Tijuana River sewage is making the air toxic and sickening thousands in California

Trent Fry, right, and Leila El Masri collect a water sample of the Tijuana River, as part of a research team from the University of California, San Diego, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) 2026-04-16T13:01:44Z San Diego (AP) — The smell of rotten eggs permeates Steve Egger’s Southern California home, especially at night as the nearby Tijuana River foams up with sewage from Mexico before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. Egger, 72, says he and his wife have frequent headaches and wake up congested and coughing up phlegm. Their home is outfitted with a hospital-grade filtration system that cycles the air every 15 minutes. Despite those measures, “most nights we breathe in a horrible stench,” he said. “It’s awful.” Since 2018, more than 100 billion gallons (378 billion liters) of raw sewage laden with industrial chemicals and trash have poured into the Tijuana River, according to the International Boundary and Water Commission. The river traverses land where three generations of the Egger family once raised dairy cows. The United States and Mexico signed an agreement last year to clean up the longstanding problem by upgrading wastewater plants to keep up with Tijuana’s population growth and industrial waste from factories, many owned by U.S. companies. Steve Egger stands near what scientists call “the Saturn hot spot,” a section of the Tijuana River where the contaminated water splashes out of pipes and creates pools of foam near his home Friday, March 6, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Steve Egger stands near what scientists call “the Saturn hot spot,” a section of the Tijuana River where the contaminated water splashes out of pipes and creates pools of foam near his home Friday, March 6, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) --> Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. --> Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Steve Egger looks out from his door where the outer doorknob has turned black at his home Friday, March 6, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Steve Egger looks out from his door where the outer doorknob has turned black at his home Friday, March 6, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) --> Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. --> Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Steve Egger looks over what scientists call "the Saturn hot spot," a section of the Tijuana River where the contaminated water splashes out of pipes and creates pools of foam near his home Friday, March 6, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Steve Egger looks over what scientists call "the Saturn hot spot," a section of the Tijuana River where the contaminated water splashes out of pipes and creates pools of foam near his home Friday, March 6, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) --> Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. --> Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More In the meantime, tens of thousands of people are being exposed to the sewage. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin said during a February visit to San Diego that it will take about two years to resolve one of the nation’s worst and longest-running environmental crises, which affects a largely poor, Latino population. freestar.queue.push(function () { window.fsAdCount = window.fsAdCount + 1 || 0; let customChannel = '/dynamic_' + fsAdCount; let adList = document.querySelectorAll(".fs-feed-ad") let thisAd = adList[fsAdCount]; let randId = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2); thisAd.id = randId; let thisPlacement = fsAdCount == 0 ? "apnews_story_feed" : "apnews_story_feed_dynamic"; freestar.newAdSlots({ placementName: thisPlacement, slotId: randId }, customChannel); }); Raw sewage doesn’t just smell bad. It emits hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas that can erode neurons in the nose and trigger asthma attacks. It can cause headaches, nausea, delirium, tremors, cough, shortness of breath, skin and eye irritation and even death , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Its long-term health problems are only starting to be understood. There is no federal safety standard for hydrogen sulfide except for workers at sites where the risk is extreme, such as wastewater treatment plants or manure pits. A few states set standards decades ago, but those are outdated. A California proposal would require the state’s 56-year-old standard reflect the health risks of the gas. In Texas, lawmakers are also considering updating its law. /* Desktop-first: fully collapse by default */ #ap-readmore-embed { display: none; margin: 0; padding: 0; height: 0; min-height: 0; overflow: hidden; text-align: center; position: relative; z-index: 2; } /* Only show on mobile */ @media (max-width: 