the situation persists, and climate change is expected to exacerbate the problem.

Beach closures

The San Antonio de los Buenos Wastewater Treatment Plant, located just south of the border, discharges approximately 35 million gallons of untreated sewage into the ocean daily. This pollution is carried up the coast during the summer by currents associated with the Southern California Bight, causing widespread illnesses and beach closures throughout South San Diego County. Research from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography linked 34,000 illnesses in 2017 to water quality pollution along the Imperial Beach coastline.

In addition to the impact on public health, beach closures have had significant economic consequences for the surrounding communities. These include decreased tourism, lower patronage of local businesses, reduced opportunities for youth recreation and camps, and declining property values. The economic impact of the pollution and beach closures is currently being assessed to aid local, state, and federal leaders in understanding the issue and seeking assistance.

The Surfrider Foundation has been actively advocating for solutions to this environmental justice emergency for over 30 years. In 2018, the foundation filed lawsuits against the International Boundary and Water Commission to address rampant water pollution. The foundation has also utilized art as a tool for activism and youth engagement to build momentum for its campaign.

While beach closures are necessary to protect public health, they highlight the urgent need to address the persistent issue of water pollution in San Diego, particularly regarding stormwater runoff and sewage treatment.

Environmental impact

San Diego is one of the most biodiverse areas in the world, with a rich tapestry of wildlife, from tiny, tide pool-dwelling invertebrates to large animals like the California Sea Lion or Mountain Lion. However, the region has been plagued by severe pollution for decades, threatening its natural environment and the health of its residents.

One of the primary sources of pollution in San Diego is stormwater pollution. Unlike other types of wastewater, stormwater is untreated, allowing it to carry pollutants directly into rivers, lakes, and the ocean. This type of pollution is caused by yard debris, trash, litter, soaps from car washing, fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides, which introduce harmful chemicals, choking hazards, and objects that can injure or kill wildlife. Stormwater pollution can also lead to increased flooding by blocking storm drains and water pathways.

Another significant contributor to San Diego's water pollution is transboundary pollution from the US/Mexico border. The Tijuana River Watershed, which traverses the border, carries contaminated water containing stormwater runoff, raw sewage, harmful chemicals, and trash into the Pacific Ocean at Imperial Beach. Additionally, the San Antonio de los Buenos Wastewater Treatment Plant south of the border releases approximately 35 million gallons of untreated sewage into the ocean daily, affecting the coastal areas of Southern San Diego County. This has resulted in widespread illnesses on both sides of the border and forced beach closures.

The environmental impact of water pollution in San Diego is far-reaching. The contamination of water sources has led to the degradation of diverse ecosystems, including beaches, rivers, and the ocean. This has had a particularly severe effect on the Tijuana Estuary, the largest coastal wetland in Southern California and a vital nesting ground for numerous bird species. The pollution has also disrupted the balance of these ecosystems, endangering the diverse wildlife that calls San Diego home.

Furthermore, water pollution in San Diego has led to a public health emergency, with people falling ill due to contaminated water and even the aerosolization of toxins in the surf. The pollution has resulted in beach closures, decreased tourism, and negative impacts on local businesses and communities. It has also highlighted the need for better wastewater treatment and infrastructure to prevent further contamination and protect the health and well-being of residents and visitors to San Diego.

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