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Why the sewage keeps coming

Leaking pipes in Tijuana, an overwhelmed coastal plant, and storms nothing is built to handle. Start with how the sewage gets here, then follow it back to its roots.

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Last updated Reviewed by Stacy WillisSummarized from public sources with the help of AIHow this site is made
The Spirit of Imperial Beach sculpture at dusk: a bronze surfer standing with a longboard upright beside him, a smaller figure at his feet, lamps lit either side and an orange sky over the ocean behind.
The Spirit of Imperial Beach sculpture at the pier plaza. Photo: Sam Antonio / iStock
How the sewage gets hereThe three routes to our beach: the river, the border canyons, and the coast at Punta Bandera.What reaches the oceanHow much comes from each source, and how that changes between the dry season and storms.Why it keeps happeningThe root causes: a city that outgrew its system, unfunded maintenance, and agreements that depend on money.The Tijuana River ValleyThe estuary, the valley neighborhoods, and what the sewage does when it gets there.HealthWhat is known about the effects on people who live, work and surf here.