767px) { #ap-readmore-embed { display: block; margin: 28px 0; height: auto; overflow: visible; } } #ap-readmore-embed .ap-readmore-btn { appearance: none; -webkit-appearance: none; border: 0; background: #000; color: #fff; cursor: pointer; display: inline-flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; gap: 10px; padding: 14px 22px; border-radius: 999px; font-family: inherit, "AP Sans", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 1; box-shadow: 0 10px 18px rgba(0,0,0,0.12); transition: transform 120ms ease, box-shadow 120ms ease, opacity 120ms ease; touch-action: manipulation; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; position: relative; z-index: 3; } #ap-readmore-embed .ap-readmore-btn:hover { transform: translateY(-1px); box-shadow: 0 14px 22px rgba(0,0,0,0.16); } #ap-readmore-embed .ap-readmore-btn:active { transform: translateY(0); box-shadow: 0 10px 18px rgba(0,0,0,0.12); opacity: 0.95; } #ap-readmore-embed .ap-readmore-btn:focus-visible { outline: 3px solid rgba(228, 0, 43, 0.35); outline-offset: 3px; } #ap-readmore-embed .ap-readmore-icon { width: 10px; height: 10px; border-right: 2px solid currentColor; border-bottom: 2px solid currentColor; transform: rotate(45deg); margin-top: -2px; } #ap-readmore-embed .ap-readmore-fade { display: none; height: 48px; margin-top: -48px; pointer-events: none; background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(255,255,255,0), rgba(255,255,255,1)); } Read More (function () { var APRM_EMBED_ID = "ap-readmore-embed"; var APRM_MOBILE_MQ = "(max-width: 767px)"; function APRM_onReady(fn) { if (document.readyState === "loading") { document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", fn); } else { fn(); } } APRM_onReady(function () { var APRM_embedEl = document.getElementById(APRM_EMBED_ID); if (!APRM_embedEl) return; // 🚨 DESKTOP: remove entire module wrapper and bail early if (!window.matchMedia(APRM_MOBILE_MQ).matches) { var APRM_rootModule = APRM_embedEl.closest(".HTMLModuleEnhancement") || APRM_embedEl.closest(".HtmlModule"); if (APRM_rootModule && APRM_rootModule.parentNode) { APRM_rootModule.parentNode.removeChild(APRM_rootModule); } else if (APRM_embedEl.parentNode) { APRM_embedEl.parentNode.removeChild(APRM_embedEl); } return; // stop the rest of the script from running } }); })(); (function () { var EMBED_ID = "ap-readmore-embed"; var BTN_ID = "apReadMoreBtn"; var FADE_ID = "apReadMoreFade"; var STOP_SELECTOR = ".Page-below"; var SIGN_IN_GATE_SELECTOR = ".sign-in-gate-content"; var HIDDEN_ATTR = "data-ap-readmore-hidden"; var MOBILE_MQ = "(max-width: 767px)"; function ready(fn) { if (document.readyState === "loading") { document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", fn); } else { fn(); } } function isElementNode(n) { return n && n.nodeType === 1; } function cancelEvent(e) { if (!e) return; if (typeof e.preventDefault === "function") e.preventDefault(); if (typeof e.stopPropagation === "function") e.stopPropagation(); if (typeof e.stopImmediatePropagation === "function") e.stopImmediatePropagation(); e.cancelBubble = true; e.returnValue = false; } function collapseDesktopEmbed(embed) { if (!embed) return true; if (!window.matchMedia(MOBILE_MQ).matches) { var maybeWrappers = [ embed.parentElement, embed.closest(".html-embed"), embed.closest("[data-type='htmlembed']"), embed.closest("[class*='embed']"), embed.closest("[class*='Embed']") ].filter(Boolean); embed.style.display = "none"; embed.style.margin = "0"; embed.style.padding = "0"; embed.style.height = "0"; embed.style.minHeight = "0"; embed.style.overflow = "hidden"; maybeWrappers.forEach(function (el) { el.style.margin = "0"; el.style.padding = "0"; el.style.height = "0"; el.style.minHeight = "0"; el.style.overflow = "hidden"; }); if (embed.parentNode) { embed.parentNode.removeChild(embed); } return true; } return false; } ready(function () { var embed = document.getElementById(EMBED_ID); var btn = document.getElementById(BTN_ID); var fade = document.getElementById(FADE_ID); if (!embed || !btn) return; if (collapseDesktopEmbed(embed)) return; var signInGate = document.querySelector(SIGN_IN_GATE_SELECTOR); if (signInGate) { embed.innerHTML = ""; return; } // — Analytics: impression when embed enters viewport — if ("IntersectionObserver" in window) { var io = new IntersectionObserver(function (entries, observer) { if (entries[0].isIntersecting) { window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; window.dataLayer.push({ event: "ap_readmore_impression" }); observer.disconnect(); } }, { threshold: 0 }); io.observe(btn); } var stopEl = document.querySelector(STOP_SELECTOR); if (!stopEl) return; var rootCandidates = [ embed.closest(".Page"), embed.closest("article"), embed.closest("main"), document.body ].filter(Boolean); var root = rootCandidates.find(function (c) { return c.contains(stopEl); }) || document.body; var all = root.getElementsByTagName("*"); var hidden = []; for (var i = 0; i “I think when you look back when the standard was first established and then it was reviewed, it was all about nuisance — basically it was all about odor,” said the California bill’s author, Democratic Sen. Steve Padilla, who represents the Tijuana River Valley. “I don’t think we had the understanding scientifically of what the health impacts were here, and now we do.” Even if the bill passes, the new standard would likely not be developed until 2030. freestar.queue.push(function () { window.fsAdCount = window.fsAdCount + 1 || 0; let customChannel = '/dynamic_' + fsAdCount; let adList = document.querySelectorAll(".fs-feed-ad") let thisAd = adList[fsAdCount]; let randId = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2); thisAd.id = randId; let thisPlacement = fsAdCount == 0 ? "apnews_story_feed" : "apnews_story_feed_dynamic"; freestar.newAdSlots({ placementName: thisPlacement, slotId: randId }, customChannel); }); Toxic gas from the river’s sewage infuses the air A sign warns of sewage and chemical contaminated water along a beach Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Coronado, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) A sign warns of sewage and chemical contaminated water along a beach Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Coronado, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) --> Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. --> Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More A “Stop the Stink” sign is on Egger’s fence, part of a campaign that Citizens for Coastal Conservancy launched to demand officials clean up the cross-border sewage. The 120-mile (195 km)-long river starts in the Mexican city of Tijuana, crosses into California and empties into the ocean. San Diego County beaches nearby have closed for years, and Navy SEALs who train in the water have fallen ill. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy . [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] { display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: flex-start; gap: 16px; width: 100%; max-width: 720px; min-width: 0; padding: 16px 16px 16px 16px; box-sizing: border-box; border-radius: 8px; border: 1px solid #E6E6E7; background: #F2F2F2; box-shadow: 0 4px 4px 4px rgba(102, 102, 102, 0.40); font-family: "AP Var", system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #000; container-type: inline-size; container-name: ap-nl-nlmw25; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; align-self: center; justify-self: center; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-accent-nlmw25 { width: 48px; height: 6px; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-title-nlmw25 { align-self: stretch; color: #000; font-family: "AP Var", system-ui, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 150%; margin: 0; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-title-nlmw25 strong { font-weight: 700; line-height: 130%; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-form-nlmw25 { margin: 0; display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 16px; width: 100%; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-row-nlmw25 { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 12px; width: 100%; flex-wrap: nowrap; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-input-nlmw25 { width: 100%; min-width: 0; border: 1px solid #E6E6E7; border-radius: 10px; padding: 11px 12px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.2; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background: #fff; color: #000; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-input-wrapper-nlmw25 { display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: flex-start; gap: 8px; flex: 1 0 0; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-input-nlmw25:focus { border-color: rgba(0,0,0,.35); box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px rgba(255, 50, 46, 0.18); } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-button-nlmw25 { display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; height: 40px; max-height: 40px; padding: 8px 16px; border-radius: 24px; background: #191919; color: #ffffff; border: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1; cursor: pointer; white-space: nowrap; transition: background 150ms ease, transform 120ms ease; flex: 0 0 auto; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-button-nlmw25:hover { background: #000000; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-button-nlmw25:active { transform: scale(0.98); } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-disclaimer-nlmw25 { display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: flex-start; gap: 8px; align-self: stretch; background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); background-blend-mode: multiply; margin: 0; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-check-nlmw25 { display: flex; gap: 8px; align-items: flex-start; user-select: none; cursor: pointer; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-checkbox-nlmw25 { margin-top: 2px; width: 16px; height: 16px; accent-color: var(--ap-accent); flex: 0 0 auto; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-checktext-nlmw25 { font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.35; color: var(--ap-muted); } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] a { color: var(--ap-text); text-decoration: underline; text-underline-offset: 2px; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] a:hover { color: var(--ap-accent); } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-messages-nlmw25 { margin: 0; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-error-nlmw25:empty, [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-help-nlmw25:empty { display: none; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-help-nlmw25 { margin: 0; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-messages-nlmw25:has(.ap-newsletter-error-nlmw25:empty):has(.ap-newsletter-help-nlmw25:empty) { display: none; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-error-nlmw25 { margin: 0; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.35; color: var(--ap-error); min-height: 1.2em; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-help-nlmw25 { margin: 6px 0 0; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.35; color: var(--ap-muted); } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25].is-submitted-nlmw25 .ap-newsletter-input-nlmw25 { background: rgba(0,0,0,.04); border-color: rgba(0,0,0,.10); color: rgba(0,0,0,.70); cursor: default; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25].is-submitted-nlmw25 .ap-newsletter-button-nlmw25 { display: none; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25].is-submitted-nlmw25 .ap-newsletter-disclaimer-nlmw25 { display: none; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-bot-field-nlmw25 { position: absolute !important; left: -9999px; top: -9999px; width: 1px; height: 1px; opacity: 0; pointer-events: none; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-sr-only-nlmw25 { position: absolute !important; width: 1px; height: 1px; padding: 0; margin: -1px; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0,0,0,0); white-space: nowrap; border: 0; } @container ap-nl-nlmw25 (max-width: 420px) { [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] { max-width: 350px; padding: 16px; gap: 12px; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-form-nlmw25 { gap: 12px; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-row-nlmw25 { flex-direction: column; align-items: stretch; gap: 12px; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-button-nlmw25 { width: 100%; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-input-wrapper-nlmw25, [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-input-nlmw25 { width: 100%; } } @media (max-width: 420px) { [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] { max-width: 350px; padding: 16px; gap: 12px; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-form-nlmw25 { gap: 12px; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-row-nlmw25 { flex-direction: column; align-items: stretch; gap: 12px; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-button-nlmw25 { width: 100%; } [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-input-wrapper-nlmw25, [data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25] .ap-newsletter-input-nlmw25 { width: 100%; } } const NL_DEFAULT_CONFIG_NLMW25 = { apiUrl: '/api/newsletter/signup', defaultNewsletterList: ['Morning Wire Subscribers'], recaptchaSiteKey: '6Lf06WQrAAAAABB9Ms3Gru2SFLSxUYrLqP5YLDMn', recaptchaHeader: 'X-ReCaptcha-Token', /* UTM params to append to the page URL used as the request referrer. This does NOT modify the subscription payload. */ referrerUtmParams: { utm_source: 'embed' }, messages: { invalidEmail: 'Please use a valid email address.', disclaimerRequired: 'Please check disclaimer before proceeding.', invalidBoth: 'Please provide a valid email address, and check disclaimer.', genericError: 'Something went wrong. Please try again later.', botBlocked: 'Please try again.', recaptchaLoadFail: 'Failed to load reCAPTCHA. Please refresh the page and try again.', recaptchaRequired: 'reCAPTCHA verification is required. Please ensure reCAPTCHA is loaded on this page.', recaptchaFailed: 'reCAPTCHA verification failed. Please refresh the page and try again.', verificationFailed: 'Verification failed. Please try again.' } }; (function (nlConfigNLMW25) { const nlEmailRegexNLMW25 = /^[^\s@]+@[^\s@]+\.[^\s@]{2,}$/; const nlRecaptchaCheckIntervalNLMW25 = 100; const nlRecaptchaMaxAttemptsNLMW25 = 50; function nlIsValidEmailNLMW25(email) { return nlEmailRegexNLMW25.test(String(email || '').trim()); } function nlBuildReferrerUrlNLMW25(utmParams) { try { const url = new URL(window.location.href); Object.entries(utmParams || {}).forEach(([key, value]) => { if (value !== undefined && value !== null && value !== '') { url.searchParams.set(key, value); } }); return url.toString(); } catch (err) { console.warn('Unable to build referrer URL with UTM params:', err); return window.location.href; } } function nlLoadRecaptchaScriptNLMW25(siteKey, callback) { if (typeof window.grecaptcha !== 'undefined') { callback && callback(); return; } const existingScript = document.querySelector('script[src*="recaptcha/api.js"]'); if (existingScript) { const checkInterval = setInterval(() => { if (typeof window.grecaptcha !== 'undefined') { clearInterval(checkInterval); callback && callback(); } }, nlRecaptchaCheckIntervalNLMW25); return; } const script = document.createElement('script'); script.src = `https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js?render=${encodeURIComponent(siteKey)}`; script.async = true; script.defer = true; script.onload = () => callback && callback(); script.onerror = () => { console.error('Failed to load reCAPTCHA script'); callback && callback(false); }; document.head.appendChild(script); } function nlWaitForRecaptchaNLMW25(callback, maxAttempts = nlRecaptchaMaxAttemptsNLMW25) { let attempts = 0; const checkRecaptcha = () => { attempts++; if ( typeof window.grecaptcha !== 'undefined' && typeof window.grecaptcha.execute === 'function' ) { callback(true); } else if (attempts token && token.length > 0 ? token : null) .catch(error => { const errorMsg = error?.message || String(error); if ( errorMsg.includes('No reCAPTCHA clients') || errorMsg.includes('not initialized') || errorMsg.includes('Invalid site key') ) { throw new Error('recaptcha_failed'); } throw error; }); } const nlEmbedsNLMW25 = document.querySelectorAll('[data-ap-newsletter-embed-nlmw25]'); nlEmbedsNLMW25.forEach((rootNLMW25, idxNLMW25) => { const formNLMW25 = rootNLMW25.querySelector('.ap-newsletter-form-nlmw25'); const emailInputNLMW25 = rootNLMW25.querySelector('.ap-newsletter-input-nlmw25'); const checkboxNLMW25 = rootNLMW25.querySelector('.ap-newsletter-checkbox-nlmw25'); const errorElNLMW25 = rootNLMW25.querySelector('.ap-newsletter-error-nlmw25'); const helpElNLMW25 = rootNLMW25.querySelector('.ap-newsletter-help-nlmw25'); const botFieldNLMW25 = rootNLMW25.querySelector('.ap-newsletter-bot-field-nlmw25'); const recaptchaDivNLMW25 = rootNLMW25.querySelector('.ap-newsletter-recaptcha-nlmw25'); let nlIsSubmittingNLMW25 = false; const newsletterListNLMW25 = nlConfigNLMW25.defaultNewsletterList; const recaptchaSiteKeyNLMW25 = nlConfigNLMW25.recaptchaSiteKey; const requestReferrerNLMW25 = nlBuildReferrerUrlNLMW25(nlConfigNLMW25.referrerUtmParams); const emailIdNLMW25 = `nl-email-nlmw25-${idxNLMW25}`; const helpIdNLMW25 = `nl-help-nlmw25-${idxNLMW25}`; const errIdNLMW25 = `nl-error-nlmw25-${idxNLMW25}`; const recaptchaIdNLMW25 = `recaptcha-nlmw25-${idxNLMW25}`; emailInputNLMW25.id = emailIdNLMW25; helpElNLMW25.id = helpIdNLMW25; errorElNLMW25.id = errIdNLMW25; if (recaptchaDivNLMW25) { recaptchaDivNLMW25.id = recaptchaIdNLMW25; if (recaptchaSiteKeyNLMW25) { recaptchaDivNLMW25.setAttribute('data-sitekey', recaptchaSiteKeyNLMW25); } } emailInputNLMW25.setAttribute('aria-describedby', `${helpIdNLMW25} ${errIdNLMW25}`); const nlSetErrorNLMW25 = (msg) => { errorElNLMW25.textContent = msg || ''; errorElNLMW25.style.display = msg ? 'block' : 'none'; }; const nlHideErrorNLMW25 = () => nlSetErrorNLMW25(''); const nlSetSubmittedNLMW25 = () => { rootNLMW25.classList.add('is-submitted-nlmw25'); emailInputNLMW25.value = 'SUBMITTED'; emailInputNLMW25.style.fontWeight = 'bold'; emailInputNLMW25.setAttribute('readonly', 'readonly'); emailInputNLMW25.setAttribute('aria-invalid', 'false'); nlHideErrorNLMW25(); }; const nlSubscribeNLMW25 = (tokenNLMW25) => { if (nlIsSubmittingNLMW25) return; if (botFieldNLMW25?.value) { console.warn('Bot field filled --', botFieldNLMW25.value); nlSetErrorNLMW25(nlConfigNLMW25.messages.botBlocked); return; } const emailNLMW25 = String(emailInputNLMW25.value || '').trim(); const emailOkNLMW25 = nlIsValidEmailNLMW25(emailNLMW25); const disclaimerOkNLMW25 = checkboxNLMW25.checked; if (!emailOkNLMW25 && !disclaimerOkNLMW25) { nlSetErrorNLMW25(nlConfigNLMW25.messages.invalidBoth); emailInputNLMW25.setAttribute('aria-invalid', 'true'); emailInputNLMW25.focus(); return; } if (!emailOkNLMW25) { nlSetErrorNLMW25(nlConfigNLMW25.messages.invalidEmail); emailInputNLMW25.setAttribute('aria-invalid', 'true'); emailInputNLMW25.focus(); return; } if (!disclaimerOkNLMW25) { nlSetErrorNLMW25(nlConfigNLMW25.messages.disclaimerRequired); checkboxNLMW25.focus(); return; } nlIsSubmittingNLMW25 = true; const headersNLMW25 = { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' }; if (tokenNLMW25) { headersNLMW25[nlConfigNLMW25.recaptchaHeader] = tokenNLMW25; } fetch(nlConfigNLMW25.apiUrl, { method: 'POST', headers: headersNLMW25, body: JSON.stringify({ emailId: emailNLMW25, newsLetterListToSubscribe: newsletterListNLMW25 }), /* This is the key change: send the current page URL + UTM params as the referrer. Example: https://.../article/... ?utm_source=embed */ referrer: requestReferrerNLMW25, referrerPolicy: 'strict-origin-when-cross-origin' }) .then(response => response.json() .then(data => ({ status: response.status, data })) .catch(() => ({ status: response.status, data: null })) ) .then(result => { nlIsSubmittingNLMW25 = false; const hasVerificationErrorNLMW25 = result.data && ( result.data.message?.includes('Verification Failed') || result.data.error?.includes('Verification Failed') ); if (hasVerificationErrorNLMW25) { nlSetErrorNLMW25(nlConfigNLMW25.messages.verificationFailed); return; } if (result.status === 200) { if (typeof window.NLSignup === 'function') { try { window.NLSignup(emailNLMW25); } catch (err) {} } window.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('nl:newsletterSignup:nlmw25', { detail: { email: emailNLMW25, source: 'Morning Wire Embed', newsletters: newsletterListNLMW25, referrer: requestReferrerNLMW25 } })); nlSetSubmittedNLMW25(); } else { const errorMsgNLMW25 = result.data?.message || result.data?.error || nlConfigNLMW25.messages.genericError; nlSetErrorNLMW25(errorMsgNLMW25); } }) .catch(error => { nlIsSubmittingNLMW25 = false; console.error('Newsletter subscription error:', error); nlSetErrorNLMW25(nlConfigNLMW25.messages.genericError); }); }; const nlAttemptRecaptchaNLMW25 = () => { if (!recaptchaSiteKeyNLMW25) { nlWaitForRecaptchaNLMW25(isAvailable => { if (!isAvailable) { nlSetErrorNLMW25(nlConfigNLMW25.messages.recaptchaRequired); nlIsSubmittingNLMW25 = false; return; } nlExecuteRecaptchaNLMW25() .then(token => nlSubscribeNLMW25(token)) .catch(() => nlSubscribeNLMW25(null)); }); return; } nlLoadRecaptchaScriptNLMW25(recaptchaSiteKeyNLMW25, success => { if (success === false) { nlSetErrorNLMW25(nlConfigNLMW25.messages.recaptchaLoadFail); nlIsSubmittingNLMW25 = false; return; } nlWaitForRecaptchaNLMW25(isAvailable => { if (!isAvailable) { nlSetErrorNLMW25(nlConfigNLMW25.messages.recaptchaRequired); nlIsSubmittingNLMW25 = false; return; } const runExecuteNLMW25 = () => { nlExecuteRecaptchaNLMW25() .then(token => nlSubscribeNLMW25(token)) .catch(error => { if (error?.message === 'recaptcha_failed') { nlSetErrorNLMW25(nlConfigNLMW25.messages.recaptchaFailed); nlIsSubmittingNLMW25 = false; } else { console.warn('reCAPTCHA error:', error); nlSubscribeNLMW25(null); } }); }; if (typeof window.grecaptcha.ready === 'function') { window.grecaptcha.ready(runExecuteNLMW25); } else { runExecuteNLMW25(); } }); }); }; formNLMW25.addEventListener('submit', e => { e.preventDefault(); if (rootNLMW25.classList.contains('is-submitted-nlmw25') || nlIsSubmittingNLMW25) return; nlHideErrorNLMW25(); nlAttemptRecaptchaNLMW25(); }); emailInputNLMW25.addEventListener('input', () => { nlHideErrorNLMW25(); emailInputNLMW25.setAttribute('aria-invalid', 'false'); }); checkboxNLMW25.addEventListener('change', nlHideErrorNLMW25); }); })(NL_DEFAULT_CONFIG_NLMW25); Just since January, the Tijuana River has carried 10 billion gallons (38 billion liters) of mostly raw sewage and industrial waste across the U.S. border, according to International Water and Boundary Commission data. By comparison, a massive pipe that ruptured in January sent 244 million gallons (924 million liters) of untreated sewage into the Potomac River , affecting affluent, largely white communities. That spill prompted federal intervention within weeks. Trent Fry, right, and Leila El Masri handle a water sample of the Tijuana River, as part of a research team from the University of California, San Diego, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Trent Fry, right, and Leila El Masri handle a water sample of the Tijuana River, as part of a research team from the University of California, San Diego, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) --> Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. --> Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Trent Fry, right, and Leila El Masri clean a bucket after collecting a water sample of the Tijuana River, as part of a research team from the University of California, San Diego, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Trent Fry, right, and Leila El Masri clean a bucket after collecting a water sample of the Tijuana River, as part of a research team from the University of California, San Diego, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) --> Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. --> Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Maddie Tibayan pauses while wearing a respirator while collecting a water sample of the Tijuana River, as part of a research team from the University of California, San Diego, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Maddie Tibayan pauses while wearing a respirator while collecting a water sample of the Tijuana River, as part of a research team from the University of California, San Diego, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) --> Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. --> Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Justin Hamlin, left, and Maddie Tibayan, walk along the Imperial Beach pier after gathering a sample of seawater as part of a research team from the University of California, San Diego, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Imperial Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Justin Hamlin, left, and Maddie Tibayan, walk along the Imperial Beach pier after gathering a sample of seawater as part of a research team from the University of California, San Diego, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Imperial Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) --> Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. --> Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More In 2024, a sampling by San Diego County and the CDC representing the roughly 40,000 households close to the Tijuana River found 71% could smell sewage inside their homes and 69% had a member get sick from being exposed. freestar.queue.push(function () { window.fsAdCount = window.fsAdCount + 1 || 0; let customChannel = '/dynamic_' + fsAdCount; let adList = document.querySelectorAll(".fs-feed-ad") let thisAd = adList[fsAdCount]; let randId = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2); thisAd.id = randId; let thisPlacement = fsAdCount == 0 ? "apnews_story_feed" : "apnews_story_feed_dynamic"; freestar.newAdSlots({ placementName: thisPlacement, slotId: randId }, customChannel); }); Even at low levels, “you’re going to feel like it’s in your sinuses. You can’t get rid of the smell. It’s going to be a constant irritation,” said Ryan Sinclair, an associate professor of environmental microbiology at Loma Linda University School of Public Health. The EPA said it is working with local and state officials to find ways to mitigate the smell. San Diego County this year distributed over 10,000 air filters to homes. But the air remains a threat. The river’s foam can now be seen from space. freestar.queue.push(function () { window.fsAdCount = window.fsAdCount + 1 || 0; let customChannel = '/dynamic_' + fsAdCount; let adList = document.querySelectorAll(".fs-feed-ad") let thisAd = adList[fsAdCount]; let randId = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2); thisAd.id = randId; let thisPlacement = fsAdCount == 0 ? "apnews_story_feed" : "apnews_story_feed_dynamic"; freestar.newAdSlots({ placementName: thisPlacement, slotId: randId }, customChannel); }); Hydrogen sulfide levels stun researchers Surfers look on as Justin Hamlin, right, and Maddie Tibayan, gather a sample of seawater with a bucket off the Imperial Beach pier as part of a research team from the University of California, San Diego, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Imperial Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Surfers look on as Justin Hamlin, right, and Maddie Tibayan, gather a sample of seawater with a bucket off the Imperial Beach pier as part of a research team from the University of California, San Diego, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Imperial Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) --> Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. --> Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More In September 2024, Kimberly Prather, a chemistry professor at the University of California, San Diego, and a team of researchers installed air monitors in the neighborhood where Egger lives. What they found stunned them: The hydrogen sulfide concentrations were 4,500 times higher than typical urban levels and 150 times higher than California’s air standards when river flows peaked at night. Many residents, like Egger, felt vindicated. “They’d been being more or less gaslit and told, ‘There’s gas. It’s a nuisance. It smells, but it’s not bad,’” Prather said. She said her researchers have since detected thousands of other gases coming from the river that don’t smell, “and many of them are more toxic.” Doctors recommend people move Trent Fry, part of a research team from the University of California, San Diego, takes a sample of seawater Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Imperial Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Trent Fry, part of a research team from the University of California, San Diego, takes a sample of seawater Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Imperial Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) --> Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. --> Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Egger said doctors have told him to move, though they have not given him a written diagnosis as suffering from hydrogen sulfide exposure. freestar.queue.push(function () { window.fsAdCount = window.fsAdCount + 1 || 0; let customChannel = '/dynamic_' + fsAdCount; let adList = document.querySelectorAll(".fs-feed-ad") let thisAd = adList[fsAdCount]; let randId = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2); thisAd.id = randId; let thisPlacement = fsAdCount == 0 ? "apnews_story_feed" : "apnews_story_feed_dynamic"; freestar.newAdSlots({ placementName: thisPlacement, slotId: randId }, customChannel); }); But his family’s roots run deep. His wife grew up in Tijuana. His brother and his late brother’s family live in the neighboring houses on what was Egger Dairy. Nearby are the dilapidated milk barn and rusting farm equipment. “This is where I’ve lived all my life, with my family, my parents, my grandparents,” he said. “This is home.” Surfers pass under a wave alongside the Imperial Beach pier Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Imperial Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Surfers pass under a wave alongside the Imperial Beach pier Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Imperial Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) --> Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. --> Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More When Egger was a boy, he swam in the river that ran only during the rainy season. Now mostly filled with sewage and industrial waste, it goes year-round. He says the river should be restored to its historical route, which is closer to the border and farther from most residences and schools. He believes then it would not pond, creating hot spots of hydrogen sulfide gas. Less than half a mile from Egger’s home, the smell is overwhelming where the river shoots out of pipes after being forced briefly underground near Saturn Boulevard. Scientists call it “the Saturn hot spot.” The stench permeates passing cars with the windows up, lingering inside for days. When river flows go up, so do the number of patients Oscar Romo walks among debris that has been captured by a trash boom installed in the Tijuana River at the border near where the river enters the United States from Tijuana, Mexico, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in San Diego, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Oscar Romo walks among debris that has been captured by a trash boom installed in the Tijuana River at the border near where the river enters the United States from Tijuana, Mexico, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in San Diego, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) --> Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. --> Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Dr. Matthew Dickson and his wife, Dr. Kimberly Dickson, run a clinic about a mile from the hot spot. Many of their patients suffer from migraines, nausea, wheezing, eye infections and brain fog. Those with asthma say they use their inhalers more when the air reeks. “They’d say, ‘You know, I feel better when it doesn’t smell outside,’” Dr. Kimberly Dickson said. In August 2023, a tropical storm caused the river to overflow onto the streets. Within days, the doctors’ caseloads tripled. Oscar Romo looks out over debris that has been captured by a trash boom installed in the Tijuana River at the border near where the river enters the United States from Tijuana, Mexico, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in San Diego, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Oscar Romo looks out over debris that has been captured by a trash boom installed in the Tijuana River at the border near where the river enters the United States from Tijuana, Mexico, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in San Diego, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) --> Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. --> Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Electronic health records confirmed what the doctors suspected. When the river flows have jumped, the number of patients they have treated for respiratory problems has increased by 130%, they said. “Every day that this isn’t fixed,” Dr. Matthew Dickson said, “more people are getting sick.” A man walks along the an aqueduct holding the Tijuana River as it arrives to the border and enters the United States, above, from Tijuana, Mexico, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) A man walks along the an aqueduct holding the Tijuana River as it arrives to the border and enters the United States, above, from Tijuana, Mexico, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) --> Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. --> Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More ___ Pineda reported from Los Angeles. ___ The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment JULIE WATSON Watson covers immigration, US-Mexico border issues and the environment, and helps direct coverage of California and Nevada for The Associated Press. She’s reported from Mexico, Central and South America, and was a 2019 Pulitzer Prize finalist. twitter DORANY PINEDA Pineda writes about water, climate and the environment in Latino communities across the U.S. twitter mailto